Week 13: 12/14/17

I hope you all are enjoying your Christmas break, but don't get too comfortable! As Master Yoda would say, "A [scholar] must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind...Much to learn you still have..."

 

Last week we discussed the surrender of the British army under General Cornwallis at Yorktown, VA. (I'm sure George Washington took some secret pleasure in being able to finally end the war in his home state--Go, Home Team, Woot-woot!--but was too much of a gentleman to gloat about it!) Even though the major fighting had ended with Yorktown, it took a full 2 years to make it official at the Treaty of Paris in 1783. You might be able to imagine why it took so long; hashing out all the details of national borders, timelines for British occupation, trade agreements and debt reconciliation. I'm glad I didn't have to be part of that--ugh!--but I'm grateful for those who were (Ben Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams)!

 

Check out this link to see some of the original document and/or read the full text of the treaty:

 

https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=6

 

Watch the videos below for a quick review of the Battle at Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris 1783:

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

• Award Requirements: January 11th (the day we come back from break) is your *LAST DAY to pass off award requirements!!!!

 

• Opinion Paper: For those of you who have not already turned in 11 papers this semester, here is your topic: What are you willing to do to pay the price of freedom? Also, check the opinion paper tracking sheet in the email to see if you are missing any papers, and contact me with any questions or concerns.

 

 

• Parent Night: Please make sure you have your part of the skit planned out and written down so we can rehearse during our next class meeting, January 11th. This may involve emailing your classmates, so please contact me if you need help finding an email or putting your part together.

 

• Declaration of Independence Journal: This must be COMPLETED by January 18th so you can join us on the field trip to the capitol followed by going out to lunch!

 

• Reading: Begin reading Freedom Factor by Gerald Lund so that you will have it completed by February 1st, the first day of second semester.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and I look forward to seeing you'ns again next year!

-Mrs. Hellyer

 

 

 

Week 12: 12/07/17

This week Mrs. Maxwell taught us about the Battle of Monmouth, where, despite the traitorous General Lee's efforts to destroy the revolutionary effort, Washington was able to rally his men (thanks to Baron Von Steuben's excellent training) and restore order to a chaotic situation. Though Lee's treachery prevents the Americans from a decisive victory at Monmouth, Washington gets his retribution when Lee is finally court-martialed and dismissed from military service. 

 

We also learned about another great American hero, the Marquis de La Fayette, or (if you want to impress your friends and family), Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette. He became one of George Washington's closest friends and confidants, and never wavered from his devotion to the American cause of liberty. He is still honored all over the United States with cities and streets that bear his name, as well as with monuments.

 

    

 

We didn't get a chance to talk about the war campaign in the southern colonies, but there was a lot going on there, too, especially in Charleston, SC. Here is a great video from the History Channel to give you some background...

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

Opinion Paper: You thought you were getting off easy this week--ha! Not so! Your topic is, When the war was over and thousands had died, was it worth it?

Devotional: Athen, you got this!

Presentations: Thanks to Elsa and Gwen for their very informative presentations on spies and women in the war! Sariah and Corban will be enlightening our minds next week by sharing their extensive research.

Reading: Our book discussion on Being George Washington by Glenn Beck next week will be led (per request) by Elsa. Make sure you have completed the book before next Thursday! Treats will be provided for those who have completed the assignment!

Award Requirements: You have only 2 class days left to pass off first semester requirements! That's everything except the Heritage Award, which you still have until April 12th to complete. If you have any missing papers, get those turned in, work on your Declaration of Independence memorization and journaling (for the field trip reward), memorize your 10 commandments and 13 colonies, and watch your movies over Christmas break.

Have a wonderful weekend! -Mrs. Hellyer

Week 11: 11/30/17

 

Last week we talked about all the hardships faced by George Washington and the Continental Army during the winter of 1777-'78 at Valley Forge. I think the simulation also helped us to gain a better understanding of the challenges the Continental Congress faced as well, as they tried to meet the needs of the army and manage the war. Here is a great video about the winter encampment at valley forge that tells the story much better than I did...

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Opinion Paper - Write a letter home as if you were someone who lived in the colonial period. Remember to be creative with this one! You can be anyone (a soldier, a slave, John Adams, a wife working in an army hospital, a delegate in the Congress, a prisoner of war, a spy--there are so many choices!) and I can't wait to read what you've come up with!

 

Parent Night Presentation - Please come up with some ideas to share for your skit. We'll take some time in class to work on this, so come prepared!

 

Presentations - We will be pleased to hear from Elsa and Gwen this week.

 

Reading - One week left to finish Being George Washington! Please be ready to discuss it next week, December 14th. I would like Sariah to lead the discussion, but everyone should come prepared with questions or comments or quotes to share. Our next book is Freedom Factor, which we will discuss on the first day of second semester.

