February Apprentice Class

Principle of the month: BALANCE 

Note: Sister Johnson is in charge of apprentice class, so direct any questions about it to her.

1. Read:   

• Luke 10:38-42
• Just Like Jesus Chapter:  Finding Gold in the Garbage
• Promises of the Constitution, pages 227-257. Look for principles as you read, especially any principle that relates to balance. Write one or more sentences at the end of each mini chapter that summarizes the main point. 
• Freedom Factor, Chapters 1-10  

2. Watch:    

This video.

3. Create one of the following:  

• Create something using “garbage.”  Bring your creation to show to us.    
• Create a food that balances healthy with delicious…bring some to share.
• Create an original poem, story, song, rap, musical composition that reflects your feelings on finding balance. 
• Create a building, and see how high it can become while still maintaining it’s balance. 
• Create your own inspirement to share with us your feelings about balance.

4. Think About:  

Complete a word study on the word Balance.   Why is balance important in our lives?   How can we find balance in the world we live in?  What is the Lord’s kind of balance? 

5. Project:  

Choose a BALANCE project for this month. You will be working on your project each week and/or day throughout the month. This project should be something that is inspiring and personally meaningful to you. This is the application part of apprentice (applying principles to ourselves). Choose something that is challenging for you and will be a blessing to others. We will be giving presentations on your projects. After you pick one send Sister Johnson an email or note about what you have chosen, and then start working on it. Choose it before apprentice class so you can report what you're doing. 

Here are some project options, or choose another one that is inspiring to you, or even better...ask the Lord for a project.

• Learn how to balance your time by practicing time management skills...find a system that works for you and do it consistently this month.
• Learn how to balance your health by eating healthy and exercise...track your eating and your exercise and make goals to improve your physical health.
• Learn how to balance your emotional health by taking the time to go slowly, to think deeply, to ponder, to enjoy nature...go for a walk, meditate, take time each day to be quiet and still.
• Learn how to balance your mental health by healing relationships in your life that are strained or need more attention.  Seek to understand others in your life and to find balance between your desires and theirs.
• Seek inspiration for the kind of balance God wants you to find in your life...then do what the Lord inspires you to do.
• Start or keep faithfully a gratitude journal every day this month.  Keep your gold box full of all the weighty things the Lord blesses you with.
• Seek to understand a position opposite of yours, seek for understanding of another's position, NOT how to defend yours.
• Seek a greater portion of spiritual balance in your life through doing one the following: diligent dedicated prayer daily, diligent dedicated scripture study daily, keeping a prayer in your heart always, serving someone every day.
• Make a list of the things you need to do to seek first the kingdom of God.  Pick one thing on the list and do it.
• Look at the paradoxes that are all around you in the world and in the gospel.  Study about a paradox from the scriptures and seek to understand why this paradox contains truth and how it applies in your life.
• Choose a subject that you do not enjoy studying about.  Find balance by finding purpose in studying all things which are of good report or praiseworthy.
• The need for balance is found in many studies:  art, colors, math, money, science, law, justice, time, energy.  Study in depth about balance in one other subject and present a oral presentation to the group about your studies in balance.
• Choose to seek for balance by improving spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.  Pick at least one thing to improve on in each area.

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Apprentice Field Trip to Utah's Legislative Session!

Field Trip Inspirements:

Watch: This video.

Investigate:   

This website is the government website for the Utah legislature. Visit the web site and answer the following questions:

1. Who are my representatives? (see legislators section)
2. What bills might be discussed during our visit? (see Bills section)
3. Pick one section in the legislative guide tab that looks interesting to you and read it?

Read:  

Find the Utah constitution and read it.

Create:  

Come prepared with a question you would like to ask.

Think About:  

How does the government impact your life?  How do you know if a bill is a good bill or not?  How is the Utah constitution different from the United States Constitution?  What part will you play in shaping the future government of our state and country?  What can you do to be involved? 

This is from our tour of Utah's capitol building last year.

