Gail Halvorsen: The Candy Bomber

 We began the class by having the boys carry and/or drag one another to safety, once again simulating Desmond Doss's experience at Okinawa during World War II.

After the boys had some time for free play we had the boys do their workout and then recited the Pledge and our class rules and affirmations.

We reviewed our heroes from last week (Zamperini and Doss) and then talked about the end of World War II and the background of the Berlin Airlift.  We then talked about Gail Halverson who has come to be known as the Candy Bomber.  We watched this video about Halverson.  

We love his kindness and ingenuity in the face of the Germans' deprivation.  His acts of service for people who had so recently been seen as the "enemy" would help many hearts heal.  

Louis Zamperini and Desmond Doss: Heroes of World War II

 We started the class off with some rough housing, after which we did our work out and began the class with the Pledge of Allegiance and our class rules and affirmations.

We then reviewed last week's hero (Helmuth Hubener), after which we introduced two American Heroes: Louis Zamperini and Desmond Doss.

We began with Zamperini.  We shared this PowerPoint, telling his amazing life story.  It includes links to videos taken from the film Unbroken, a film based on his biography.   

After going over Zamperini and having a snack we pretended that there were sharks on the ground.

We then talked a little about Desmond Doss, whose story is also remarkable.  Though he never carried a gun due to his religious beliefs, he chose to enlist and serve as a medic.  At Hacksaw Ridge in Okinawa he rescued somewhere around 75 men (the exact number is unknown).   He dragged and carried them, one by one, and let them down a cliffside all through the night.  As he went along, he kept praying, "Help me find one more, Lord."

We finished the class by having the boys try to drag and carry one another, to simulate Doss's act of heroism.

Helmuth Hubener: A Teenage Hero

 We began class with a mini "Olympics."  We had the boys run a 100m race twice (they all beat their first time!) and then we had them run a 100m relay.  Those were two of the events that Jesse Owens won at the 1936 Olympics, as we had discussed the previous week.

After letting the boys get some water and have some play time, we began class in our usual manner, skipping the workout because the boys were exhausted.

We reviewed the previous week's information about the rise of Nazism and Hitler, and then shared the story of Helmuth Hubener, an incredibly brave boy who followed his conscience in a courageous way.  Feeling that their teachings were not correct, he dropped out of the Hitler Youth program.  He then started listening (illegally) to the radio.  As he learned the truth about what his country was actually doing and going through, he began making and distributing flyers to inform the public.  

For this crime, he was eventually arrested.  In an effort to protect his friends who had been helping him, he took all the blame.  Although he was only 16 he was tried as an adult and was executed.  He was the youngest German to be executed for such crimes.  His courage and integrity are amazing to me for someone so young.

After this we played hide and seek with the boys.

Jesse Owens and the Rise of Hitler

 After holding some staring contests like the week before we started our class in the usual way (workout, Pledge of Allegiance and reciting the class rules and affirmations.)

We then used a powerpoint to teach about Post World War I Germany and how it read to the rise of Nazism.  Then we shared a little about Jesse Owens (reading some selections from DK Life Stories: Jesse Owens.)  

Though he was a very small, sickly child and was born to a sharecropping family in the South his natural talent coupled with hard work helped him become the fastest man in the world.  In 1936 he traveled to Nazi Germany for the Berlin Olympics and not only did he smash world records (winning 4 gold medals!) but he proved all of the racist thinking that would motivate the Holocaust wrong.

We then had the boys take turns doing the long jump, marking where they landed and encouraging them to try to jump further and further.

The Great Depression: Laughter is the Best Medicine

Today we began with Silent Ball.  A few of our classmates were late so we had several rounds.  Then we started our class with a workout and our recitations.

Afterward, we reviewed last week's hero: Calvin Coolidge.  He really is probably the most underrated United States President. 

The main ideas we discussed were his nickname ("Silent Cal" due to his short speeches and documents), his economic policies and his overall conservative philosophy.  He is the only president to have successfully decreased the size of government (rather than do lip service to it.)  He balanced the budget by cutting spending and was actually able to reduce taxes in a responsible way.

We then introduced our next time period: the Great Depression.  You'll notice I didn't introduce a hero for this Era.  Many see Franklin D. Roosevelt as a hero but I disagree.  I shared this video with the boys to explain.  In short, his policies, often applauded for helping during the Great Depression, actually prolonged the economic crisis and prevented the natural forces within the market to allow recovery.

