January Apprentice

APPRENTICE:

Read:  

-Titus Chapter 2

-Stories of Great Artists: Sir Joshua Reynolds

-Finish reading your book for this month:  Girls:  Understood Betsy, Boys:  Johnny Tremain

Watch: -This video Joshua Reynolds painting

 -And watch this video:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGQo3W5CgmI

Email: Favorite Joshua Reynolds art work to Isaiah or Megan by Thursday at noon.

Think and Write: Do a word study on “work”.  Write your own poem or story about the things you have learned about hard work. What are you feelings about work?  Why is work important?  How have your feelings changed about work this month?  What have you learned by working on your work project?  How is work a blessing to you?

Write your favorite quote from the book you read for this month, or something you learned about yourself by reading the book.  Make sure your writings come to class with you

Memorize: Work on memorizing the poem and scripture for the month

Ladies:

Understood Betsy - As you read, consider some of these questions: Why do you think this book is called Understood Betsy? What are some of the lesson's that Betsy learns in the book? What is your favorite comment or question that the author inserts in the story?

And choose one or more of the following to teach us what you learned from Understood Betsy:

·       Write a poem about a theme from Understood Betsy.

·       Be a book critic for the day. Write a critique of Understood Betsy

·       Write a newspaper article about some event that happened in Understood Betsy

·       Act out a scene from understood Betsy during class and tell us what you learned

from that scene

·       Make a movie from a scene from Understood Betsy and send us the file or a link

online so we may watch it before class time.

·       Create a piece of art work from a theme in Understood Betsy

·       Learn some new skill that Betsy learns in the book, share your experience

·       Practice understanding children, without pay or reward, seek to understand a

child using some of the tools the characters use in the book.

·       Keep a life lesson journal. Record in your journal whenever you learn a life

lesson, whether it be from a book, a person, or life.

Young men:

Johnny Tremain - As you read, consider the following questions: What is Johnny's biggest fault? How does this fault hinder him? What are some of the lesson's that Johnny learns in the book? What was your favorite comment or question that the author inserted in the story?

And choose one or more of the following to teach us what you learned from Johnny Tremain

·       Create a letter from Mr. Lyte to Johnny telling him of his family history.

·       Write a newspaper article about a Revolutionary War event

·       What are you passionate about? What do you think is worth fighting for? Write a

persuasive essay to convince others to join your cause.

·       The Son's of Liberty had their own symbols to identify themselves. Create your

own symbol to represent the things you stand for in your life.

·       Political Cartoons have played a part in history. Create your own political cartoon,

either about an event from the book, or about a current event.

·       Act out a skit, or make a movie (please send out before class time) depicting a

scene from the book.

·       Johnny learns many life lessons from his friends and his enemies. Record some

of Johnny's life lessons. Make a list of your own friends, and enemies. Record in some way the things that you have learned from them.

·       Create something useful that you make with your own hands.

·       What are some ways to become politically active without open rebellion? Choose

a cause you believe in, and do something to help the cause.  Share!

·       Skills or a trade are just as important in our world as they were in Johnny's. Choose a skill or trade that you need to work on. Do some work on it, share with us what you do.

Project:   Complete your project for the month.   Please plan to share in some way what you did for your project and what you learned from the project.   We may do this in class, or it may be an outside class activity.

January Journeyman

Journeyman:

Preteach: This month we are learning about Vivaldi, a composer who worked very hard to make beautiful music. We are also learning about some very difficult things that Christian has to work through in his pilgrimage. We are also encouraging you to work hard to really think about these concepts in your inspirements. Consider the following questions as you study:  Why do you think people put the hard work into creating something beautiful to see or hear? Does their hard work inspire you to also work hard at what you create? These days it seems that people want a lot for a very little effort.  What has happened to our society that has caused us to see work as a bad thing?