We'll be taking another field trip this month to watch the legislative session!

This field trip is for apprentice level. Wear church clothes for this field trip. 

February Journeyman Class

1. Think about while you read 

In what areas do you think need balance in life?  When in your life have you felt well-balanced, and when have you felt out of balance?  Think of areas like your time, health, relationship with God, your education, money, family or friends, being unforgiving to someone, or other areas. In our government today, what ways do we see balance or things being out of balance?  When you’re a parent what areas do you think will be challenging to balance? (You can ask your parents to see what they think.) As you study this month, think about the principle of balance, and what areas God wants you to use it yourself, and our country to use it. 

2. Read 

• Luke 2:52.   What does this verse teach us about balance in life?  Do you feel well balanced in these areas or not?  If not, what does God want you to do about it?
• The “How Book” – Choose one of the following chapters to read:  1, 11, 12 or an article posted on the yahoo group called “The Well Rounded Christian.” 
• Study a hero of your choice.  Really put some time and effort into this. Who do you admire and want to emulate?  Research this person (ideally from the time period of 1500 to 1850). Take notes about your hero and hand in your notes. At the end of your notes, list the heroic qualities and principles you admire about your hero. Be sure to write one or more of those qualities that you want to develop in yourself. If you can find the principle of balance in his or her life, please share what you found. 
• Read this talk “Truth and Tolerance” by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. 
• Read this page by the LDS Church about religious freedom. In five places you'll see the phrase "READ MORE »." Choose one of these articles and read it. 
• Read this article about how to give a good talk in church (which applies to other settings too). 

3. Watch 

Watch three short videos by the LDS Church about religious freedom on this web page. Ideally, do this together as a family home evening or devotional and then discuss them together. 

4. Research 

Do some research about a current issue in our country or state that relates with religious freedom or being truthful and tolerant. This Utah Eagle Forum site page has some ideas, but feel free to use other sources too.  

4. Email Class Preparation Sheet by Tuesday at noon to Sister Edwards.

5. Create 

Choose one or more of the following: 

• Write a hero report. Hand in your report to Sister Edwards or Sister Cloward.  It won't be graded; we just want to read it. If you'd like to become a better writer, you can write at the top "feedback please." Be sure to include the qualities you most admire about your hero, and your plan to become more of those qualities. Also look for principles or life lessons you learned as you studied this hero. 
• Give a speech (about 3 minutes) about something you studied this week. Use the article about giving talks above for ideas.  You can give a speech about why religious freedom is important to you, about a current issue that relates to it, how you’re working to find balance in a certain area of your life, or a speech about your hero. Be sure to tie in principles that you find, and look for the principle of balance if you can. Also include how you plan to apply what you learned. Use index cards or a paper to write an outline of bullet points, but don’t read the speech to us. 
• Choose something you want to learn more about from this week’s studies from apprentice, journeyman, or master class, or this week’s cultural literacy terms. Research the subject and record your learning somehow. Look for principles as you learn, and a way to apply your learning to your life. Create something that shows what you learned – a poster, a Prezi, a poem, etc. See teaching ideas if you need more ideas. Bring it to class to share.

February Master Class

1. Think about While you Read

As you are reading the book, think about your own personal thoughts on money. Is money important to you? What do you want your finances to look like as an adult? Do you see any parallels between Babylon of the past and our nation today? Watch for principles. What principles about money also apply to other areas of life? 

2. Read

The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason. 

