Great American Challenge, Take 2

Megan is in the A.L.L. (accelerated learning lab) program this year. At the beginning of the school year Megan’s teacher, Miss Louw, told the students about the “Great American Challenge.” She told them it was strictly optional. She went on further to say that those kids that did it would be rewarded. There were a lot of rumors going around about what the reward might be but nobody really knew for sure.

Megan wasn’t sold on taking the challenge. I will admit that it took some coercion on my part, but she did it and finally completed it just after the new year. She had to finish all seven requirements and they had to be passed off by April 15th (no exceptions). This is what she did:

1) Label the fifty states, their capitals, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the country of Canada and Mexico on a blank map of the United States (no help or misspelled words).

2) Recite by memory the Gettysburg Address. (8 helps)

3) Recite by memory in order of Presidency, #1 through #44, the names of the Presidents of the Unites States, first, middle and last name. (no helps)

4) Write, spell and punctuate perfectly the Pledge of Allegiance. (no helps)

5) Sing or recite by memory the first verse of the Star Spangled Banner. (no helps)

6) Recite by memory the Preamble of the United States Constitution. (no helps)

7) Recite by memory the condensed version of the Declaration of Independence. (8 helps)

She could only pass them off on Mondays and could only try each item once per week. She also had to do it in front of the class, which only adds to the pressure. I was so proud of her for doing this. She worked super hard.

All of her hard work paid off when Miss Louw and three of her classmates showed up at our house in a limo! She was shocked and excited. The driver took them down to Thanksgiving Point for dinner or dessert (their choice). She loved it. Way to go Meg!