 

Award Requirements - Some of you tried to pass off some of the Declaration of Independence last week--and came so close! Keep working hard on your memorization, and don't forget to do your Declaration journal so you can go on the field trip at the end of the semester!

 

Have a lovely remainder of the week! And remember to send me a reply email when you've read the blog! -Mrs. Hellyer 

 

 

 

Week 10: 11/16/17

Last week we learned a bit about the principles and characteristics of our great and revered leader, George Washington. We learn from his public life that he had many honorable qualities, but did you know he worked hard--even as a boy--to attain those qualities? George Washington knew from a young age that he wanted to be someone special and important, so he set to work early to reach that goal. One of the ways he did this was by practicing good etiquette (something we could all improve on these days). Here is a link to the actual guidebook that George Washington used, called Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation:

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/gdc/scd0001/2010/2010_01/20100519003wa/20100519003wa.pdf

Read through these and we'll talk about which ones were your favorites (or the funniest) in class.

Here's a funny video about the rules of civility that you might enjoy, too...

 

 

 

 

Assignments:

 

Devotional: I believe it's Madeline's turn again!

Opinion Paper: I'm missing a few opinion papers from last week, so if you did not turn yours in, please email it to me this week. I really don't want to have a backlog of papers to read at the end of the semester! The topic this week is What made George Washington a great man? How can you become more like him? Please be specific with your examples!

Parent Night: Please brainstorm 2-3 solid ideas for our class parent night presentation and be ready to discuss and vote on them when we meet again, November 30th.

Reading: Keep working on Being George Washington, due December 14th

Award Requirements:

• I hope you all used the break to work on these! A few tips: practice the Declaration for a few minutes several times a day and you'll have it down in no time! Also, something that helps me to memorize things quickly is to write it down/copy it 2 or 3 times--give it a try...

• Keep working on your Declaration of Independence journal...I really want to be able to take everyone on the field trip to the capitol (and out to lunch afterward!).

I hope you all had a wonderful break and a Happy Thanksgiving! -Mrs. Hellyer

Week 9: 11/09/17



Last week we watched one of my favorite videos about George Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware River. It was such a trying time for our little "ragtag"army, and a seemingly impossible task for our newly appointed General Washington to lead them to victory. The strength and perseverance of these men is so inspiring to me, and I hope you all will draw the same inspiration from them, and know that you, too--with faith and determination--can endure and overcome difficult trials.

 

 

Also, check out this website for Civil War Trust that has a TON of great videos about the American Revolution (and they're only 4 minutes each!):

 

https://www.civilwar.org/learn/videos?field_war_tid%5B%5D=2
 

 

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 it mean to you? PLEASE re-read The American Crisis No. 1 by Thomas Paine, and study the context of this quote. Also, discuss this with your parents and ask them what they think--they're pretty good resources!

 

Presentations: Thank you to Gwen and Corban for your informative presentations! We will be pleased to hear from Corban again this week on weaponry and battle tactics, as well as Madeline on Betsy Ross (feel free to change your presentation a bit, Madeline, if you feel Mr. O'Neal gave us sufficient information).

 

Award Requirements: We have only 6 classes left before the end of the semester, and some of the most time consuming award requirements are left unfinished (ie. the Declaration of Independence). I know you guys can get all the ribbons if you work hard, so let's get some things passed off! We also will be discussing our presentation for parent night this week, which usually includes reciting the Declaration from memory. Let's make our parents proud!

 

Reading: Keep working on Being George Washington by Glenn Beck, which we will be discussing on December 14th. If you finish that, you can start reading Freedom Factor by Gerald Lund (one of my faves!)

 

One last thing: I received only 6 thank you cards for Mr. O'Neal, so if you forgot to turn yours in last week, PLEASE bring it this week so I can mail them to him on Friday. Thank you!

Enjoy the storm! -Mrs. Hellyer

Week 8: 11/02/17

I hope everyone enjoyed the presentation by Mr. Bob O'Neil. I learned a lot (and took a lot of notes), how about you guys? This week, there is no opinion paper, but your writing assignment is to write a thank you card to Mr. O'Neil for doing the presentation, and make you sure you include something you learned from him. Please use your best handwriting, and be very polite and gracious!

Also:

• We will be pleased to hear presentations from Gwen and Corban this Thursday

• I would like to assign Elsa the devotional this week

• PLEASE take time to work on your award requirements, since you don't have to write a paper--I will have candy for anyone who can pass off a section or more of the Declaration of Independence! 

Have a great week, and I'll see everyone Thursday! -Mrs. Hellyer

Week 7: 10/26/17

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." These are the final words of the Declaration of Independence to which the 56 delegates unhesitatingly signed their names, as it were, in blood. We learned that these were men who had much to lose by attaching themselves to this document, and in fact, many of them did lose all they had in the world--money, property, loved ones, even their lives. What they gained, however, was the respect and honor of the American people--us--who even now should still revere these men for their selfless devotion to the causes of liberty and justice.

