Pioneers

Sister DeGuzman started the class off with their timeline cards.  It is getting harder and harder each week as we add cards to our timelines.  Encourage your student to study those cards!  They are welcome to put pictures or drawings on if it would help them.

 Sister Tollestrup then gave our first President report on President Polk while the students colorfully filled out their critique sheets.  We learned that President Polk had an obituary written about him dying of diarrhea before actually died.

 We then talked about what it means to be a pioneer.

pi·o·neer

A person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area.

Verb:Develop or be the first to use or apply (a new method, area of knowledge, or activity).

We talked about past pioneers and pioneers of the last 50 years. 
Neal Armstrong, Bill Gates, Condaleeza Rice etc.

We talked about how they can be pioneers in their own lives today.

We talked about the Donner Party and the Mormon Battalion but ran out of time to watch the videos on those groups.  The kids will get extra credit if they watch the videos!

Mormon Battalion Video 

Donner Party (warning - there is disturbing content)

We had a great book discussion of The Oregon Trail.  We were so proud of the kids who came prepared with the book read and 10 captures.  We hope ALL of our students will come prepared next time.  The students who were prepared got a treat of donuts.  I brought plenty to go around and went home with way too many.  There was a great discussion with the students captures.  It really helped to keep the discussion going.  We decided the book was very informative but very dry.  The kids that made it all the way through the book were troopers!

 Lamoni is one of our big thinkers

 There was a lot of concentration as the kids made their way on their trail

 Kaden is always good for a face off in class

 We also played a version of the Oregon Trail game.  The kids felt firsthand what good and bad luck means to you on the trail.

 We mapped out the Mormon Battalion Trail, the Donner Party Trail and the Oregon Trail

We had yet another great week with your students.  Thank you for sharing them with us!

HOMEWORK

Study timeline cards!

Write about how you are or can be a pioneer today.
Format can be essay, short story, journal entries, newspaper article,
Format can be essay, short story, journal entries, newspaper article, etc. Be
creative!

Read The Gift of Cochise by Louis L’Amour (hand out)
Discussion next week.

President Report - Meridian - William Henry Harrison

Patriotic Quote - Nadya