We didn't end on a low note, however.  In the midst of all the suffering and tragedy that took place during the 1930s (the word "depression" is very appropriate for the decade) there were many comedians and others who tried to help people forget their sorrows, at least for a time.  Celebrities like Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope, the Three Stooges and others showed that laughter can be a very effective form of medicine.

After watching some fun clips from Charlie Chaplin and the Three Stooges we played a staring game (in which you try not to smile.)  It was so much fun.

We let the boys play at the end.

Calvin Coolidge: Shrinking the Government

 We started class with a fun review of WWI.  While simulating "trench warfare" again we paused every so often to ask questions and review some of the information we learned last week.

Then we began class, doing our workout, reciting the pledge and saying the class rules and affirmations.

We let the boys play a bit and then we let them have their snack, after which we introduced this week's hero: Calvin Coolidge.

Calvin Coolidge is the only United States President who successfully decreased the size of government.  He cut costs, balanced the budge and, by doing so, was able to decrease taxes.  The misery index was the lowest in history as a result.

He was nicknamed "Silent Cal," thanks to his short speeches and short documents, so after explaining the national debt and discussing what a good thing it is to balance the budget, we played Silent Ball.

The boys loved it!

Alvin York: Courage and Leadership Under Fire

 We started up our class again for the summer.  

The routine will be the same- start with some free play, do our workout and then begin class with the pledge and class rules and affirmations.

We then did a review of some of the heroes we covered in previous semesters before introducing our next hero and era: Alvin York and World War I.

We used a PowerPoint to introduce the war.  After watching selected scenes from the film 1917 we talked about Medal of Honor recipient Alvin York.

A man of great Christian faith, it took York time to overcome his reluctance to take any lives.  In the heat of battle, countless men fell around him, making him the highest ranking soldier present.  Rather than let nearby machine guns mow down his man he showed incredible courage and leadership by initiating an attack on a German machine gun nest.

I also recommend reading the book about World War I titled Where the Poppies Grow.  We didn't have time to do so in class but it has been such a treat to read with my boys- especially my 6-year-old.

We ended by reenacting trench warfare upstairs with balls.

Jesus Went About Doing Good

 This was our last day of class.  We were short on time so we let the boys play and then we had each of them present about his favorite hero that we have discussed and why.  

We then talked about how our Savior, Jesus Christ, was the greatest hero.  Of his heroism, one simple statement says that he "went about doing good."  We then went to a friend in our ward and tried to do some good.

Afterward, I gave each of them a Mr. Goodbar with the following attached:

Jim Thorpe: Sportsmanship

 We held class as usual, beginning with rough housing on the trampoline.

After our workout and recitations of the pledge and the class rules, we introduced our final hero of the semester: Jim Thorpe.

We read a book about Thorpe called The Power of Sportsmanship: Featuring the Story of Jim Thorpe.

Thorpe was an incredible athlete.  He won the decathlon and many other events at the Olympics and played professional baseball and football.  We watched a video about how to throw a football and practiced throwing.  I had wanted to play some two hand touch but realized the boys weren't ready.  Instead, we had a contest to see who could throw the ball the furthest.

Next week we will have the boys present on their favorite hero and then do a service project.

Bell, Edison & The Wright Brothers: Never Give Up

We began with roughousing for twenty minutes or so.  Then we began the class with our workout and recitations of both the Pledge and the class rules.

We then reviewed last week's hero, Joshua Chamberlain, and summarized the war's end and the challenges of reuniting the North and South afterward.

Then we switched gears to discuss the major technological changes that took place at the end of the 19th Century and the beginning of the 20th Century.

We focused on Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.  Here are three great videos that describe their contributions.  These men were so innovative and patient.  Thomas Edison, in particular, has wonderful quotes about patience and never giving up.

After quickly summarizing the stories of each inventor we read The Value of Patience: The Story of the Wright Brothers.  

Then we watched Season 3, Episode 1 of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.

Here are more great links for these three inventors:  XavierRiddle, Season 3 Episode 5 (Bell), Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell.

Robert Gould Shaw: Respect and Courage

We began the class with twenty minutes of free play, after which we did our workout and recitations.