 

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

-Benjamin Franklin

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS THIS WEEK:

 

Opinion Paper: What is more important: your family or your country, and why? Think about both sides of this question; I want to read some really well-thought answers!

 

We have a guest speaker this week, Mr. Bob O'Niel, from the Sons of the American Revolution. He is graciously volunteering his time to present some very interesting information to us, so I expect that we will show our appreciation by being on our best behavior!

 

Have fun tonight if you're going trick-or-treating, and be safe! See you all Thursday!

-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 6: 10/19/17

John Adams never really gets the credit he deserves for his devotion and sacrifice to the cause of freedom! True, he did have a personality that tended toward stubbornness and pedantry* (look it up!), often irritating and annoying others, which probably has contributed to his being often overlooked when referring to the great founding fathers, but he was steadfast and unwavering in his principles. He believed all men had the right to live free, and be treated justly, and that's something we should all be able to agree on! Enjoy this clip from the HBO John Adams series, and watch the whole movie if you get a chance (maybe over Thanksgiving break)...

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS REMINDER:

 

• Opinion Paper: Define the word "stubborn." Is it good to be stubborn? I expect to read some really thoughtful answers. I love reading what you think about these topics, and you all have been making solid improvements in your writing each week. Keep it up!

 

• Reading: Finish John Adams: Reluctant Patriot of the Revolution for our book discussion on Thursday. Since I forgot to assign someone to lead the book discussion, everyone please have a question or quote from the book prepared to share.

 

• Presentations: Lots of good historical info was shared by Athen last week on the battles of Lexington and Concord. Nice job! This week we will be pleased to hear from Elliot and Madeline on Life as a Soldier and Hospitals and Doctors, respectively.

 

Keep plugging away at your Declaration of Independence Journal (and memorization). It's a lot of work, but well worth the effort, I promise!

 

I can't wait to see your costumes on Thursday! Happy studying! -Mrs. Hellyer



Week 5: 10/12/17

Last week, we got a "taste" of the frustration the colonists felt at being unfairly taxed by the British. The British didn't start out trying to punish the colonies, but the taxes and regulations became punitive after the Boston Tea Party. Both sides refused to give in to the other, and ultimately, revolution ensued.

 

Assignments this week:

 

• Opinion Paper: When is it right to defend your liberty with guns?

• Presentation: Awesome job to Elsa for her presentation on the Boston Tea Party! She taught most of my lesson, and the tea was a great finishing touch! We will be pleased to learn about the Battles of Lexington and Concord from Athen this week.

• Reading:
• Keep reading John Adams and have it finished by October 26th for our discussion. 
• Read the Declaration of Independence and highlight vocabulary words. Use your Declaration of Independence (DoI) journal to write definitions. 

• Devotional: I am assigning Sariah for this week. Please look for a scripture that is relative to freedom, liberty, justice, government, or all of the above.

 

Check out this video for a brief explanation of the meaning of the Declaration of Independence. There's also a "groovy" song from the 1970's after this video that may help you in your memorization efforts: 

 

 

 

Keep working on memorizing your DoI. It's a super important document and vital tour national identity, and--even though it's a lot of work--you'll be really glad you memorized it someday (like when you're an adult and you feel like no one in the government is listening to you)!

 

Happy school week! - Mrs. Hellyer

 

 

Week 4: 10/05/17

Unalienable/inalienable rights are those rights given to us by "Nature's God." They cannot be altered or taken away except by Him who gave them to us in the first place...but definitely not by government! The founders listed these rights in the Declaration of Independence as "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," but there are several more listed in the Bill of Rights--a document written almost 2 decades later. A simple way to think about these rights would be to imagine a person crawling into a bear's den to pet the bear cubs. The mother bear would certainly tear that person to pieces, and no one would call for that mother bear to be harmed or punished because she has the natural "right" to defend her cubs. Now apply that same logic to a person's home, or life, or freedom.

ASSIGNMENTS THIS WEEK:

• Opinion Paper: What are your God-given rights?

• Reading: The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere by Longfellow. Make sure to highlight vocabulary words as you read, and make definition notes in the margins of the poem. Also, be reading John Adams: Reluctant Patriot of the Revolution which we will discuss on October 26th. 

• Presentations: Thanks to Athen for presenting on the Boston Massacre. I'm sorry I missed it, but I'm sure it was informative! This week, Elsa will enlighten our minds with her research on the Boston Tea Party.

• Devotional: Corban will share a scripture message this week.

Lastly, how's that Declaration of independence memorization coming along? If you work on it a little every day, you'll have it memorized by January, and you'll be able to earn your red, white and blue ribbon (not to mention, the lifelong knowledge you will have gained!).