1. Read: Pilgrim's Progress until Hopeful becomes Christian's new travel companion

2. Word Study: One of the names of the people or places that Christian encounters and come to class prepared to represent that person or place. Write your choice in the comment section below by Tuesday at noon.
3. Read: How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

4. Quiz: Click here

5. Listen: The Four Seasons with hand-out pages 9-11,  listen for the sounds that represent the words that are in bold in the sonnets

6. Email: Class Preparation Sheet by Tuesday at noon

7. Find: A principle and application from your chosen research below to share in class

8. And choose one or more of the following to research (use more than just wikipedia), be prepared to share what you learned AND A PRINCIPLE AND APPLICATION YOU THINK YOU FOUND IN YOUR RESEARCH OR PROJECT  (don't forget this underlined, bold, capitalized statement before you come to class - see here for help):

Choose something to learn more about from the terms in this week's cultural literacy or any of your readings in Apprentice, Journeyman or Master (such as: dairy farming, one-room school house, alcoholism, Boston Observers, The Boston Tea party or other event, Doctor Warren or another historic person, Trinidad, making tools or shelters, uninhabited islands or survival skills, for example). Do page 3 and 4 of the I-Search Paper link.( or map your thoughts in another similar way)***

Complete this study guide to help you analyze your reading of Johnny Tremain***

It is thought that Vivaldi was inspired to write the Season concertos because of four paintings by Marco Ricci. Read he Vilvadi handout and learn to play a song by Vilvadi; or create paintings/drawing etc. of your own that this music makes you think of, one for each season; or look up paintings by other artists that feel like this music to you.  Bring them to show us, or email links before class to share with us. Remember to share a principle/truth you learned from doing this.***

The Four Seasons has a Sonnet written for each season. Learn about how to write a sonnet and create a sonnet about a truth that is meaningful to you in nature.***

Compare Elizabeth Anne to Betsy, Betsy or Johnny Tremain to yourself, Robinson Crusoe to Friday, cannibalism to the "natural man", or anything else you would like to gain additional insights into by comparing and contrasting (see page 3 on compare and contrast link for ideas).  Do page 4 of the Compare and Contrast Essay link.(or map you thoughts in another similar way)***

Write your opinion to one of the questions in the preteach section.Use examples from your life or from the reading.***

Research anything you are interested in from a musical, literary, artistic or imaginative perspective. Write about it in one of these formats.

***Don't forget to: be prepared to share what you learned AND A PRINCIPLE AND APPLICATION YOU THINK YOU FOUND IN YOUR RESEARCH OR PROJECT 

January Master

Pre-teach: Robinson Crusoe is a great story that can teach us how to become masters of something that we are now subject to - bad habits, weaknesses, rebellion, circumstances, etc. In the beginning, Crusoe feels he is a prisoner (or subject) to an island. As you read, ask yourself what you would do if you were in similar circumstances (you may learn something about yourself) and what you may have learned from the experience.

1. Read: Robinson Crusoe

2. Choose: A principle you found in your reading

3. Bring: A question  to discuss and a favorite quote

4. And do one or more of the following:

-Write an I-search Paper from the research you did in Journeyman

-Write a Compare/Contrast Essay from the research you did in Journeyman

-Take what you researched in Journeyman and improve another skill to present the principle and your evidence (research) in a beautiful, appealing, or persuasive way through story, essay, art, speech, presentation, video or other way of your choosing.

-Read pages 9- 18 of this study guide.  Choose one writing assignment and one activity to do from the guide.  Include an application.

Read: A Postcolonial Presidency: Our Man Obama. If you disagree with anything he says, write a Persuasive Letter to the author, explaining your point of view and why you think that way.

-Write a Persuasive Letter to Robinson Crusoe to try to get him to make a different choice than one which you did not agree with in the book.

November Apprentice

Study (Know)

Read:

    1. 1 Samuel 16:7

    2. The Mansion by Henry Van Dyke

    3. Stories of Great Artists: Rembrandt

    4. Pick at least 3 of Rembrandt’s paintings to read about in Homebook of Great Paintings (to page 88): - Choose at least one Bible scene, one portrait and one etching.

Listen:

    “His Grace is Sufficient” by Brad Wilcox

Watch:

    1. One OR MORE of the videos about Rembrandt’s paintings on Khan Academy

    2. The following two videos about literary devices

    Literary Devices Rap

    Literary Devices in Pop Culture

Write:

    1. Learn 3 new literary devices and write your own sentence using each one: literary-devices.com

    2. If you do not do a word study for journeyman, do a word study on “grace” or another word from your readings.

Email:

    Your favorite painting by Rembrandt to Isaiah or Megan.  Be prepared to share why you like it with the class.

