Sharing Your Genius

We started off with a bang - actually it was almost a sword fight.  Gabe gave a great presentation on James Monroe and brought in a giant sword.  He was very prepared with skits, interviews, pictures and treats.  He really raised the bar for our President reports.

We then had the students pull out their time cards.  Kensi was the reigning champ and we waited to see if anyone could take that crown away from her.....it was close there were a couple close calls but Kensi took it again!  The gauntlet has been thrown!  Challenge is on.  Work hard on your time cards.  There are NO new cards this week so there should be plenty of time to study the cards especially since there was no homework last week.  ;)  FYI we will bring lunch in the last day of class for whomever has all the cards momorized in order....

We started the lecture off talking about the California missions.  The Spainards set up Missions all along the coast in California, each one within a days ride of the rest.  The missions did some great work in bringing trading to the coast, farming, and Christianity.  However to set these things up they took away the freedoms and free agency of the Native Americans.  We talked about the consequences that happened for this expansion and overreach.

 Ammon started us off with the pledge and a patriotic quote

Can you see James Monroe in that picture?

Gabe gave a great presentation!

 Gabe had the students perform a skit during his presentation of James Monroe

 They were all excited to help out!

 Some yummy and bloody treats from Gabe's presentation

 Kensi our reigning Queen of Note Cards!

 Gabe and Nicolas helping paint our mission roof

 They were so good today!

 Working on our mission.  Who knew it could be that complicated?

 The girls worked diligently and quietly as usual ;)

 Teamwork makes the dream work

 The California missions

It's almost done - we will show the final product next week

We then compared that to sharing our own beliefs and when it is appropriate and when it isn't.  We also talked about great ways to share the blessings they have been blessed with in their education, religion and their God given talents.  We talked about how we know where and how God wants us to share our genius.  We had a great discussion and it was great to see the students come up with some great ways to mentor siblings, share beliefs with friends and how they can do that as a missionaries someday or even today.  We also talked about instances where it is good to learn from another person's story and share our story as well.  Even if that sharing never turns into them accepting their thoughts on education, values or religion we have just touched someone's life and they have just learned a valuable lesson.  We interrupt this message to add a secret encrypted blog question to see if you are actually reading this.  Comment with your favorite candy on the blog.  Parents please don't prompt your students.  We want to see who is reading the blog and checking for their assignments!

We then moved on to making our missions.  The kids were excited becuase some of them had never built a mission before.  We had some kids cutting out the parts, some building the mission and some painting the mission.  We worked really hard but we ran out of time. 

HOMEWORK

*Come prepared with 2 inventors of your choice for the Inventor report.  The report is not due until the end of the semester but we want to narrow down the choices.  Come with 2 in case there are duplicates.  It can be any inventor!

*Start Working on your maps - you will need to know all US states up to 1860 by the end of the semester

*STUDY your notecards!  The treats will keep getting bigger and bigger!

*Prep for the debate - the slavery argument.  You won't know what side you will be on so be prepared to argue both sides.

*Continue reading In the Shadow of the Alamo - due November 1st