881.Resource, Gordon, What If Everyone Said That: Mentor Text for Public Spirit Gr. 3-5

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 negative consequences when we act without respect for others and our communities. Ethical responsibility (making decisions about right and wrong and accepting responsibility for our actions) becomes concrete. The numerous examples--children telling lies, making fun of classmates, refusing to share, giving up when you don’t succeed-- will be recognized by your students. The book ends on a positive note, with a young girl apologizing for her actions and righting the 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.