Then we reviewed last week's lesson about Gettysburg, primarily that the battle was won by the North who had the high ground.  We then had the boys share what they remembered about Joshua Chamberlain and watched this clip from the wonderful movie, Gettysburg, that shows his daring move on Little Round Top.

Then we introduced our last hero of the Civil War, Robert Gould Shaw.  The trailer for Glory is a wonderful, brief recap of the role he played with the Massachusetts 54th Regiment.  They were the second regiment composed of African American troops and their courage at the Battle of Fort Wagner (roughly 40% were lost) has become legendary.

We then let the boys play before playing "Telephone."  We'll be discussing Alexander Graham Bell next week so we'll refer to the game again then.

Gettysburg and Joshua Chamberlain

Today we began with 20 minutes of rough housing. Then we had our workout and recited the Pledge and our class rules and affirmations.

We then reviewed a bit from last week and introduced our hero- Joshua Chamberlain. 

We read the book Voices of Gettysburg which I highly recommend.  After reviewing the battle’s highlights and Robert E Lee’s mistake (hubris or too much pride), we went over Chamberlain’s heroism. He was a college professor who cared so much about abolitionism that he joined the Union Army, even though he didn’t have to (rare- most of the men were drafted and fought reluctantly once the emancipation proclamation was written.). 

He had only read about war but read everything he could find and so, when faced with what seemed an impossible situation he thought outside of the box and saved his men.  His heroics saved the battle for the Union Army by preventing them from being flanked.

Then we re-enacted Gettysburg with an uphill nerf battle, letting the boys take turns being the North and the South. We finished with an all out nerf battle.

Abraham Lincoln the Champion Wrestler

 For this lesson we began having the boys play on the trampoline.  Then we got started with our class.  We did our workout and recited the Pledge of Allegiance as well as our class rules and affirmations.

We then reviewed Frederick Douglass, Slavery and Abraham Lincoln's upbringing.  Then we talked more about the Civil War, showing the boys a scene from this Animated Heroes Classic video about Lincoln.  The scene showed some of the wounded after the first Battle of Bull Run.  

Then we told the boys the story of Abraham Lincoln beating Jack Armstrong, a town bully who was part of a gang.  You can read about the story here.  

The boys loved the story and afterward we had them take turns wrestling, one on one.  We only had them wrestle for 30 seconds at a time and didn't really call points or declare a winner this time.  Hopefully in the future we'll have more time to do this and make it more competitive.

Next week we'll talk about the Battle of Gettysburg and have a nerf battle!  We're asking the boys to come with eye protection so they will be safe while they shoot.

Abraham Lincoln

We began the class with our themed activity.  We had the boys pretend to be runaway slaves.  They started at the end of the street and ran north.  I was the "slave catcher" and would come out of the house every so often to look for them.  I would run out onto the street, look around, and then run back inside.  I made sure to whistle first to give them a five second warning so they could hide.  The boys loved it.

After that, we let them play, then we had our workout and recited the Pledge and our class rules.

Then we reviewed slavery, introducing the idea of the Underground Railroad and slavery's connection with the Civil War.  We didn't have time to watch it but this video about Harriet Tubman is a great way to illustrate what the Underground Railroad was and to explain about abolitionism.

Then we introduced our new hero, Abraham Lincoln.  We read a book about him called The Value of Respect: The Story of Abraham Lincoln. 

Let the boys have a snack and then they played on the trampoline for the rest of the class.

For those who have more time, this is a great video about Lincoln. 

Frederick Douglass

We started the class with a themed activity.  We had the boys take turns pulling each other in a wagon to simulate what pulling the handcarts may have been like.  I was surprised by how much fun the boys had.  

Then we let the boys play for a while in the backyard before starting our class.  We worked out and recited the Pledge and the class rules and affirmations.

We reviewed Levi Savage and the Pioneers from last week and introduced our new hero: Frederick Douglass.  He was an incredible abolitionist of his time.  We used a powerpoint to introduce the topic of slavery and Douglass's wonderful story.

After that, we watched Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Season 5 Episode 1: I am Frederick Douglass.

Then we let the boys play for the rest of the class.

Levi Savage and the Pioneers

We let the boys play for twenty minutes or so then we had them come upstairs and do their workout.

Afterward, we recited the Pledge and the class rules and affirmations.

Then we focused on Joseph Smith, Jr.’s martyrdom and how, after some tough times, the Saints were led by Brigham Young to Utah.

Levi Savage was one of them.