3. Share

Choose one of the following: 

• Memorize the definitions of this week’s 25 terms for cultural literacy game night. We recommend you use index cards to write the term on one side and the definition (in your own words if you like) on the other side.
• Create a prezi, poster or display teaching us one of the following: The 7 Cures for a Lean Purse, the 5 Laws of Gold, or the camel traders formula for “paying off debt and having a little gold to jingle in your pocket”.
• This month we are talking about balance and finding joy in trials. Did any of the characters in the book encounter trials as they tried to become financially independent? Choose one of them and do a character T-chart or graphic summary of their situation and how they handled it.
• In the forward of the book, the author tells us that “Our prosperity as a nation depends upon the personal financial prosperity of each of us as individuals”. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? If each of us as individuals were managed money well, how would our country look and run differently?  Find a way to teach us your answers to these questions.
• We are often told that the scriptures tell us that “money is the root of all evil.” Find the scriptural reference sited. Is this scripture quoted correctly, and if not, compare the meaning of the quote to the true meaning of the scripture. Are they the same? Use one of the teaching ideas to represent your ideas.

4. Find and apply

Brainstorm one or more principles that you can learn from the book The Richest Man in Babylon. In your notebook, journal, or computer, write four things about this principle. Ideally you're not just jotting a phrase for each point below, but thinking about it and writing more of a journal entry for each:

• First write about how this principle applies to the book. 
• Find one or more example in your own life where this principle has applied to you or your family. 
• Find at least one example in the scriptures that shows this principle. 
• Write about how you’ll apply this principle in your own life. 
• Then choose a way to present this principle and how it applies to you and in the scriptures.  You can write a paper, give a short speech, create a poster, a graphic summary of it, etc. See teaching ideas if you need more ideas. Bring it to class to share.

25 Words for our Cultural Literacy Game Night!

I was surprised how much fun I had choosing these terms! 

Gear up for a fun cultural literacy game night at the end of each month! This is TOTALLY OPTIONAL. Join in if you feel ready for this fun challenge.  

Anyone can come to the game night who has put in the effort of memorizing the 100 terms per month (the gist of them, not word for word). 25 terms a week means writing five cards each weekday (or about 8 a day the three days you're not at Vanguard), and reviewing them as you go. It's doable if you're persistent! 

You may know many of these already, especially if you read 1776. Get out your index cards and let the fun begin... 

NOTE:  These are all found in the chapter titled "American History to 1865," unless noted otherwise.

1. Adams, John 
2. Arnold, Benedict 
3. Boston Massacre 
4. Boston Tea Party 
5. Bunker Hill, Battle of 
6. Common Sense
7. Continental Congress
8. Cornwallis, Charles 
9. Declaration of Independence 
10. Franklin, Benjamin 
11. French and Indian War
12. George III, King (page 227) 
13. Give me liberty or give me death 
14. Jefferson, Thomas 
15. Lexington and Concord, Battle of 
16. New England (page 419)
17. One of by land, and two if by sea
18. Paine, Thomas 
19. Revolutionary War 
20. Shot heard round the world
21. Taxation without representation is tyranny
22. Thirteen colonies 
23. Valley Forge 
24. Washington, George
25. Yorktown, Battle of 

George Washington crossing the Delaware River.

George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette at Valley Forge, PA. 

January Apprentice Readings and Inspirements

Note: Apprentice class is now taught by Sister Johnson, so these are her inspirements. Direct any questions about them to her. These look great, don't they?

Principle of the Month: WORK

1. Memorization        

We'll be working on memorizing these all month, so get a good start this week! 

Scripture:   Hebrews 12:  1-2                                    

Poem: 

The Youth Who Climbs by Walter E. Isenhour

The youth who burns the midnight light
In study and in prayer,
Will reach in future years a height
With blessings waiting there,
No wealth could never, never, buy,
Nor schemes could ever gain,
For only God can take one high
Beyond all sin and stain.

The youth who walks the upward path
And not the downward road,
And conquers self and carnal wrath
And sin wherever sowed,
Is quite a blessing in his home,
In school, at work, or play,
Or o’er the earth where he may roam,
Or where he’s set to stay.

He’ll bless the country where he lives,
The church where he belongs;
He’ll help God’s cause by what he gives
And help to conquer wrongs;
He’ll share the diamonds of his love
With other precious souls,
And point them to the grand above
Where Christ his treasure holds.

