Sample Outline and First Week of Inspirements

Outline for September 2017:

The Pursuit of Happiness: “DILIGENCE”

Week 1-Leadership Academy: “Diligence”--Word Study, Charlemagne and Power of the SAR (Student Accountability Report)

Week 2-Geo Conquest: Middle Ages—Black Plague, Crusades

Week 3- Eureka: Astronomy & Sir Cumference Math Moment

Week 4- Imaginative Arts: Stain Glass

Book Discussion: “A Door in the Wall”/”The Alchemist”

Movie: “Sword in the Stone” and "Hidden Figures" (with just our family, we have more options :D)

Lazar Tag/Corn Maze

Week 1:

KNOWLEDGE: “Learn”: (do all)

Do a word study on “Diligence”

Read this about Charlemagne, one of the great kings of the Middle Ages:

http://www.historyforkids.net/charlemagne.html How was Charlemagne an example of diligence?

Watch “Continue in Patience” by Uchtdorf (the Mormon Message and/or the talk) 

UNDERSTANDING: “Do”: (choose one or more of the following)

-Write a poem about what it means to be diligent

-Do a presentation on someone who was diligent or Charlemagne from above.

-Start reading “Boy Knight” for next week and tell us what you learned about diligence so far.

-Teach a class or devotional on “diligence” and incorporate something from the Book of Virtues or scriptures; tell us how it went and what you learned

-Act out a play about someone who was diligent

-Watch this about Cambry Kaylor and write a review, poem, song or come up with a plan of action that learning about her inspired you to do.  Share what you did with us.
-Find and bring a game for everyone to participate in that requires diligence (clear it with your mentor) or play it before hand and tell us what you learned about diligence while playing it.

BECOME: “Be”: (do each of these)

a) Brainstorm your goals and dreams. Pick at least three of them and come up with one idea for each of them how you can start today to work towards doing them. Write them on your SAR.

b) Pick one of them that you want to be more diligent on and write it down

c) Pick a “running partner” to report to 3 times during the week: the first time, to tell them what your goal is, the second time to tell them how you are doing and the third time to tell them what you have accomplished so far.

Sample Welcome Letter

This is the letter that I just wrote up for my own little Vanguard group in our home, just for ideas:

Welcome, fellow Vanguardians!

The “Vanguard” is the part of an army that leads out, that bears the brunt of the battle, that takes on every challenge to their force head-on.

In Vanguard, we prepare ourselves to take our future head-on, preparing our crust and cores to be strong to serve where God would have us serve and thus attaining the highest degree of happiness that we can attain!

Each of you will follow a unique quest this year as we go through three phases of growth:

1. Establish who we are and where we stand (the Middle Ages and Chivalry)
2. Grow through discovery and light (the Renaissance)
3. Apply what we have learned to move forward (the Age of Exploration)

As you can see, all the truth we learn in the world around us can be applied to change who we are! I am excited to be on this quest with each of you.

In Vanguard it is essential to create an environment of respect, of decency, of commitment. All three of these qualities will combine to make Vanguard a safe and thriving place. I look forward to creating that place with you!

With love and great anticipation,

Mom :D

p.s. As we come together for our first official week of Vanguard, please think of a name that we could use to represent our group, our goals, our vision for ourselves.