Week 9

I hope you all enjoyed watching The Winter Patriots as much as I did! I know some of the battle details can get a little tedious if you're not into that sort of thing, but seeing the maps and troop movements can really give you some perspective on the war. Considering the size of our nation today, all the most popular battles of the revolution were fought in a relatively small land area, so the war was very close to home (sometimes at home!) for most colonists. I imagine every colonist probably felt they were personally involved in the war, which is probably why Thomas Paine's American Crisis paper inspired so many colonists to stay in the fight. Here's some food for thought, that maybe we can discuss in class next week: Have you ever felt connected to or affected by a situation that didn't involve you personally? Maybe a circumstance with a friend or family member, or an event that was making news? Think about it, and we'll share in class.

Assignments this week:

Opinion Paper: "For though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire." Is this a true statement? What does this statement mean to you?

Parent Night: Please be thinking about a presentation idea for parent night that will wow them, make them laugh, cry, or all of the above! You had some good ideas last week; just remember that we'll only have about 10-15 minutes to present.

Declaration of Independence: Do your best to get as much of this document memorized as possible over the break! Looking at it only once or twice a week WILL NOT be enough! After speaking to teacher Genne, Mrs. Brennan and I decided we would let you pass off the Declaration one section at a time to make it a less formidable. So shoot to have through the Statement of "Petitioned" done by next Thursday, 12/1. Again, if you email me BEFORE then and tell me you have it memorized to that point, I will bring you a yummy treat!

Reading: Being George Washington by Glenn Beck. To be discussed on January 5th, with Leila leading our discussion.

Presentations: Thanks Reina, for the presentation on Betsy Ross! Now we know why the stars on the flag have 5 points! Next week, we look forward to hearing from Ethan on the role of the Navy in the Revolutionary War. The words "I have not yet begun to fight!" come to mind...

I think that's all for now! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and in the spirit of the holiday I will say that I am very grateful for the opportunity I have to be your mentor for Key of Liberty, and for each of you and your participation in this class. You guys make learning and teaching really enjoyable for me! Thank you!

-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 8

This week we discussed overcoming roadblocks. You guys all had some really good suggestions of what to do when you face roadblocks, and now that we've studied about people who have overcome really hard things (the pilgrims, Ji Li Jiang, the American colonists, John Adams, the other 55 signers of the Declaration), you should have a lot of inspiration to draw upon when you hit roadblocks in your own lives. You all are a strong, intelligent, faithful bunch of scholars, and we have no doubts that you'll be able to achieve anything you set your minds to do!

**Remember Friday, December 2nd is the class pizza and movie night. We'll possibly watch April Morning at my house in Graham, but we'll let everyone know as soon as we finalize plans.

Assignments This Week:

 

• Presentations: Reina will give us a presentation on Betsy Ross and the first flag. We're excited to hear what you find out, Reina! I hear Lucy's and Dean's presentations were excellent, and I'm sorry I missed them...except for the moving rocks part!

• Opinion Paper: How do you overcome roadblocks in your life?

• Morning News Discussion: Be prepared with news tidbits to share!

• Reading: Make sure to read The American Crisis by Thomas Paine (in your binder) by next week and take note of any questions or comments you have so we can discuss them in class. Also, keep working on Being George Washington by Glenn Beck.

• D.o.I. Memorization: If you haven't memorized through the Statement of "History" yet, do your best to get it done this week! If you have, start on the Statement of "Petitioned," which comes right after the 27 Injuries of the King. I'll bring an extra special treat for those who email me before Thursday to tell me they have through the Statement of "History" memorized! 

 

• Other: Remember to come up with some ideas for a short skit or presentation that our class can do for parent night. We want to show all those parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. that learning about our nation's founding isn't stuffy or boring! (And we want to outshine the Sword of Freedom class!)

Have a great week, y'all!

 

-Mrs. Hellyer

 

Week 7

We learned about the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence this week; that they were men of fortune and reputation that had a lot to lose by putting their names to the document. They definitely were not changing their government for "light and transient causes!" Reading and discussing the John Adams book helped to give us a little more insight into the impact the path to independence had on these men, and also the influence they had on their fellow colonists. Thank you, Lucy, for having some thought-provoking questions prepared for our discussion! I encourage you all to read and study more about these men, because the few minutes we spent talking bout them in class really did them little justice. You will find their stories are both humbling and inspiring...

"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

 -Benjamin Franklin, encouraging the delegates to the Continental Congress to unite and vote for independence from Britain.

 

Here is a link to the video we watched in class for those who were absent:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa8IdmKapYk

Assignments

Opinion Paper: What is more important: your family or your country?

Morning News Discussion: The presidential election is on Tuesday! Please pay attention to the results, and what predictions are being made about the election and the next presidential term so we can discuss this in class.

Presentations: Thanks to Paige for a great presentation on Continental soldiers (very creative use of Legos)! This week we look forward to hearing interesting presentations from Lucy on life as a prisoner and prisons, and from Dean on Francis Marion "the Swamp Fox."

Reading: Being George Washington by Glenn Beck is the next book we will be discussing, so please have it completed by January 5th. Everyone needs to prepare 2 questions or comments to share during book discussion. A good tip: while you are reading the book, jot down or underline anything you think is comment-worthy or anything you have a question about. It's that easy! Leila is the lucky scholar who gets the honor of leading the discussion for this book!

D.o.I. Memorization: Our goal this week is to have through the Statement of "History" memorized by Thursday. Please work on this for a few minutes several times a day. I know you guys can do this!

**Don't forget about your other award requirements for this semester! All first semester award requirements need to be completed by January 12th. I know your parents would really like to see those keys jam-packed with ribbons on display for parent night! If you need help getting things finished, please come talk to either me or Mrs. Brennan.