Teach (Understand):

EVERYONE:

Consider this: The Mansion is a story about a man who thought he could be justified by the law.  He was “solid, correct, and justly successful.”  He had kept the commandments and done a lot of good things.  He was surprised that his works did not “count.” What had he failed to understand?  How can you keep yourself from making the same mistake? Consider the reasons for what you do what you do in a typical day. Write in your journal or reflection book the answers to these questions.

THEN CHOOSE ONE of the following to teach us this principle (this month, I have included the “serve (become) part right into the teaching inspirement – it’s in bold.  For the “serve (become)” section, I want you to record your action):

-Choose your own way of teaching us what you got from the readings. Be sure to include a way in which you applied it to your life in a specific instance. See teaching ideas for presenting your thoughts.

-Van Dyke describes buildings in detail (imagery) to symbolize the character of the people they belong to.  Draw a picture of, make a model of, or describe in detail the type of building that would be representative of you or what you would like your “mansion” to look like someday.  Pay attention to the architecture as well as the decorations.  Decide what you can do to be more like your ideal mansion while remembering that it’s not what you do, but why you do it – pick an action that you can do today that is in line with that ideal (such as a secret act of service). Bring your “ideal mansion” to class and teach us what you learned. 

- The author references different time periods or artists and their styles (allusion) to describe John Weightman’s mansion (or in other words, John Weightman’s character).  Look up one of the terms you are not familiar with and explain what he may have meant by using that time period to describe a character trait. For example: “Jacobean”, “Early-Victorian-Christian” or “bronzes by Barye” There are no wrong answers – we are trying to guess why the author chose those phrases. What kind of décor or style would the interior of your mansion have? Why? Draw or paint a picture of one of the rooms, make a virtual model, describe it in detail or “show” it to us in some way. How does your style bless those around you? Use one of your talents to bless someone this week. Come ready to teach us what you learned and did (see teaching ideas).

-Paint or draw a scene from the Bible that will remind others about God’s love for us or His character.  As you draw, consider these questions: What appears to be the difference in Rembrandt’s motivation for painting in his early career and then later on in his life?  What happened to him that changed his motivation? Often it is difficult trials that remind us to look to God and change our motiviations.  How can we choose to be motivated by the glory of God instead of our own desires.  During your chores today or tomorrow, do them with the motivation to serve God instead of for selfish reasons (like not getting in trouble). Share your painting and what you learned about motivation with the class. 

-John Weighman thought he understood “grace” because he believed “in the saving doctrines of religion” Consider how Weighman’s actions may have been different if he had understood grace as described by Brad Wilcox.  Write part 2 of “The Mansion” telling of what happens next after this story ends. Then consider your life and find a specific way to help you remember to do the right things for the right reasons (keeping a scripture goal or putting up a visual reminder are two examples). Come ready to share your story (try using some literary devices!) and what you planned and did.

Serve (Become):

 On your summary sheet, write about the action you chose to do and how it went.

November Journeyman

Study  (Know):

Do all of the following to increase your knowledge:

Read: Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers – Chopin
Listen: Listen to at least 5 songs or movements by Chopin and pick a favorite – bring the name to class.
Read and Listen: Pilgrim’s Progress to where Christian and Faithful see Talkative
Choose: A favorite quote, thought, or question from Pilgrim’s Progress to share with the class
Word Study: One of the names of the people or places that Christian encounters and come to class prepared to represent that person or place. See list below:

1.Hill Difficulty with paths. Bring drawing or representation:   Look up: Difficulty, Danger, and Destruction. Choose one for a word study

2. Arbor. Bring drawing or representation   Word Study: Arbor or Rest

Returning Pilgrims:
3. Timorous: Word study
4. Mistrust: Word Study

5. 2 lions - bring drawing or representation of two lions.  Word: Opposition

6. Watchful: Read: Mark 13:34-35, Heb 13:17. Word Study: Watch

7. Palace Beautiful: Bring Drawing or Representation - Word Study: Chuch 

8. Discretion: Word Study

9. Prudence: Word Study and bring a question to ask Christian

10. Piety: Word Study and bring a question to ask Christian

11. Charity: Word Study and bring a question to ask Christian

12. Armor of God: Research the armor of God and bring a sword and shield

13. Apollyon: Read: Rev. 9:11, 1 Pet 5:8, Rev. 12:3-7 and Word Study: Destroyer

14. Leaves of tree of life: Research tree of life and bring leaves

15. Valley of the Shadow of Death: research the valley of the shadow of death and bring a representation - include: ditch, quagmire, darkness, and snares and traps in your representation.

