Three weeks ago Ella took her first steps. She would take one or two wobbly steps and then fall. We were so happy to witness this milestone in her development. After a couple of "parent pleasers" she went back to crawling. I guess it was because she was comfortable and better at it. Each day my wife and I would work with her to practice her walking. Last Wednesday (11/8) I came home from work and there my wife stood Ella up and she walked across the room giggling and obviously pleased with herself. To say that my wife and I are pleased would be an understatement.
One of the greatest gifts is a child. Being a parent has caused me to reflect daily on my walk with Jesus. How many times have I tried to "walk" only to become wobbly, unbalanced, and fall? How many times have I decided that my current method of doing something was easier, but also knowing that I have to learn this new skill in order to grow in my relationship with my wife, family, friends, and more importantly my Father? Each time I have fallen, I have received bumps, cuts, and scars. It wasn't until I picked Ella up and put her back on her feet and cheer her on did I realize that Jesus is doing the same with me. Each time I stumble in my walk He places me on my feet and points me on His path, and while I walk I am encouraged by all those who have gone before me and have finished the race-my Granny and Papa, Grandpa, Mr. Marsman - who led me to Christ, my "Uncle" Dave, Peter, Paul, Timothy, Elijah, cheering me on "You can do this! Don't give up!"
When I finish this race I want to rest in my Father's arms, look upon his face and say that I have given it my all.
Who Was John Stephen? In June of 1990 I was working with a friend as a "demolition man" - I gutted houses that he purchased for renovation. While I was going through this house I came accross boxes filled with old photographs, newspaper clippings, passports, and letters. This was his family's history.
Historians are detectives. They use the clues given and attempt to construct the past. Our mission in the case of John Stephen is to reconstruct who he was and then to find his family to give them the pieces of their history.
COMMING UP: Who was Edward Tarr?
Triumph and Tragedy
The mission of National History Day is to provide students with opportunities to learn historical content and develop research, thinking and communication skills through the study of history and to provide educators with resources and training to enhance classroom teaching.
Each student will complete a project based on the theme - Triumph and Tragedy. I will break the project down into small pieces and provide each student with a calendar of due dates. Students may demonstrate their understanding of their topic in the following ways: historical paper, exhibit, media presentation, or a performance.
Pleae be sure to check the National History Day website: www.nhd.org
Essential Understandings:
1. Identify the reasons Americans settled in the area west of the Mississippi River after the American Civil War.
2. Identify the causes, and outcomes, of conflict between the Indians and the settlers.
3. Explain how blacks began losing their political and civil rights after Reconstruction ended.
4. Explain how the great flow of immigration during the late 1800's changed the United States.
Application: This is extra credit and due by Monday, December 4.
Create Poster Identifying:
Create a bargraph or pie chart showing where have many of the recent immigrants to the US come from?
Identify the barriers have newcomers faced in coming to the United States?
Identify and summarize at least 3 forms of assistance available to immigrants to the US.
Focus Correction Areas:
1. Poster is neat, creative, and well organized (10 pts)
2.Used at least 2 primary sources (10 pts)
3. Summarized the barriers immigrants face in the US (10 pts)
4. Identified and summarized at least 3 forms of assistance available to immigrants (10 pts)
National History Day: www.nhd.org