See you all Thursday!

-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 6

This week we learned a little about the battles of Lexington and Concord. I recommend watching the movie April Morning for a good, dramatic depiction of those battles. We also began talking a bit about John Adams and the kind of man he was. Make sure you finish the John Adams book by next Thursday for our book discussion!



Check out this video of the dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence that I told you about in class:







We have Friday, December 2nd on the calendar for a class pizza and movie night, so keep watching the blog for more details!

Assignments This Week:

• Presentations: We will be pleased to hear from Paige on life as a soldier in the Continental Army, and from Taylor on hospitals and doctors in the War.

• Opinion Paper: Define the word stubborn. Is it good to be stubborn?

• Reading: Finish John Adams: Reluctant Patriot of the Revolution. I would like Lucy to lead the book discussion this week, so please read through the page in your binder titled Steps in Leading a Colloquium, which gives you information on how to do this. If you have any questions about this, please call or email me before Thursday.

• Declaration of Independence: Memorize through the Statement of "Patient" by Thursday for a candy treat!

• Other: Try working on 2 items for the Heritage Award to mark them off your list, or memorizing the 10 Commandments.

 

Have a fun and safe Halloween, and don't each too much candy!

 

-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 5

We had a lengthy discussion this week on the tipping point of the revolution. We learned that the colonists were more angry at being taxed without representation than they were about paying the taxes themselves. What really sent them over the edge, though, was the Massachusetts Government Act which took away MA colonists' right to govern themselves (which they had been doing for the previous 83 years). I also forgot to mention the Administration of Justice Act which replaced all locally elected magistrates with judges appointed by the king. The colonists wouldn't hear of it! They showed up by the thousands at courthouses all over Massachusetts and blocked the entrances, and non-violently demanded the king's judges to disavow the king and leave their posts, or else the judges would be chased out of their homes. The judges were greatly outnumbered, as were Governor Gage's troops, and so did as they were told. No royal courts were ever held under the Administration of Justice Act, and thus the colonists successfully overthrew the British government in Massachusetts, eight months before "the shot heard 'round the world" began the war!

“So how do the people resist unjust authority, which, we all agree, they must and should do and have done in the past? The best solution anyone has come up with is to say that violent revolutions can be avoided (and therefore, violent mobs legitimately suppressed) if 'the people' are understood to have the right to challenge the laws through nonviolent civil disobedience.”  -David Graeber

Assignments This Week:

• Pay attention to the news! We would like to hear from everyone this week, something in the news that is relevant to our rights or liberty.
• Opinion Paper: When is it right to defend your liberty with guns?
• No presentations this week, but awesome job to Ethan this week on teaching us about the Boston Massacre and the Sons of Liberty! Our next presentations will be on November 3rd given by Paige on Life as a soldier, and by Taylor on hospitals and doctors.
• Reading: John Adams: Reluctant Patriot of the Revolution. Please have this book completed before class on November 3rd. One of you lucky scholars will be leading the book discussion that week!
• Award Requirements: Work on memorizing the Declaration of Independence through the Statement of "Train;" we will recite it together in class, and treats will abound for those who can meet the challenge! Also, keep plugging away at that Heritage Award and the others!

Carry on, scholars!

-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 4

This week we discussed unalienable rights, which are entitlements that come from God alone and cannot be taken away by any man. The Declaration of Independence names life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as among these rights, and implies that we have more rights that are not specifically named.

"The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it, which...teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions; for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise maker; all the servants of one sovereign master, sent into the world by His order and about His business; they are His property..."  -John Locke

We also discussed the Landing of the Pilgrims, and the important influence their sacrifices and courage have had on all the generations of Americans who have come after them. Thanks, everyone, for sharing your thoughts!

Assignments this week:

• Opinion Paper: What are your God-given rights? *If you need some ideas, try reading the Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution).
• Presentations: Ethan will be presenting his research on the Boston Tea Party and the Sons of Liberty. Nice work, Leila, on your presentation on the Boston Massacre!
• Memorization: Try to have through the "Statement of Prudence" memorized by next Thursday (more is better!) if you want a treat!
• Reading: Work on John Adams: Reluctant Patriot of the Revolution, which we will discuss in class on October 26th. Please have the book FINISHED before class on that day!

As always, don't neglect your other award requirements. We know you all have a lot to do each week, so use your time wisely! By the end of the year, you will look back and be very proud of all you will have accomplished and learned!

Keep up the good work, young patriots!

-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 3 Update

This week we learned the importance of morality in government. People cannot practice republicanism or "self-governance" without first practicing virtue. We also learned a surprising insight by Thomas Paine, that most Americans were more virtuous because they were free-holders of property, and this led to an increased involvement by the colonists in public affairs. A spirit of reformation swept through the colonies in the 2 years prior to the revolution, which inspired the colonists to want to maintain their improved quality of life by becoming independent from Britain, which they viewed as wallowing in "elegance, luxury, and effeminacy."

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." -Ben Franklin

"The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy the gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy it." -Samuel Adams

Here is the video I tried to show in class:



Your opinion paper topic this week is: Why is a moral people required for good government?

Kudos to Dean and Leila for their well-done presentations! Next week, we will hear from Leila again on The Boston Massacre. I'm excited to see what creative visual aid you come up for this one, Leila!

Make sure to complete The Landing of the Pilgrims by Thursday for book discussion, and please come prepared with some questions and/or comments to share.

Please keep working on your award requirements. Remember, I will bring a special treat next week for the scholar who can recite from memory the most of the Declaration of Independence!

-Mrs. Hellyer