February Poem

See if you can memorize this poem and pass it off next time.  It's not super short, but the message is so great and true.  It's a good one to have in your memories. It goes along well with Ben Carson's Speech that you can watch below.

A Nation’s Strength

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1904)

What makes a nation’s pillars high And its foundations strong? What makes it mighty to defy The foes that round it throng? It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand Go down in battle shock; Its shafts are laid on sinking sand, Not on abiding rock. Is it the sword? Ask the red dust Of empires passed away; The blood has turned their stones to rust, Their glory to decay. And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown Has seemed to nations sweet; But God has struck its luster down In ashes at his feet. Not gold but only men can make A people great and strong; Men who for truth and honor’s sake Stand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while others sleep, Who dare while others fly... They build a nation’s pillars deep And lift them to the sky.

February Apprentice Inspirements

Apprentice:
-Read Men of Iron by Howard Pyle
-Write your favorite quote(s), thought(s), or question(s) from the book

Then choose one or more of the following:

-Research Howard Pyle and make a presentation to share with the class

 

-Take notes on how Myles took initiative or action in his decisions.  Pick one ore more decisions and tell the class why you agreed with it or disagreed.  Some questions to consider: Where did his choosing to act lead him?  What consequences came from his choice? What might have happened if  he acted differently or chosen not to act? Present your thoughts.

 

-Write down some questions or comments pertaining to the kinds of training we do or do not have comparable to what Myles endured.  Evaluate what we need to restore to our education which would better fit us mentally, morally and physically to face the challenges of our times. Present your thoughts to the class (prezi, art, speech, writing, etc)

 

-Contrast the High Court of Chivalry and the Court of Law under our Constitution.  Share your insights.

 

-Make a chart - on one side write the positive things you noticed about Chivalry and Knighthood and on the other side write the negative things you noticed.  It may help to research chivalry in another source.

 

-As you read, it may have occurred to you that somehow it seems harder to be a good knight nowadays than it was then because we have so many more ways of fighting now than in King Edward the Third's time.  A good deal of what is really combat nowadays is not called combat.  What sort of struggles present themselves to you and how do you become a courageous fighter?  Are they similar to the ones that made a great knight? Present your thoughts in a way of your choosing.

February Journeyman Inspirements

Journeyman:

-Read Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers - Mozart

-Read Music Talks for Children ch 17-18

Then choose one or more of the following:

-Practice a song written by Mozart  and bring it to share with the class

-Research a little more about Mozart and make a Prezi or other presentation about him

-After reading Chapter 17, become a "pupil of good thought" by listening several times to a favorite song by Mozart.  Make it your "principal aim to get into his heart" (pg 69) as you listen. Remember to examine your own heart before you listen, as is advised in chapter 17. Share your insights or thoughts through writing or some other medium.

-Follow the Roman Lady's advise to "not only forbear from doing anybody an ill turn, but not so much as to endure the thoughts of it" by trying to consciously monitor your thoughts for an entire day to make sure they are good "seeds" you are planting which will blossom into action.  Share your insights and what you learned through your day.

-After reading chapter 18, compare yourself to a plant.  What are some similarities and differences (besides the obvious ones!)  How do you feel about how you are growing?  What can you do to establish a firmer hold and find more light? Are some of your trials helping you grow?  In what way?  Do you do the things you do with "your heart on the task" as is advised?  Present your insights (prezi, writing, graph, skit, drawing, etc)

February Master Inspirements

Master:

- Watch one of the following videos about paintings by Van Eyck:

Jan van Eyck, Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife: Jan Van Eyck, Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife, tempera and oil on wood, 1434 (National Gallery, London)Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven ZuckerFor more: http://www.smarthistory.org/giovanni-arnolfini-and-his-wife.html


van Eyck's The Madonna in the Church: Jan van Eyck, The Madonna in the Church, c. 1438, oil on oak, 31 x 14 cm (Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin). In the Google Art Project: http://www.googleartproject.com/collection/gemaldegalerie/artwork/the-madonna-in-the-church-jan-van-eyck/330338/ \
- Read Music Talks for Children Ch 19-20

- Write your favorite quote(s), thought(s) or question(s) from the reading and do one of the following:

Research and bring a favorite painting by Van Eyck (or you can email it to me and I will have it ready to show).  Tell us what you know about it and why you like it (we will share these during Journeyman class)

Then do one of the following:

-Make a Prezi or other presentation about Van Eyck to share with the journeyman class

-"Love is the soul of genius" (ch 19), after reading the chapter, do you agree or disagree with this statement.  Why?  Be prepared to present your thoughts.

-There are so many great quotes and thoughts in both of these chapters.  Pick one that stands out to you and write about why it stood out.  Try to live by what you learned for a day or more. Share your thoughts to the class in a prepared presentation, skit, poetry, art, etc.

 Master Class will be pizza, movie, guest speaker and a discussion at my house after class.  You may bring a side dish or treat to share if you would like.  Parents may pick youth up at 6 at my house.

