Survival School (Class Pets)
#2 in Class Pets Series
What’s inside...
After Miss Clark brings a new class pet, Dexter the gerbil, into the classroom, Dexter soon escapes from his cage and it is up to brother and sister mice, Molly and Jake, to show him how to survive on his own. As Molly, Jake, and Dexter navigate their way through the perils of the classroom, trying to avoid the cat and other dangers, they learn valuable lessons about teamwork, trust, and the importance of looking out for each other in a cat-eat-mouse world.
Discussion points
What do you think each pet learned about teamwork and friendship throughout their adventure?
If you were one of the class pets, how would you have handled the challenges they faced?
Which of the class pets do you relate to most and why?
How do you think staying calm helped the pets during their challenges?
Can you think of a time when you had to solve a problem with your friends? What did you do?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to talk about their favorite character and why they find them relatable or inspiring. This helps deepen their understanding of the story.
Discuss the importance of teamwork as depicted in the book and relate it to real-life scenarios your child might encounter, like working on a group project.
Use the challenges faced by the pets to talk about the importance of problem-solving and thinking creatively under pressure.
Highlight moments of leadership or bravery shown by the characters and ask your child how they might show similar qualities in their own life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Cooperation
Explanation: In 'Survival School,' the class pets must work together to navigate through various challenges, demonstrating the importance of cooperation.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or in sports, learning to cooperate with peers to achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: The pets face obstacles that require creative thinking and problem solving to overcome, showing that there are different ways to approach and solve a problem.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think critically and creatively when faced with their own challenges, whether it's a difficult homework assignment or resolving a conflict with a friend.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Each pet takes on a role that contributes to the group's survival, teaching the value of responsibility and dependability.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of being responsible for their tasks and duties, be it doing household chores or completing schoolwork punctually.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Despite the difficulties they face, the class pets persevere, highlighting the importance of resilience in adverse situations.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the value of persisting through personal difficulties, boosting their ability to adapt and thrive in various situations.