-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 3: 9/28/17

Last week we discussed the importance of morality in regards to government. The founders were insistent that both the governing and the governed had to be virtuous for freedom and self-governance to succeed. The people had to recognize and live by a higher law (God's law) in order to create communities respectful of individuals' rights, and those in positions of power had to do the same in order to avoid the temptations that come with holding such positions. Here's the video that I wanted to show you in class. Mr. Christensen has some great insight on this topic...

 

 

 

Assignments this week:

• Opinion Paper - Why is a moral people required for good government?

• Reading - Finish reading The Landing of the Pilgrims. Our discussion will be led by Corban. There will be treats for those who read their books!

 

• Presentations - Thanks to Sariah and Elliot for teaching us a bit more about our nation's past. This week, we will be pleased to hear from Athen on the Boston Massacre.

Enjoy the rest of your week! -Mrs. H.



Week 2: 9/21/17

Great job to you all for participation in our first class simulation! That one's a doozy, too, but you guys finally figured out how to stay in character and argue as the delegates you represented. I hope you were able to realize how difficult it really was for the founding fathers to come together and decide to break away from England. There were so many consequences to consider--treason, impact on families, economics, casualties of war, interstate and international relations, etc.--before the founders were able to commit to independence. Even John Adams, who lived through some of the worst oppression from the British in Boston, didn't want to break away from Great Britain until he believed there was no other option.

 

Check out the video below that captures some of the colonists' anger and frustration with the mother country:

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS THIS WEEK:

• Opinion Paper - What did you learn about the founders by participating in the simulation? What did you learn about yourself? How will you change because of what you learned? (By completing this paper, you will earn your key...YAY!)

• Presentations - We will be pleased to hear our first class presentations given this Thursday by Elliot and Sariah (check last week's blog if you need a refresher about topics or dates).

• Reading - Please read the Mayflower Compact (in your binder) and write a list of vocabulary words (words you don't know) with their definitions in your notebook. Also, keep reading The Landing of the Pilgrims which we will discuss on October 5th.

• Devotional - Athen will give the devotional this week.

Keep working on those award requirements, especially memorizing the Declaration of Independence. I REALLY want to see some ribbons tied to your keys!! See you'ns Thursday!

 

-Mrs. Hellyer

Presentation Schedule

I forgot to add this to the blog, so please make sure you have written down your presentation in your planner:

9/28

1. Elliot: Life as a Puritan and the Salem Witch Trials
2. Sariah: The French and Indian War

10/05

1. Athen: The Boston Massacre

10/12

1. Elsa: Boston Tea Party and the Sons of Liberty

10/19

1. Athen: Lexington and Concord

10/26

1. Madeline: Hospitals and Doctors in the Revolutionary War
2. Elliot: Life as a Soldier in the Continental Army

11/09

1. Corban: Life as a Prisoner and Prisons in Colonial America
2. Gwen: Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox"

11/16

1. Madeline: Betsy Ross and the First Flag
2. Corban: Weaponry and Battle Tactics of the Revolutionary War

12/07

1. Elsa: The Role of Spies in the Revolution

12/14

1. Gwen: Famous Women of the War
2. Sariah: Benjamin Franklin and the Treaty of Paris

I'll also post this schedule up in the classroom. Remember, you don't need to write a paper for this, just give an oral/visual presentation of what you learned. Have fun with it; costumes, props, games, etc. are highly encouraged!
-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 1: 9/14/17

Welcome to Key of Liberty! It was so nice to see the familiar faces and meet the new scholars! I hope that you all weren't too overwhelmed with the deluge of information you were given in class yesterday. True, there will be a lot of hard work this year, but you all are more than capable of accomplishing all your goals and earning those rewards! It's going to be a great year!

This week we discussed what it means when we say "America is your land." This country is the precious inheritance we have received from the generations before us, and we must do our best to be informed, intelligent, responsible citizens who will pass that inheritance on to the next generation, in a better condition than it was received.

Here are your assignments for this week:

• Remember to look through your award requirements and start planning (using your planner) to work on those a little bit every week. This includes your Declaration of Independence journal if you want to go on the field trip to the Capitol in January.

• Opinion Paper: What is your responsibility to America and freedom? This is due at the beginning of the next class. Please use your rubric as a guide to help you turn in your best work!

• Reading: Start reading The Landing of the Pilgrims if you haven't already. Our book discussion will be on October 5th, led by Corban.

• Devotional: This week I'm assigning devotional to Elliot, because I forgot to do it in class, and he lives with me which makes it convenient!

Have a great week, everyone!
-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 13

This week we discussed the rights of the people as defined in the 6th, 7th and 8th Amendments. The basic rights are: no excessive bails or fines, fair and timely access to the courts, legal defense and trial by a jury of one's peers, and no cruel and/or unusual punishments for crimes. Although it might be our natural impulse to want to punish criminals severely, our founders had the divinely-inspired wisdom and compassion to ensure that even the least among us had basic rights given to them by God, and above all, that they deserve to have the same opportunities to defend themselves and repent of their ways.

