The Class Election from the Black Lagoon (Black Lagoon Adventures, No. 3)
#3 of 27 in Black Lagoon Adventures Series
What’s inside...
Hubie wants to be class president, but he and his friend Eric face the challenges of a campaign that involves more than just having fun. In his race against Doris, Hubie struggles to compete against her tactic of giving away free ice cream to voters. He also has to engage in activities like shaking hands with Coach Kong and Mrs. Green and kissing babies to stay competitive. Throughout the campaign, Hubie learns the importance of standing for something meaningful rather than just seeking popularity. The book, created by the dynamic duo Mike Thaler and Jared Lee, is a fun chapter book that aligns with Election Day.
Discussion points
How do you think Hubie felt when he was nominated for class president? Have you ever felt that way?
What qualities do you think make a good leader? Do you see any of those qualities in Hubie or the other candidates?
Why is it important to vote? What do you think might happen if no one voted in an election?
How can we help or support friends who are trying something challenging like running for a position?
What did you learn about handling disagreements or differing opinions from the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, relate topics to your child's experiences at school to make the concepts more relatable.
Encourage your child to think about leadership and responsibility by asking them about times they took on responsibilities themselves.
Discuss the importance of participating in group decisions and how every individual's input is valuable, mirroring the election process in the book.
Use examples from the book to talk about teamwork and cooperation, highlighting how characters work together despite differences.
Foster empathy by talking about the characters' emotions, asking your child how they would feel in similar situations.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of democracy and participation in elections
Explanation: In 'The Class Election from the Black Lagoon,' students actively participate in a class election, learning about the electoral process. This setting allows children to understand voting and the democratic process.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to participate in student council elections at school or become involved in community decisions, helping them appreciate the value of their voice and vote in group decisions.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: Throughout the campaign, characters in the book work together to achieve common goals, demonstrating the effectiveness of teamwork.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by engaging in group projects or team sports, learning to cooperate and achieve objectives together with their peers.
Example Lesson: Respect for differing opinions
Explanation: As different characters campaign for their ideas, the story shows respectful exchanges of differing viewpoints, teaching children to listen and consider various perspectives.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the importance of respectful discussions and accepting different opinions among friends and classmates, aiding their social development.
Example Lesson: Handling defeat gracefully
Explanation: Characters in the story learn to handle losses in the election gracefully, demonstrating sportsmanship.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to apply this behavior in their own lives when they don't win at games or competitions, understanding that dignity in defeat is as important as graciousness in victory.
Example Lesson: Importance of honesty and integrity
Explanation: The candidates in the book campaign on truthful promises and learn the consequences of dishonesty, reinforcing the value of integrity.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of being honest in their dealings and builds their character to act with integrity in schoolwork and personal relationships.