The youth who’s clean in heart and mind
And has a spotless name,
And longs to help his fellows find
God’s way that leads to fame;
Or strives to help them fill the place
That God would have them fill,
Shall be a winner in the race
Up Zion’s holy hill.

2. Read    

1. One or more chapters from the How book:  Chapter 2, 24, 25, or 27 OR this article.
2. Just Like Jesus chapter: Finishing Strong                              
3. Read the Parable Of the Talents from Mathew 25:14-30
4. Girls:  Read Understood Betsy from the beginning to A Short Morning                      Boys: Read Johnny Tremain from chapter 1 to chapter 3

3. Watch                      

This video.

4. Think About            

Complete a word study on diligence. Think about what diligence means to you.  How does diligence relate to work and property?   How can you be more diligent?   What are some areas in your life that need a little diligence? 

5. Create                        

Prepare an inspirement that will teach us what you learned from your readings and your thoughts about diligence.  It can be visual, written, an activity, something you make or build, an object lesson.  See Ideas for Learning and Teaching if you need further ideas.
 

6. Project                   

Choose a Work project for this month.  You will be working on your project each week and/or day throughout the month.  This project should be something that is inspiring and personally meaningful to you.   This is the application part of apprentice (applying principles to ourselves).  Choose something that is challenging for you and will be a blessing to others.   We will be giving presentations on your projects.  After you pick one send me an email or note about what you have chosen, then start working on it.  

Some Ideas of Work Projects for January:

• Ask the Lord for a work project for January.  Complete His work project!
• Practice a talent (new or not) every day this month.
• Complete a secret service this month.
• Attend Master class in one or more of the Lens’ this month
• Share the gospel with someone else.
• Read a book that is challenging for you.  Finish it this month.
• Complete a math book.
• Memorize all your parts for the play, and lead 2 activities.
• Create a carry out a service project this month.
• Make something useful for your future home.
• Learn or practice a skill or trade.
• Learn how to program computers.
• Listen to a project the Lord wants you do to.
• Plan and complete a fundraiser project to help people in 3^rd world countries.
• Read one of the following books:   The Real George Washington, The Real Thomas Jefferson,  or The Real Benjamin Franklin.
• Mend a hurt relationship by giving it extra effort this month.
• Start an exercise program this month.
• Write in your journal every day this month.
• Manage your time wisely by using SARS, having Parent-youth meetings, and managing your study time wisely during this month.  Evaluate weekly how you are doing and how you can improve.
• Choose your own work project for January.

 

January Journeyman

1. Think about while you read 

• Think about work and perseverance throughout your studies this week.  Why are they important?  
• How can we become inspired to work hard and persevere when things get tough? 
• When have you done that?  
• What are some of the best motivations to work and persevere?  
• How does God see work, and how does the world see work?  
• Do you know anyone with limitations so they can't work the way they wish they could, like the young man in the video below? 
• What do you think the connection is between faith and works? 

2. Read 

1. Study a hero of your choice. Really put some time and effort into this. Who do you admire and want to emulate?  Research this person (ideally from the time period of 1500 to 1850). If you’re reading 1776 for master class, you could choose one of the people from the book. 

• Take notes about your hero and hand in your notes. 
• At the end of your notes, list the heroic qualities and principles you admire about your hero.
• Be sure to write one or more of those qualities that you want to develop in yourself.

2. Read Promises of the Constitution, chapter EIGHT (sorry--this is a correction, pages 161-169) and chapter 10 (203-223). Look for principles as you read, especially the principles of work and perseverance. Write one or more sentences at the end of each mini chapter that summarizes the main point. 

3. Read this article about God’s hand in creating America.   How have you seen God’s hand in your life?   

4. Read this article about how to give a speech.  
Scroll down a bit and start reading where it says "Method 1 of 5."

3. Watch 

This video about Team Hoyt.

4. Email 

Class Preparation Sheet by Tuesday at noon to Sister Edwards. 