PRESENTATIONS: We will be pleased to hear presentations given by Lucy and Reina.

OPINION PAPER: Should a murderer be sentenced to die by the same means as his victim?**Also, if you haven't turned in all your opinion papers, make sure you do so by May 11th if you want to receive your ribbon!

READING: We will be discussing The Proper Role of Government by Ezra Taft Benson next week, May 4th. I would like to assign Dean to lead the discussion.

DEVOTIONAL: Assigned to Paige

NEWS: Your homework is to come to class with one story that is relevant to what we are learning in class. There's a lot going on, so this should be super easy!

AWARD REQUIREMENTS: Get 'em done! You have only 2 weeks left--May 11th is the last day to pass them off! Please take time on Thursday to check your keys and ribbons and make sure you have everything you earned, so I don't have to try to track all of this down outside of class.

I think Reina borrowed A More Perfect Union, so please be sure to bring it back as soon as possible so the next scholar in line can borrow it!

Have a fabulous weekend, and I'll see you when I get back from The Golden Triangle (and if you can tell me what that is, I might have a prize for you)! -Mrs. Hellyer

Week 11

Super job to all of you in the Constitution Bowl! Mrs. Brennan and I, and your parents are all so proud of you for all the hard work you put in to learning about the Constitution! Think back to September and how little you knew about the founding of our country and see how much you've learned over the past 7 months. You all are becoming great scholars!

Due to the field trip this week, we've had to bump the class schedule down a week. We won't be doing any Hero presentations this week, so the new presentation schedule will be as follows:

• 4/27 - Ethan & Leila
• 5/4 - Lucy & Reina
• 5/11 - Taylor & Paige (and Dean, fingers crossed!)

Please be sure to get your Hero Report turned in if you haven't yet!!!!

Also, we will have another debate on 4/27. The topic will be: Should a business have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason? We will draw sides in class on Thursday.

Assignments this week are:

OPINION PAPER - According to the first Amendment, does a person have the right to go to a public park and swear around children?

CONSTITUTION JOURNAL - Finish so you can go on the field trip! I really hope you all can go on this outing; it's going to be a great time! Let me know before Thursday if you've completed it: so far, I know that Lucy, Leila, and Paige are done and have earned the field trip reward!

***Now that the Constitution Bowl is behind us, please focus on getting your award requirements competed and passed off. We're running out of time, and I know you'll want to proudly display your keys brimming with ribbons. (Also, I would like you all to make sure you have all the ribbons that you have earned, because some of them have fallen off and/or been misplaced.)

Press forward, scholars, and I hope to take you all out to the museum and ice cream on Thursday!
-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 10

I hope you all had a fun spring break! Mine was super busy and I could definitely use another week off, but that's the life of a parent! Anyhoo, this week you have a few assignments due, so here they are:

HERO REPORTS: please turn them in this Thursday, April 13th. If you need a reminder about the guidelines, please see last week's blog post. Presentations will begin April 20th, and the schedule is as follows:

• 4/20 - Ethan & Leila
• 4/27 - Lucy & Reina
• 5/4 - Taylor & Paige
• 5/11 - Dean?

CONSTITUTION JOURNAL: Amendments 24-27. Please have your journals completed by 4/20 if you want to go on the field trip. I haven't decided on a date for the field trip, but it may have to be 4/20, so I'll let you know as soon as I get in contact with the museum.

OPINION PAPER: What would life be like without the Constitution? We read a book about this--Freedom Factor--so I think you all can FILL THE PAGE with some pretty creative ideas and opinions!

DEVOTIONAL: Leila's turn!

The Constitution Bowl is this Thursday evening, 6:00-8:00pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Please dress up (that means no jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, tennis shoes, etc.)! Also, this will be a potluck dinner, so please bring a dish to share. If you or your parents have any questions, please email me.

Study hard, and I'll see you Thursday! -Mrs. Hellyer

Week 9

Last week we discussed the amending process of the Constitution--Article 5. There are 2 ways...1) the Congressional, 2/3 vote in each house, then on to the states for ratification by 3/4 of the state legislatures way, or 2) the convention of states way. Study your notes and get these processes locked in to your gray matter, because there will be questions about this in the Constitution Bowl, guaranteed! Please take some time to check out the website below to find out more about the convention of states project, too. If this project succeeds, this will be he first time in our nation's history that we will have ever done this, and you could be a part of it! That is AWESOME! What a great story to be able to tell your posterity!

https://www.conventionofstates.com/

 

Thanks to everyone who participated in the air soft battle on Friday. Tons of fun was had by all, and you're all invited to participate again next year! Mrs. Poyer and Mrs. Schmieder took lots of pictures to be used for black mail! JK!







