In the U.S., Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This year, it falls on November 7th. Though it's not a big year for national elections, many states and localities are holding contests.

"All politics is local," as the saying goes. Though these elections may not be getting as much attention as last year's presidential race, it is still vital for your homeschool families to learn about them.

Here's how to make the most out of Election Day 2017 in your homeschool: 

1. Research the elections going on in your state or locality

The Website ballotpedia.org is a great source for learning what races are going on near you. Along with your children, spend some time exploring the site, look up sample ballots, and learn about the candidates. You can even view campaign advertisements for some races (we love campaign ads). 

2. Look up voter identification requirements

Before you go to the polls, be sure to know what you have to take with you. The National Conference of State Legislatures has great information. Explore this link with your children. 

3. Go to the polls

After you have done your research, go to the polls. There is no better way to instill good citizenship values than by taking your kids with you to vote. Voting is the most frequently exercised form of political participation, and it is up to parents to set a good example.  

4. Watch or read about the results

Make Election Night an event. Make patriotic food. Gather together and watch the results come in. You can watch via a news Website or a cable news channel. Alternatively, pick up a local newspaper the next day. The local newspaper is sure to have good stories about who won. Make that your Hot Chocolate and Current Events for the week. 

I have seen wolves! I mean, I have seen them popping up in the news lately. Maybe because this week (beginning October 12th) is National Wolf Awareness Week. Or maybe it’s because I’ve been reading about the release of the new book American Wolf. (Book releases are also current events!) In any case, I thought it would be fun to talk about wolves for Hot Chocolate and Current Events this week. 

***To get the latest in Hot Chocolate and Current Events, please sign up for our newsletter. 

First read this brief article from Reuters about French sheep farmers protesting the country’s protection of wolves. 

You can also watch this video from CBS News. It is an interview with the author of American Wolf. If you wish, you can also read the book review of American Wolf from the Halifax Chronicle Herald. 

• What’s the difference between a wolf and a dog?
• If it’s not ok to shoot a dog, why is it ok to shoot a wolf?  
• What are some reasons wolf hunting is necessary—and should be allowed?
• If you were a French sheep farmer, how would you feel about the ban on hunting wolves? Why? 
• What are some reasons that wolf hunting is not necessary—and should be banned?
• Imagine you were a French government official who supported the ban. What would be your reasons for having supported it?
• What does Michele Boudin mean when he says, “At some point you have to choose between farmers and the wolf”?
• Should farmers have the right to shoot any wolf that attacks their herds? 
• Can you think of a compromise policy that would make both farmers and wolf conservationists happy? 

Note: This post is an archived newsletter from 10.6.17. To get the latest current events, subscribe to our newsletter. 

Why are Children Starving in Venezuela?

One reason we study current events is to give our kids a heart for the world. Things aren’t easy for people in Venezuela right now. Please read this article about the hunger crisis in Venezuela. There is also a video. 

Key People, Places, and Map Points

Venezuela is an oil-rich country on the northern coast of South America. American politicians have called the country a “socialist dictatorship.” This means that the government controls much of the economy, and one leader, President Nicolas Maduro, has all the power. Several years ago, under Maduro's leadership, the Venezuelan economy seriously contracted. They have seen a 700 percent increase in the price of goods or hyperinflation. Today, most Venezuelans are living in poverty. 

What would you do if your family was forced to scavenge for food? Where would you look? Would you beg? 

Why do you think the soup kitchen only serves 100 children per day? 

Why do you think the soup kitchen does not serve parents?

Why does cook Judith Arcia say that “shame has been forgotten”?

If the country is so rich in oil, why cannot it not feed its people?

Why do you think the government would not open a “humanitarian corridor”? 

Why do you think the government is unwilling or unable to feed its people?

What has been the role of the church in this crisis? 

What do you think will be the future of Venezuela?  

Note: This post is an archived newsletter from 10.6.17. To get the latest current events, subscribe to our newsletter. 

The king of Saudi Arabia just granted women the right to drive. 

For this week in Hot Chocolate and Current Events, read this article from Bloomberg. After you read it, discuss the article with your homeschool family. Use the keywords and questions below. 

Saudi Arabia: (map point) The biggest country on the Arabian Peninsula. Governed by a king (Salman of Saudi Arabia), who has legislative, executive, and judicial functions. The king’s royal decrees are law. 

Riyadh (map point): Saudi Arabia’s capital

Why do you think women in Saudi Arabia were not allowed to drive?

What do you think made the king change his mind about women driving? 

What did Saudi women gain by being given the right to drive?

What did Saudi women lose by gaining the right to drive?

Do you think all Saudi women were happy about getting the right to drive? 

How do you think the hired male drivers, like Almuhaya’s, reacted when they heard the news?

Do you think the U.S. would have allowed women to drive before 1920 (the year they got the right to vote)? 

Would you, like Aziza Alyousef, like to be license number 0001? 

*Fun fact: Saudi women first voted in 2015

This week in Hot Chocolate and Current Events, we will equip your family to discuss the battle over soda taxes.

We will look at the current soda tax battle in Cook County, Illinois, where Chicago is located. 

First, read this article from the Chicago Tribune. There is a short video that goes along with it, and you can watch that with your family. 

Key terms:

Beverage tax: a local tax collected to try to deter people from drinking sugary drinks. 

County commissioners: the board of county leaders who voted to enact the tax

Michael Bloomberg: Former NYC mayor and heath guru who imposed similar taxes during his time in office

Why would county commissioners enact a beverage tax? 

What benefits would a soda tax bring to Cook County?

What harm might the tax bring to Cook County? 

How would you feel about the tax if you owned a restaurant or food store in Cook County? 

Cigarettes are taxed more than other products. Do you think sodas are a “vice” on the same level as cigarettes?

What is more important: promoting a healthy society, even if it means higher taxes, or preserving people’s liberty to drink whatever they want?

Should the county commissioners repeal the tax? 

If you were a county commissioner, would you vote to repeal it? 

Note: To get the latest in Hot Chocolate and Current Events, sign up for our newsletter!