Copywork 8/18/10 & 8/25/10

Another aspect of Charlotte Mason we are throwing in our homeschool routine is copywork. Like dictation, I want the copywork to mean something.

8/18/10--I chose a passage from one of Sweet's history books from the library.

Migration to North America

"Archaeologists have developed different ideas about when and how the first people came to North America. It is very probable that they came from Asia. We now live in a period where the Earth's climate is fairly warm. But from 80,000 to about 12,000 years ago, much of the northern part of the Earth was covered in ice. During this Ice Age, the sea level dropped in the Bering Sea, which separates the Siberian part of Russia from Alaska. This narrow body of water may have become a large area of land. Over this "land bridge" people from Siberia could have traveled to Alaska."

8/25/10--This weeks passage is Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues. We all need a good example. This one is a bit harder because of the old english and slang used.

Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues

1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. MODERATION. Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
11. TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.