 

• For Devotional this week, I'd like to assign Taylor. Also, keep those news stories coming; there's lots going on that you should be paying attention to! 

• OPINION PAPER: If you were to make an amendment to the Constitution, what would it be? Remember to FILL the page with your interesting ideas (NOT with size 30 font!). 

• CONSTITUTION JOURNAL: Amendments 18 - 23

• HERO REPORT: These are due April 13th, the same day as the Constitution Bowl, sorry! They should be 2 to 4 pages long, typed or hand-written (in pen), but they need to be proof-read and edited. Pages need to be numbered and you must include a title page a bibliography with at least 2 sources (1 source is fine if you are conducting live interviews). For more information on how to format a bibliography, please see this link: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_mla_format_examples.shtml

• AWARD REQUIREMENTS: You're going to want to get these done before tech week in Shakespeare class! You should all be able to pass off the preamble to the Constitution, and maybe even a scripture or two. Also, since we don't have a book discussion for a while, this would be a good time to work on George Washington's Farewell Address and vocabulary.

• READING: Our next book discussion will be on The Proper Role of Government by Ezra Taft Benson on May 4th. I would like Reina to lead this discussion. I recommend that you print the article from your computer (it's only about 14 pages) so you can highlight, make notes, and bring it to class with you for discussion. Here is the link for the article: http://www.latterdayconservative.com/ezra-taft-benson/the-proper-role-of-government/

And last, but never least...

 

STUDY FOR THE CONSTITUTION BOWL! 

 



Week 8

Here is the video Mrs. Brennan was trying to show in class on Thursday:

 

 

I'm sorry to disappoint you all, but my post is going to be short and sweet this week. Here's what's going on...

 

• NO OPINION PAPER this week! YAY!
• CONSTITUTION JOURNAL - Amendments 11-17
• READING - Finish The Great Little Madison for our book discussion this Thursday. Ethan will be leading us, and I will bring the refreshments for those who finish the book!
• CONSTITUTION BOWL: STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!

 

Don't forget about the Air Soft Battle this Friday! Be there or be square! (Details will be in an email and/or on previous blog posts.)

 

 



Week 7

The Judicial Branch! So many interesting things to learn, so little time! We discussed the powers of the judicial branch, as well as its jurisdiction (the areas of law the courts have authority over, like state vs. state disputes, foreign diplomats' legal issues, maritime crimes, and more.) We also discussed the Marbury v. Madison decision which established Judicial Review, or the power to rule any law unconstitutional. I encourage you all to read/study about other landmark court cases, because these often mark major turning points in our nation's history, define public policy for generations, and also show the progression of the court's usurpation of power that Thomas Jefferson was so afraid of. (Some examples are Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, Plessy v. Ferguson, Dred Scott v. Sanford, etc.) Click on this link to read about many landmark cases: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/pop_landmark_cases/index.html

The video below is about Marbury v. Madison, for those who want to review:

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

 

OPINION PAPER: Have the Supreme Court rulings helped or hindered our nation? Explain. (For this one, you will probably want to familiarize yourself with some Supreme Court rulings--those listed above would be a great start--and cite them in your paper.) Remember to FILL THE PAGE with all your amazing insights!

 

DEBATE: Should the minority be allowed to win over the majority? Read your articles (and bring them back to class), do some internet searches, take some notes, and be prepared to argue!

 

CONSTITUTION JOURNAL / BOWL STUDY: Amendments 1-10 (That's the whole Bill of Rights, folks). We really need to practice this week, so let's try to stay on task in class so we can have time at the end.

 

DEVOTIONAL: And the winner is...Reina!

 

NEWS: Keep those news stories coming! You guys brought a tear to my eye last week when you were discussing the John Deere tractor story...I'm so proud to see you all debating this stuff!

 

READING: Book discussion on The Great Little Madison will be next Thursday, March 23rd, and led by Ethan. There will be treats for those who finish the book!

 

****Check back to the Week 6 post for info about the air soft battle on March 24th.****

 

Signing off--Mrs. Hellyer

 

 

 

 

 

 



Week 6

Last Thursday was all about the powers of the Executive branch. I hope you all took good notes and are studying your Constitution so you can lock this stuff in to memory!

ASSIGNMENTS:

Opinion Paper: According to the Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war, but for the last 60 years, the President has declared war. Which branch in your opinion should have the power--Legislative or Executive?

Debate: Should the Supreme Court have the power to make laws/decisions on moral issues?
I didn't write down who was on which side, sorry; just make sure you do some internet searches to prepare your arguments, and also familiarize yourself with the opposing side so you can be ready for what they might throw at you!

Reading: Our next book discussion will be on March 23 (that's 17 days from today!) about The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz. I would like Ethan to lead the discussion on this one.

