691.Resource, Gordon, What If Everybody Said That?: Mentor Text for Public Spirit (K-2)

Public Spirit is about taking action. It means taking an active interest in the well-being of one’s various communities, including home, school, community, country, and the world. It includes respect for others, courage, ethical responsibility, civic responsibility, social justice, and leadership.

What If Everybody Said That? shows the consequences of our actions when we lack respect for others and our communities. It deals on a concrete level with the lofty concept of ethical responsibility--making decisions about what is right and what is wrong and accepting responsibility for our actions. The variety of examples and illustrations ensures that students will recognize their own actions. Children are shown telling lies, making fun of their classmates’ school work, demanding to be first during Sharing Time, refusing to share, quitting when they don’t succeed at sports and more. Each time, the author asks “What If EVERYBODY said that?” The book ends with the young girl making an apology, with righting a wrong.

Heart of Georgia RESA teachers may request a free copy of the book to use with their classes by listening to the short VoiceThread about the book, reading a brief handout that includes the ELA standards and suggested strategies for using the mentor text, and completing a request form.