Fall - Week 1: Happiness Word Study

Welcome to the 1st Semester of the Great Works Scholar Group!

We had a great time on our hike to Malan's Peak Waterfall Canyon! I was so impressed with how respectful and friendly everyone was and with your willingness to share your thoughts. I am excited to mentor this amazing crew this year.

We will be meeting at Fernwood Recreation Site for class this week. We will be at a parking lot to the right of the road - just before you reach the last parking lot at the end of the road. Feel free to bring a camping chair to sit on, but there are benches too.

Below are your assignments (inspirements). Remember to have these done before you come to class. You'll also want to read the tips on the sidebar to get a better experience from the reading.

Week 1 Inspirements:

1. Do a word study on “Happiness” or "Joy" or a similar word (there is a link to the 1828 dictionary on the sidebar).

2. Watch this TED talk on Happiness, if you find other TED talks on happiness that you like, share them with us!

3. Email your word study to karenbates6@gmail.com before class

4. On a 3x5 card, write down your favorite quote from your readings or viewings and bring it to class
(we didn't get a chance to discuss the article "Education and the Pursuit of Happiness" as much as it deserved, so your quote or question can come from that article if you would like)


5. Write a discussion question on the comments below (see #4)

6. In your reflection journal, begin keeping a list of the principles of happiness that you find and believe to be true. Begin testing them :-)  - It might be fun to keep a combined list of principles that we find somewhere on the blog if anyone would know how to head that up!

7. Watch this tutorial (23:14) for WHY to track your progress and a great idea on how. You can get the calendars here (young men) or here (young ladies)

8. You probably made some goals on the hike (if you didn't, make some now) start tracking them. You can choose just one goal - or more - depending on what you think you need. You can do a MAN/GRL PWR calendar or use your own way for keeping track of how you are doing. You may want to keep your tracking sheet in a place you will see often to remind you to work on your goals.

9. Girls only: Read this blog post :)

*If you are working on the "extra level" of this class: Stories Can Change the world, be sure to read through chapter 9 of Bleak House. I will put a link to Sis. Aaron's blog as soon as I have one.