16. Wicked ones whispering in ear: Word Study - discretion

17. 2 giants - Pope and Pagan - bring visual representation and word study: pagan

Teach  (Understand):

CHOOSE ONE of the following to teach us this principle (this month, I have included the “serve (become) part right into the teaching inspirement – it’s in bold.  For the “serve (become)” section, I want you to record your action):

-Choose your own way of teaching us what you got from the readings. Be sure to include a specific way in which you applied it to your life. See teaching ideas.

-Draw your favorite scene from Pilgrim’s progress to share with the class.  Come prepared to share why you liked it and what it means to you. Pick a time today to apply a lesson from that scene to your life.  Tell us your application when you show us your writing

-Teach us about the word you studied from Pilgrim’s progress in a way of your choosing – an object lesson, a poster board diagram, on the whiteboard, a speech, etc) and tell us what action you did in your day to apply what you learned.

-Practice a song by Chopin and play it for the class. Share what you learned from the music or from your practice AND how the song makes you feel and why. 

Serve    (Become): 
On your summary sheet, write about the action you chose to apply from your inspirement and how it went.

October Apprentice

Weekly Habits:

-SARS or other time planning tool 

-Poem a day  to Ned Braddock

-Memory Work: Poem of your own choosing

-Summary Sheet

Study (Know):

Do all of the following to increase you knowledge:
As you study, ask yourself, "How do the different people gain the strength they need to overcome their weaknesses or improve their strengths?"

(Caution: parents may want to preview Michelangelo's work before your youth see it).

 Read:

1. Read Ether 12:27-28 and decide what it means to you

2.  The Scarlet Stockings by Alcott

3.  The Veldt by Bradbury 

4.  Stories of Great Artists: Michael Angelo

5.  Pick at least 3 of Michelangelo’s works to read about in Homebook of Great Paintings (to page 94) At least one should be a sculpture and another from the Sistine Chapel.

6. Read or watch Elder Scott's talk from the last conference.

Email: 

Your favorite painting or sculpture by Michelangelo and email it to Isaiah or Megan by Monday night.  Be prepared to share why you like it with the class. 

Watch: 

One or more of the videos about Michelangelo's paintings on Khan Academy

Write: 

Fill out your summary sheet - include a favorite thought, quote or question from the reading and do a word study from Proverbs 31 or on weaknesses, faith, strength or another word you found interesting in your study (if you are not already doing one for Journeyman or master).

Teach (Understand):

EVERYONE: 

Consider this: How is faith like spiritual muscles? How can you develop these spiritual muscles and what will they help you do?  Write your thoughts in your journal or reflection book.

AND

Choose one of the following to increase your understanding and come prepared to teach others:

-Decide for yourself what lesson/principle you got from the readings and concepts, practice that principle in your life and come prepared to teach it to teach to the class. 

-Read Proverbs 31:10-31 What does it have to do with The Scarlet Stockings? List some characteristics of the woman described in Proverbs 31 and compare them to what you learned about Belle Morgan. How did these characteristics help her lead others to do right?  Then pick a characteristic that you want to develop in yourself from Proverbs 31 or from Belle Morgan.  Find how you can develop the strength to have this characteristic. Practice doing so with your family and friends. See teaching ideas for how to present your thoughts.

-In The Scarlet Stockings, why and how did Harry develop the strength to overcome his laziness and rise to his potential and improve his character? How can you do the same? Practice what you learn and come prepared to teach the class.

-Read Mosiah 3:19 - The Veldt  could be seen as a story about the struggle between the natural man (the wild African wilderness) and the discipline to yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.  What choices did the parents make that taught their children to follow the impulses of the“natural man”? What choices did the children make in order to stay on that path?  What could either have done to get off that path? Prayerfully consider what you can do to better “put off the natural man” and yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and practice doing so this week. See teaching ideas for how to present what you learned.

