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.