5. Create 

Choose one or more of the following: 

1. Write a hero report. Hand in your report to Sister Edwards or Cloward.  It won't be graded; we just want to read it. If you'd like to become a better writer, you can write at the top "feedback please." Be sure to include the qualities you most admire about your hero, and your plan to become more of those qualities. Also look for principles or life lessons you learned as you studied this hero. 
2. If you signed up for this week, give your hero presentation or speech. See instructions on the Yahoo group files. Also use the speech article above to help prepare your speech.  Be sure to include the qualities you most admire about your hero, and your plan to become more of those qualities.  Also look for principles or life lessons you learned as you studied this hero. 
3. When reading Promises of the Constitution, take one or more of the main concepts you learned choose a way to teach it to the class. You can use a white board discussion, object lesson, short game or activity or simulation, or find a video online to help you teach the concept.
4. Do a word study about a word from this week’s study. 
5. Create a way to document God’s hand in your life up to this point. Ask your parents what times they’ve seen God’s hand in your life, like maybe at your birth there were risks but you turned out fine, or you had a near miss being run over by a car. This could be a list in your journal, a timeline of your life, a big collage of pictures representing events where God has blessed and answered your prayers, or another way. 
6. Write your answers to the questions in the “think about” section above. From your answers, set one (or more) specific goals for yourself and work on that goal. 
7. Answer the following questions from Promises of the Constitution in your notebook:

Compare and contrast what the free enterprise system looked like in the time of the founding fathers and what it looks like now.  Which system gives more freedom?

Write in your own words the four basic laws that guide economic freedom.

Make a  list of the Constitutional amendments that specifically pertaining to the executive office and tell what each amendment covers.  

Do you think that trials by jury are an important part of our American judicial system or do you feel like they would be best done away with as has happened in Great Britain?

Choose something you want to learn more about from this week’s studies from apprentice, journeyman, or master class, or this week’s cultural literacy terms. Research the subject.  Map out your findings using the I-search paper link (pages 3-4) or a similar way. 

  

January Master

1. Think about While you Read

Thinking about work and perseverance, compare the hard work of the colonial soldiers compared to what your life is like on a typical day.  Would you be willing to sacrifice your comforts and work hard like they did if it meant protecting the freedom of your country? For what other causes would you be willing to work hard and persevere?  What do you know about America and liberty from the Book of Mormon that makes you think it’s worth working to protect?  What signs can you see from the book that God’s hand was involved in forming America?  What do you admire about the people in the war? 

2. Read 

1776 by David McCullough. 

What were your favorite parts? Your favorite people? What principles or life lessons did you find? 

 

3. Show 

Show that you understand the basic story line of the book 1776 by CHOOSING ONE OR MORE of the following. Bring this to show the class. 

1. Create a timeline of the main events of 1776, or of the entire war.  This can be just words or you can add pictures and maps and such.  Feel free to use the book and other sources like the internet to create your timeline. Include some of the main people too. 
2. Do some free writing to summarize the events and people of 1776.  Be thorough enough that someone would understand the basic storyline of the book. 
3. Create a cartoon illustration of the main events of 1776.  Include drawings and captions. Or create a Prezi using paintings found on the internet. Be thorough enough that if someone read your cartoons they would understand the basic story line of the book. 
4. Create a video of yourself giving an informal speech summarizing the main events and basic story line of 1776. You can list the main events on index cards or a paper to help give your speech. Email the video to Sister Edwards by Tuesday at noon. 
5. Memorize the definitions of this week’s 25 terms for cultural literacy game night. We recommend you use index cards to write the term on one side and the definition (in your own words if you like) on the other side.

4. Find and apply

Brainstorm one or more principles that you can learn from the book 1776. Find at least one example in your own life where this principle has applied to you or your family. Find at least one example in the scriptures that shows this principle. Write about these examples. Then choose a way to present this principle and how it applies to you and in the scriptures. You can write a paper, give a short speech, create a poster, a graphic summary of it, etc. See teaching ideas if you need more ideas. Bring it to class to share.