-Watch a tutorial on sculpting marble.  How does this process relate to the way God works in your life as you rely on Him to be your sculptor and letting Him make your weaknesses into strengths. What is your role?  Choose a way to teach what you learned to the class (a poem, an essay, object lesson, etc.)

-Michelangelo had great self-discipline in working hard to learn in order to accomplish his mission to create beauty. Later, he used that self-discipline to make beautiful sculptures and paint the entire ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  Recreate one of Michelangelo’s paintings or sculptures in your own way or make your own painting or sculpture in Michelangelo’s style. Use self-discipline and patience as you do your best work on this project.

Decide how you can use this self-discipline to improve your studies so you can accomplish your missions here on earth. Practice doing it this week. Bring your art work to class and teach us what you learned.

Serve   (Become)::

--On your summary sheet, write what you did this week to practice the principle you learned form your reading and inspirement.

October Journeyman

Study (Know):

Do all of the following to increase your knowledge:

Read:  this list of musical terms.  Learn as many as you can.  It may help to print it and have it near by while you watch the following talk.

Watch: Don't Know Much about Classical Music?  (53 minutes)

Read: Rachmaninoff Symphony 2 program notes

Listen: Listen to Rachmaninoff Symphony #2 with the notes above and take your own notes on the above notes (about how you feel about the different movements). Remember, Music communicates feelings.  When listening to music, it helps not to ask, "What was the composer thinking about when he wrote this?" but "What feeling does he communicate to my heart?"  (59 minutes) If you have a hard time identifying feelings, it may help to have this list of feelings to look at while you listen.

I. Largo — Allegro moderato 0:10
II. Allegro molto 19:30
III. Adagio 29:19
IV. Allegro vivace 45:03

Read and Listen: Pilgrim’s Progress to when Christian reaches the valley of Humility (after he leaves the palace Beautiful). (about 1 hour)

Word Study: On one or more of the names of the people or places that Christian encounters  be sure to post your name on the blog so that no one else takes it. Remember, word studies, drawings and graphic summaries include an application to your life in your personal definition. Come prepared to class to represent that person or place (dress like they might dress, hold a prop that that represents them or the place, etc).

Needed:

1. Christian

Six Graphic Summaries or drawings (you will be explaining yours to Christian as if you were Interpreter):
2. Goodly Pastor - Look up scriptures: Mal.2:4-7, 1 Cor 4:15, Gal 4:19, 1 Thess 2:7, Prov. 14:12
3. Dusty Room - Look up words: Law, Gospel, what does the dust represent? how is the heart made clean?
4. Room with two children - Look up words: Patience and Passion, scriptures: II Cor 4:18, Gal. 5:16
5. Stately Palace - Look up Scriptures: Ezek 9:1-11, Matt 11:12, Acts 14:22; Word study: Courage
6. Man in Iron Cage: Look up: Rebellion, Apostate, Hardheartedness choose one for a word study
7. Trembling Man: Look up: Mal 4:1, Luke 3:17; Word study: Procrastination

8. One painting or Drawing of the Place of Deliverance - Look up: Salvation, Burden

Three Shining Ones
9.  First: Research: How do we attain forgiveness by God?
10. Second: Look up: Isa 61:10, Zech. 3:4-5, Phil 3:9 Word: Garment
11: Third: Look up: Ezek 9:1-7, Rev 9:1-6 and 22:4. Research: What is the mark on the forehead? Or What may the scroll represent?

Untroubled Sleeping Pilgrims
12:Simple: Word Study
13: Sloth: Word Study
14: Presumption: Word Study

Irregular Pilgrims:
15: Formalist: Word study
16: Hypocrisy: Word Study

17. Drawing or representation: Hill Difficulty with paths.  Look up: Difficulty, Danger, and Destruction. Choose one for a word study
18. Drawing or representation: Arbor.  Word Study: Arbor or Rest

Returning Pilgrims:
19. Timorous: Word study
20. Mistrust: Word Study

Write: A favorite quote, thought, or question to share with the class from any of your studies

 Teach (Understand):

Everyone:  

Consider what music does for your spirit. Write your thoughts in your reflection book or journal.