Constitution Journal: Articles 5 - 7

Devotional: I think we're back to the beginning, which means it's Dean's turn again!

News: We had a great discussion last week on news topics! I'm so proud of you all for paying attention to what's happening in the world, and realizing that you can have your own opinions about current events. Keep up the good work, scholars!

Award Requirements: Don't forget to work on getting things passed off...we have only 9 classes left!

Hero Reports: Papers are due April 13th. Here's the list of presentations and their corresponding dates:

• April 20 - Ethan (Martin Luther King, Jr.) & Leila (Joan of Arc)
• April 27 - Lucy (Uncle Howard) & Reina (Eleanor Roosevelt)
• May 4 - Taylor (Ushta Mehta) & Paige (her grandfather)
• May 11 - Dean (still considering ;) )

UPCOMING EVENTS:

March 24th is the Annual Air Soft Battle with Sword of Freedom/Hero Project at 10:00 to 1:00 at my house in Graham. Ammo and snacks will be provided, but you will need to bring the following items:

• an air-soft (not bb) gun
• eye protection
• waterproof boots
• a sack lunch
• You may also want to bring an extra pair of socks and pants in case you get wet

This event is open to siblings who are 12 and up and any parents who want to participate as well. This will be an all outdoor event, so please no unattended small children!











April 13th is the Thomas Jefferson Birthday Celebration and Declaration of Independence reciting contest. I hope you all brush up on your Declaration and give it your best shot! Make us Key mentors proud!

That's all, I hope! See you Thursday! - Mrs. Hellyer

Week 5

This week we learned about the powers of Congress. I think we counted 27 separate express powers that are spelled out in Article 1 Section 8. The last power we listed is an implied power and it comprises the "necessary and proper clause" a.k.a. the "elastic clause," which basically gives Congress power to make any laws that they deem necessary to accomplish the provisions of the Constitution...sort of a "just in case we forgot anything, this should cover it" clause. Anyway, you'll want to get really familiar with these for the Constitution Bowl, which, by the way, we are working on in cooperation with FILAP to bring in the true spirit of competition! Oooh, I can't wait!

*(I know this is a little off-topic, but Sister Miller reminded me of this great video (posted below)about the Declaration of Independence. Some of you have already seen it, but if you haven't, enjoy!)

 

Assignments:

 

Opinion Paper - Does Congress have too much power or not enough?

 

Constitution Journal - Articles 3 and 4

 

Reading - Finish Fifty Five Fathers for our book discussion on Thursday, which will be led by Paige. Remember, there will be scrumptious treats for those who finish the book!

 

News - Be prepared to share what you've heard this week; take some notes if you need help remembering the details. "I heard about this guy that lost something, and he got arrested or something." Hmmm...doesn't sound very informative!

 

Hero Reports - I still need names of Heroes from Ethan and Paige. Remember your hero has to be someone who promoted the principles of freedom and liberty at any time or place in history.

 

Devotional - I think it's Lucy's turn this week...

 

Award Requirements - Don't forget to be working on your award requirements! Memorize those scripture references, and the preamble...a little at a time goes a long way! 

 

***Check back to Week 3 for important dates to remember***

 

Have a great weekend! -Mrs. Hellyer

Week 4

This week we discussed the legislative process, or how a bill becomes a law. I've attached the Crash Course Government video that we watched in class in case you would like to review it and refresh your memories. (The more simplified, Schoolhouse Rock video is below this one in a separate post, because I didn't know how to get both videos on the same post, sorry!) We also got to practice parliamentary procedure by making snack mix--a SUPER fun and yummy way to learn about something that is otherwise pretty boring!

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Opinion Paper - What powers do YOU have in making new laws?

 

Constitution Journal - Article 2 (yes, the whole thing!)

 

Hero Report - You all need to decide THIS WEEK who you will be presenting and reporting on in April/May and report the name of that person to either me or Mrs. Brennan!

 

Reading - We will discuss Fifty Fathers on March 2nd, (instead of this week since you just got your books) with the discussion led by Paige.

 

Devotional - I would like Leila to provide the inspirational thought this week.

 

News - Don't forget to come to class ready to discuss a news story/current event that is relevant to liberty, the Constitution, or anything else we have learned about in class.

 

IMPORTANT DATES:

 

See the Week 3 post.

 

Enjoy the Presidents' Day holiday, everyone! -Mrs. Hellyer

Schoolhouse Rock: America - I'm Just a Bill Music Video

Week 3

Here's a recap of what we learned about last week:

Charles Montesquieu outlined 3 species of government: Virtue, Honor, and Fear. Our founders believed that building a government founded on virtue was paramount, so they created a government with 3 equally powerful branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) with different stewardships, which in turn created a system of checks and balances to prevent any branch from becoming more powerful than the other 2. Time has shown, however, that this carefully orchestrated system is heavily dependent on the virtue of the people and the representatives they elect. When the executive branch begins usurping power through executive orders, the judicial branch begins practicing judicial activism by legislating from the bench, and the Congress does nothing to stop either one, we see the system of checks and balances go by the wayside, and the people lose their liberties. Fortunately, the founders were wise, and took precautions for such times, but we the people are the only ones who can restore the order of the original Constitution by exercising our unalienable rights and being virtuous ourselves.