Asked to travel overland (his second time!) to help the Willie handcart company, his group had trouble from the start.  His firm, faithful leadership helped many stay strong and carry on.  More than anything, I find his humility when publicly censured on more than one occasion incredibly heroic. 

After watching some of my favorite clips from 17 Miracles we took turns pulling a heavy wagon outside.

We ran out of time but I had planned to play a couple pioneer games (three legged racing, potato sack race, pioneer yo-yos, shadow tag and ducks fly- a version of Simon says.)

Joseph Smith Part 2

This week was a repeat of last week since we were missing three of our boys.  

We started out on the trampoline, did our workout and had them repeat the Pledge of Allegiance and our rules and affirmations.

We then reviewed all of our heroes so far with a quick game, after which the boys tooo turns reviewing what we learned last week (we had focused on his surgery as a 7-year-old, his physical strength and the first vision.). We then added to this with the story of Joseph protecting the plates one night from three attackers.

The boys then “re-enacted” the story on the trampoline (one boys was Joseph Smith and the rest were his attackers.)

Then we did some more stick pulling.

Last, we talked about how Moroni told Joseph he “had a work to do.”  Then we watched President Nelson tell their generation something similar with the following quote (found in the Come Follow Me manual for this week), 

“Ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, how He feels about you and your mission here on earth. If you ask with real intent, over time the Spirit will whisper the life-changing truth to you. … I promise you that when you begin to catch even a glimpse of how your Heavenly Father sees you and what He is counting on you to do for Him, your life will never be the same!” (“Becoming True Millennials” [worldwide devotional for young adults, Jan. 10, 2016], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Then the boys had a dodge ball/pretend snowball fight upstairs.

Joseph Smith: A Man of God

Today we began as we usually do- playing, then a workout, the pledge of allegiance followed by the class rules and affirmations.

We then reviewed a few of our heroes we talked about last semester before introducing this week’s hero: Joseph Smith, Jr.

We read a book about him and then watched clips from Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration.  The clips included the first vision, persecution after which he preached a sermon the next day as well as him winning a stick pull contest.

We focused on his courage- during his surgery as a young boy, in the face of persecution and martyrdom and his physical and moral strength.  

We then had a stick pull contest upstairs and the boys loved it!  

We sent this worksheet home with them to review things they learned about Joseph Smith with their families.

Worksheet comes from theredcrystal.org

Christmas

 Today was very different.  

Since it was our last day of class for the semester we met at a park and picked up garbage as a service project.  When their grocery sacks were full (and their attention was flagging) we threw the garbage away, got our hands clean and pulled out some goals and a soccer ball.  After playing for a while, the boys were tired and thirsty so we headed to the house.

The boys had hot chocolate, during which we talked about the ultimate hero: our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He was our exemplar in so many ways, one of which was service.  We then put together coupon books with service coupons for their parents.  Hopefully they will be able to use the books as Christmas gifts.

Then we let the boys play.  

Once we cleaned up they were given some fun gift bags from their friends as well as a kit to make a luminaria or luminary (a Christmas lantern.)  It had a short explanation of the history of luminarias.  The hope is that they would light the world with their service and kindness in the way that Jesus did.

Merry Christmas!

Davy Crockett Part 2: The Alamo

 We began with our normal routine.  The boys played, they worked out, we recited the Pledge of Allegiance and we went over the class rules and affirmations.

Then we reviewed our Powerpoint about Davy Crockett, the War of 1812 and the Indian Removal Act (and Corckett's heroic fight against the bill.)  We then moved on to Crockett's heroic, last stand at the Alamo.

We explained why Americans had moved to Texas, how the government changed radically when Santa Anna was elected.  When the Texans resisted cruel and unjust laws, fighting broke out.  200 Texans were eventually surrounded by thousands of Mexican troops (they may have been outnumbered by 20 to one or more!)  

Even so, they refused to surrender.  They held the Mexican troops off for 12 days but on the 13th day they were attacked from all directions and eventually every soldier died.  Their lives may have been lost but it was not in vain.  "Remember the Alamo!" became a battle cry and led Sam Houston's troops to victory at the critical Battle of San Jacinto, after which Texans won their independence from Mexico.  

Afterward, we had the boys build a replica of the Alamo with blocks and we tried to show them the ratio of troops for each side with GI Joes.  Then we got to destroy our creation, which is often the best part.