Then Choose one of the following to increase your understanding and come prepared to teach others:

Teach us whatever you are inspired to teach us from your study (see teaching ideas) and give us a challenge to apply it to our lives (it is always good if you have taken the challenge yourself before you challenge others).

Take a principle from your readings in Pilgrim's Progress and practice this principle in your life. Teach us what you learned in your own way (whiteboard, graphic summary, object lesson, etc)

Start a musical library and tell us about your plans in how to build it and about how you have chosen the songs in it so far.

Memorize all of the musical terms on your sheet.  This site can help you learn them and it also has fun games on the top right corner to quiz yourself: http://quizlet.com/675432/learn Teach us what you gained from this experience.

Read (or review) Haydn on Spiritual lives of the Great Composers and then learn about Haydn's Cello Concerto no. 1 and teach us what you found interesting about what you learned (see teaching ideas) 

Teach us how you were changed from your detailed learning and listening to Rachmaninoff's Symphony #2

Practice playing a song by Rachmaninoff or Haydn and play it for us in class

Serve   (Become):

-On your summary sheet, write what you did this week to practice the principle you learned form your reading and inspirement.

October Master Class

See: http://vanguardmasterclass.blogspot.com/

September Apprentice

Study (Know)

Do all of the following to increase your knowledge:

Read: 2 Timothy 2:3-5 and decide what it means to you.

Read: The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

Choose: A favorite quote, thought or question from the book to share with the class.

Read: American History in Verse to The Word of God to Leyden Came

Word Study: If you are not doing a word study in journeyman or master class this week, do a word study on “soldier”, “strive” or another interesting word from your readings.

Memorize: A favorite poem or excerpt from a poem from American History in Verse

Teach (Understand):

Choose one of the following to increase your understanding:

(See teaching ideas for presenting your thoughts)

-Think of your own way to teach something you learned from The Last Battle.  Remember, understanding requires action so knowledge can sink into your heart.  Have a parent, or mentor, approve your inspirement.

-We are living in the Last Days and taking part in the “Last Battle” before the end of the world. Make a list of some of the enemy’s tactics in the book and see if you can find some ways how you see them around you today. Also, list some of the tactics used by those on Aslan’s side and how you might use some of them today. Teach us what you learned.

-Show how the Scripture in Timothy applies to the message in the book.  Present your thoughts.

-Pick your favorite scene in the book and represent it in some way (a skit, a picture, a poem, etc). Teach us why you liked that scene and what you learned from it.

-There were several leaders in this book such as: Shift, Trinian, Tash, Aslan, Rishda Tarkaan, any of the Queens and Kings of Narnia, and others.  Pick two leaders and compare their leadership methods. It helps to ask yourself: “How did they get people to follow them?” Share what you learned in your own way.

-Make a Character Study T-Chart of your favorite character or of you least favorite character. Also, write down some of the consequences of their actions. What does this teach you about a trait you want to develop? Present what you learned to teach the class.00

-Things became more “real” as the characters went “further up and further in”.   Have you ever seen this pattern in your life? Write about, or present in some way (Prezi, whiteboard, poster board, speech, etc), how this might apply to our lives today.

-How does the stable in the book compare to the stable in Bethlehem? Present your thoughts in a way of your choosing.

-Why could the dwarves not see what everyone else could see?  Have you ever felt like this or know someone who acts like this? What can you do to help yourself or others in this situation? Or what must happen for them to want to see? Present your thoughts.

Serve  (Become):

Choose one of the following to apply what you have learned:

-Choose an action from your thoughts or writings about The Last Battle or about Raphael to work on this week.

- Teach your family what you learned from “The Last Battle” in a family lesson.  Give them a challenge and take the challenge yourself. 

-Choose a weapon or tactic of the Spirit that you want to become an expert in using to bless others.  Set a goal on how you will practice. Follow through (you may want to ask someone to check on you or write it somewhere where you’ll remember to check on yourself).

-Pray and ask for guidance in how you can become a better soldier for the Lord.  Write down and act on your prompting.

-Choose a “Serve” from Journeyman or Master readings