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls would be necessary." -James Madison, Federalist Papers, No. 51
                                                                                         

Assignments:

OPINION PAPER: Is it better to have a man of faith in office with a minimal education, or a man of knowledge with minimal faith and questionable character? Please use facts and examples to support your opinion!

NEWS DESK: Please be prepared to share a recent news story relevant to what we've been studying in class.

DEVOTIONAL: Taylor, will you please do the honors this week?

CONSTITUTION JOURNAL: Article 1, Sections 6-10.

READING: Since you didn't receive your Fifty Five Fathers books, yet, we will give you an extra week to complete the reading. The new deadline and book discussion date will be March 2nd, and Paige will be leading our discussion. There will also be treats for those who have read the book!

HERO REPORTS & PRESENTATIONS: Y'all are running out of time to sign up for your hero reports/presentations. I've only heard from Lucy on this, so the other 6 of you need to choose someone ASAP! Last day to sign up is February 23rd.

Dates to Remember:

March 24th - Air-soft gun battle. 10am, my house. Bring an air-soft weapon, eye protection, boots (my property is very swampy), and a sack lunch. Siblings 12 and up, and parents (dads, especially) are welcome to join in the mayhem. We'll have snacks and more fun than you can probably handle!

April 13th -

• Thomas Jefferson's birthday! Leadership class is planning some special celebratory activities in honor of our great mentor, one of which is a Declaration of Independence reciting contest! Brush up on your memory of this document for the big day for a chance to win a prize!
• Constitution Bowl! We will be combining with FILAP for our big competition! More details about the time and place are to come...
• Hero Reports are due. A 2-4 page typed paper with bibliography attached. Any questions, please see me or Mrs. Brennan.

See you all tomorrow! -Mrs. H.

Week 2

Sorry to be so late with this post, but my internet connection has been crawling with all the snow. (Yes, I have limited internet where I live--sort of like dial-up, which none of you are old enough to remember.) I am going to brag, however, that we got an epic 13 inches of snow at my house, so I won't complain too much about the internet. Anyway, here's a brief rundown of assignments due Thursday:

• Reading: Fifty Five Fathers if you have a copy. If you ordered yours at the beginning of the semester, you should be receiving it on Thursday.

• Opinion Paper: Write a debrief of the simulation we did in class: What did you learn about the founders? What did you learn about yourself? How are you going to change because of the simulation? *Remember to use facts and examples to support your opinions!

• Constitution Journal: Article 1 Sections 6-10. This is actually this Thursday's assignment that I accidentally gave you a week early, so if you need time to catch up, Cha-ching! you got an extra week!

• Be thinking about who you want to research for your Hero report. You can sign-up anytime between now and February 23rd.

**I'll be handing out a study guide to each of you for the Constitution Bowl this week. Many questions will be taken directly from this guide, so use it wisely!

**The annual Key of Liberty vs. Sword of Freedom/Hero Project air-soft battle is now officially scheduled for Friday, March 24th at 10am at my house! Woo-hoo! Put it on your calendars, and start gathering your gear, including an air-soft gun and eye protection. Ammo and snacks will be provided.

'Til Thursday, Mrs. Hellyer

Semester 2 Week 1

First of all, AWESOME job to all of you on your presentation! I may be a little partial, but it was definitely the BEST of all the parent night presentations!

Now...our deep dive into the Constitution has begun! Get ready for some serious scholarliness!

Each week you will have a Constitution journal assignment in addition to your opinion paper. Completing the journal will be a huge help in preparing for the Constitution Bowl. If you complete your journal, a special, and yes, FUN, field trip awaits. I really want to take everybody on this excursion, so please get it done!

Here are this week's assignments:

• CONSTITUTION JOURNAL: Preamble and Article 1 Sections 1-5 (*Bring a dictionary to class if you have one.)

• OPINION PAPER: Why is America different? How is the American government different from nations now and in the past, and why have we lasted so long?

• READING: Work on Fifty-Five Fathers by Selma R. Williams. If you don't have a copy, DO NOT wait until the last minute to get one! I would like Paige to lead the discussion on this book, which will be on February 23rd. Please read "Steps in Leading a Colloquium" in your binder to prepare. 

• Be thinking about who you want to do your Hero Report on. We want everyone to sign up by February 23rd.

I apologize to any of you who did not get to pass off award requirements last week. We will definitely make time to do that this week, so please bring your stuff.

See you all Thursday! -Mrs. H.