February Quests by Sir Mander

• A. Read books: Abraham Lincoln-The Great Emancipator, and George Washington-Our First Leader
• The books are both pretty good. I get to learn what they acted like and see the things that are the same between me and George or Abe. They give a lot of information about what kind of kids they were and what we can do to become that kind of kid. We learn some things that we should be doing such as asking to be excused from the dinner table, or not talking when someone else is talking. They became some pretty nice gentle-kids who became friends to other people. In the stories they tell more good things than bad things, make 'em seem like a really good person, like the person you wish to be.
• My favorite part from the George Washington book was when they played trick in Master Hobby and found out that what they did was wrong. And also this joke from the book that was really funny, I think it was in chapter 6 or 7, they said that master Hobby is named that because he has a lot of hobbies. If you read the story you will get the whole life time of George Washington, and a lot more funny jokes.
  
• In the Abraham Lincoln book I think that it was sad that he was living through the Indian and farmer wars, and having a lot of struggles. I am glad that he didn't complain that much, he's a pretty nice kid. When I read the story I felt like I really wanted to be his friend because of the descriptions of him that they gave to me.
  
• B. Write a short compare/contrast essay on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln
• Things that were alike about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln is they both were in an Indian war, they were both farmers, they both became presidents of the U.S., they both have a birthday in February, and they both wrote important political documents. They were both tall, and they both had some education. Things that were different were that George Washington lived during the Revolutionary War, and Abraham Lincoln lived during the Civil War. George had white, puffy hair, and Abe had black hair and a beard. George was rich and Abe was poor. George lived in Virginia, and Abe lived in Kentucky. George retired to Mt. Vernon, and Abe was assassinated in Ford Theater. George oversaw the writing of the Constitution, Abe issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
  
• C. Choose one of George Washington's 'Rules of Decent Behavior' to work on this month
• I chose four rules to work on:
• Wait to be excused after a meal at the dining table.
• Always dress up, never dress down.
• Try to do at least one service for someone.
• When someone is talking don't interrupt.
  
• D. Choose one word you haven't learned how to spell yet; practice and learn it.
• my words for the month:
• aerodynamic (adjective) it means to move through the air easily and quickly.
• prototype (noun) the first version of an invention that tests an idea to see if it will work.
  
• E. Memorize the first paragraph of the Gettysberg Address and the date it was given.
• It was given 87 years after the Declaration of Independence, in November 1863.
  
• Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
  
• Bonus: Learn the entire address.
• I didn't do this.