WHY do these rules matter?
That is why I love using What If Everybody Did That? as a springboard for teaching classroom rules, choices, consequences, responsibility, and cause and effect.
And I’ve just given my What If Everybody Did That? resource a BIG update!
Even better…
It’s FREE!
This newly updated K–2 resource takes a favorite read-aloud and turns it into a meaningful literacy lesson that helps children understand one very important idea:
Our choices matter because they can affect everyone around us.
Start the Day Before You Even Open the Book!
Before reading, students complete a Circle, Color, Write, Draw Morning Opener.
They think about what helps a classroom, how they feel when everyone follows the rules, an important classroom rule, listening behaviors, and what might happen if everyone stopped taking care of the classroom.
It’s a simple way to activate prior knowledge and get students thinking about the big idea for the day.
Then bring everyone together and ask:
Why do we have classroom rules?
You’ll probably hear answers like:
“To keep us safe!”
“So we can learn!”
“So nobody gets hurt!”
And those answers lead perfectly into the story.
Before Reading: Introduce CHOICES
Before opening the book, take a look at the title.
What If Everybody Did That?
That’s quite a question!
Ask students:
What could happen if everybody did something they weren’t supposed to do?
Then introduce four important words:
RULE • CHOICE • CONSEQUENCE • RESPONSIBILITY
These words become the heart of the lesson.
Students aren’t simply learning that there are rules they need to follow.
They’re beginning to understand this important connection:
CHOICE → CONSEQUENCE → RESPONSIBILITY
Read, Stop & THINK!
As you read, encourage students to pay attention to the choices the boy makes.
What did he do?
What happened because of his choice?
Who else could be affected?
What would happen if EVERYBODY did the same thing?
What would have been a more responsible choice?
Now you’re naturally working on one of those important literacy skills we teach in the primary grades:
CAUSE & EFFECT!
The boy’s action is the cause.
What could happen if everyone made that same choice is the effect.
And because students are discussing events from an engaging story, cause and effect becomes much more meaningful than simply completing an isolated worksheet.
Use Vocabulary Cards for Story Recall
I’ve also included vocabulary cards that can be used for much more than vocabulary practice!
Display the cards one at a time and ask students to explain how each word connects to the story.
For example:
“The boy fed the bear popcorn. If everybody did that, the bears would get fat.”
Students can use the cards to recall what the boy did AND what might happen if everybody did the same thing.
This gives you a quick way to practice story recall, oral language, complete sentences, vocabulary, and cause and effect all at once.
You can also place the cards in a pocket chart or use them for partner retelling later in the day.
Take the Story Into YOUR Classroom
This is where I think the lesson becomes especially meaningful.
After reading, move the conversation from the boy’s choices to the choices your students make every day.
Students sort examples of following the rules and breaking the rules.
But don’t stop with:
“Is this following a rule or breaking a rule?”
Ask:
Why does that rule matter?
Who does that choice affect?
What might happen if everybody did it?
Suddenly, “Don’t run in the hallway” isn’t just something a teacher tells children.
Students begin thinking:
If everybody ran, someone could get hurt.
That’s a much more powerful understanding!
NEW “What If Everybody…?” Discussion Cards
One of my favorite additions to this update is a set of What If Everybody…? discussion cards.
Each card presents students with a familiar situation and asks:
What might happen?
Students might consider what would happen if everybody shouted at the same time, ran in the hallway, left a mess, or made other classroom choices.
I’ve also included positive choices because consequences aren’t always negative!
What if everybody helped?
What if everybody shared?
What if everybody included others?
Students can discover that their choices can make their classroom better, too!
Use the cards for whole-group discussion, Turn & Talk, partner work, cause-and-effect practice, oral language, or even writing prompts.
A simple sentence frame can help younger learners:
“If everybody __________, then __________ might happen.”
Let’s Become AUTHORS!
After students have explored the story and talked about classroom rules, it’s their turn to create their own What If Everybody…? example.
Each student chooses a classroom rule.
Then comes the fun part!
They imagine:
What would happen if EVERYBODY broke that rule?
Students use the included planning page to organize their ideas before writing and illustrating their final page.
Put everyone’s finished pages together and you’ve created a collaborative What If Everybody…? CLASS BOOK!
I especially love activities like this because students aren’t simply telling me what happened in the story.
They’re applying the author’s message to their own lives.
And I have a feeling this is one class book students will want to read again and again!
Add Word Work—But Don’t Do It ALL!
Of course, I’ve included additional literacy practice, too.
Students can work with:
ABC order • syllables • vowels and consonants • making words • vocabulary • word search
But here’s my reminder:
You don’t have to use everything!
Choose the activity that best fits your students and your literacy goals.
Save the others for centers, small groups, morning work, early finishers, or another day.
The goal isn’t to complete every page.
The goal is to use the activities that help YOUR students learn.
End the Day with One Important Question
At the end of the lesson, bring everyone back together and ask:
“What is one choice YOU can make tomorrow that will help everyone in our classroom?”
I love this question because it puts the responsibility right back into children’s hands.
By the end of the day, hopefully students are beginning to understand:
I make choices.
My choices have consequences.
My choices can affect other people.
I am responsible for the choices I make.
And THAT is a lesson that goes far beyond one read-aloud!
And Did I Mention It’s FREE?
My newly updated What If Everybody Did That? resource includes a teacher-friendly one-day lesson plan to help you pull all of these activities together without wondering where to begin.
Use the complete lesson or pick and choose the activities that work best for your students.
It’s perfect for back to school, classroom rules, classroom community, responsibility, behavior expectations, cause and effect, or anytime your class needs a little reminder that our choices matter.
And because I want you to see the direction I’m taking with my newly updated literacy resources…
This one is FREE! 💜
Grab it, tuck it into your back-to-school plans, and help your students discover what REALLY might happen…
if everybody did that!
No Comments