We will be watching "Gifted Hands" - an inspiring movie about a man who grew up in poverty, but managed to overcome many obstacles to become the world's leading pediatric neurosurgeon.  My husband had a chance to meet him when he worked at John's Hopkins a few years ago and was very impressed with him.  He is on the news a lot lately because he recently gave a talk at a prayer breakfast with Obama a few feet away and spoke some great truths about what makes America great.   Obama doesn't look very comfortable during his speech.  Here is the speech, if you are interested in watching it:


Our guest speaker will be Mark Pearce who will be playing the saw for us and telling us a little about why he learned to play.  Here is a youtube video of him to give you a glimpse:

January Apprentice Inspirements

Apprentice:
1. Watch "Finding Inspiration in the Arts" by Michael Ballam
2. Read Chapters 15-17 of Music Talks with Children
3. Write your favorite quote(s), thought(s) or question(s) from the video and reading

Then choose one or more of the following

-Explain to the class why you liked a quote or thought using a personal example

-Teach the class a principle you got from the reading or video using an object lessons or a skit

-Create a poem, picture or story from a quote or thought

-Watch Silent Night on BYUtv.org.  See if you can find any connections between Joseph Mohr and the Music Talks chapters or the video.  Come prepared to present what you learned or what inspired you.

January Journeyman Inspirements

Journeyman:
1. Read Haydn in Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers
2. Read Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Ch. 6
2. Listen to some music by Haydn
3. Find a favorite painting by Giotto (you can send it to me and I'll have it ready to put up)

Then choose one or more of the following
- Learn more about Giotto's life - you may look online (http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/giotto/) or find a children's book about him or his art (I recommend "A Boy named Giotto" or "A Glorious Impossible" (including the afterword).  Teach us what you leaned through a presentation, speech, or your own creative way.

-Choose a favorite song by Haydn, see if you can find some information about it (when he wrote it or why) and present some of the song as well as what you learned in class. (You can send the song to me if you'd like and I'll have it ready to play)

-Do a detailed drawing of your hand in a position of your choice. You can follow the directions from the Modified Contour Drawing exercises in DRS, or you can do it on your own. Try to think of the details of your hands as shapes. Share your results and thoughts about it.

-Look around the room, select something, and try drawing it without looking at the paper. Set a certain time for yourself, and during that time, don't look at the paper; just concentrate on the lines and shapes. Observe the results. Does it show detail? If you are willing, share your results.

I LOVED this beautiful video from depicting Haydn's "The Creation", you can't help being filled with gratitude and reverence as you watch it:

January Master Inspirements

Master:
1. Watch the clip above
2. Read Remembering Isaac (or another book by Ben Behunin if you've already read Remembering Isaac).

Then do one of the following

- Take notes as you read or underline favorite passages. When you are done with the book, look back through your notes and be ready to present and teach about what you got from the book.

- Choose one or more "Inspirements to Do" AND one or more "Inspirements to Answer" from the bookmark. Be prepared share your thoughts to the class in a presentation or in writing.

Here they are if you didn't print out your bookmark (written by Sis. Johnson):

Answer:
This book is full of morals! What morals stood out to you
from the book? Write them down to share

Do:
Look up Niederbipp. Does it exist? What did you learn about
it? Would it be a place you would like to visit someday?

Answer:
Would you have gone to Niederbipp? Would you have taken
your dream if you didn't feel ready for it? What do you think
Jake decides? Are you ever afraid of your big dreams?

Do:
Did you enjoy the authors doodles and sketches? Create a
book full of your doodles and sketches. Think about why you
like to doodle or sketch. Share with us your doodles and
thoughts

Answer:
Which of the towns people are you favorite? Which ones are
you similar to? Which ones really bug you? Why?

Do:
If someone had to make a bench for you what would you want
it to include? What type of a person do you want to be
remembered as? Sketch your own bench design

Answer:
Are you like Jake? How does Jake begin to become Isaac?

Answer
Are you like Isaac? How do you want to become like Isaac?

Do:
Jake learns about tithing in the book. Why do you think the
author included this in the book? What are your feelings about
tithing. Pay your tithing and look for the blessings to come.

Answer:
What are some good things about living in a small town?
What are some bad things? How is where you live similar or
different from the story? What can you change about the
environment you live in right now to make it better?

Do:
Jake has to learn the lessons of the pottery collection...do you
have a collection? Why or why not? Begin a collection that is
a “teaching collection” what collection ideas did you come up
with?

Answer:
Pg 288...” His knowledge led him to action”..pg 289 ”.He
inspired us all to be better people” How does knowledge lead
us to action? How can you inspire others to be better
people?

Do:
Look up all the scriptures that are referenced in the book.
Why do you think potters are mentioned so many times in the
scriptures? Are there any references to potters that were not
included in the book

Answer:
This book is a parable of sorts. What did you learn from this
parable. What other books have you read that are parables?
Why are parables so powerful?

Do:
Jake writes in his sketchbook the things that he has learned.
Do likewise. Every time Jake writes in his sketchbook you
write in your journal, bookmark, sketchbook, etc things you
learn from the book

Answer:
Do you have anyone in your life who is an Isaac to
you...teaching you, leading you? How can you show your
gratitude to the Isaac's in your life?

Do:
Write a paper contrasting ownership vs stewardship. Share it
with us

Answer:
Umm...there is a hint of romance in this book (sorry boys) Do
you think that it is a good relationship? Do you think it is a
healthy relationship? Why or why not?

If you loved this book. Go the extra mile and read
Discovering Isaac and Becoming Isaac.