What If Everybody Did That?

Name: What If Everybody Did That?
Author: Ellen Javernick

A story that explores patience and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

Read the Guiding Questions Find this book →

♥ This book teaches: Patience. staying calm while something unfolds.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: Patience means having self-control, waiting and enduring when one would rather not. In short: Stay calm while you wait. Summary: This book goes through a variety of situations that turn into disasters “if everybody did that.” It’s a humorous and effective exploration of a world without self-control. Hopefully, readers will be convinced that the world is a better place when we control our impulses. What could we all do more of besides controlling our impulses? We could spread love and kindness! Lesson Objectives:

Teachers guide their class to discuss and make a list of their observations on how communities specifically remind us to use self-control - posted signs like “do not litter”, stoplights, school rules and so on.
Students discuss the ending of the book - what we could do more of is spread love and kindness - and come up with a list of ideas about how to do that practically.

Guiding Questions:

Why should we not feed animals at a zoo, or animals in the wild?
Do you think littering should be against the law? Why or why not?
Can you explain why it endangers animals when we litter? If you don’t know, do some research.
Do you think you’d be able to learn anything at school if teachers let anyone talk whenever they wanted to? Why or why not?
What’s one of your school rules and what do you think would happen if no one followed that rule?
Do you have rules at home? What are they and what do you think about those rules - are they fair?
When is it hard for you to use self-control? Share a story about a time you struggled with self-control.
Think about a time when someone around you wasn’t using self-control - what could you have said to them to help them stop what they’re doing?
Describe how you talk yourself into using self-control when it’s hard.
What are some ideas you have about how we can do better at spreading love and kindness?

🌿 Virtue Connection: Patience means waiting without losing yourself.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.

Read-aloud video · Best with headphones

Find this book at your library or bookstore →

Patience · Family Discussion Guide

What If Everybody Did That?

by Ellen Javernick

Guiding Questions

Teachers guide their class to discuss and make a list of their observations on how communities specifically remind us to use self-control - posted signs like “do not litter”, stoplights, school rules and so on.
Students discuss the ending of the book - what we could do more of is spread love and kindness - and come up with a list of ideas about how to do that practically.

Guiding Questions:

Why should we not feed animals at a zoo, or animals in the wild?
Do you think littering should be against the law? Why or why not?
Can you explain why it endangers animals when we litter? If you don’t know, do some research.
Do you think you’d be able to learn anything at school if teachers let anyone talk whenever they wanted to? Why or why not?
What’s one of your school rules and what do you think would happen if no one followed that rule?
Do you have rules at home? What are they and what do you think about those rules - are they fair?
When is it hard for you to use self-control? Share a story about a time you struggled with self-control.
Think about a time when someone around you wasn’t using self-control - what could you have said to them to help them stop what they’re doing?
Describe how you talk yourself into using self-control when it’s hard.
What are some ideas you have about how we can do better at spreading love and kindness?

valuesandvirtues.org · Made possible by our supporters

What If Everybody Did That?

Guiding Questions for Parents.

About the Story.

More Patience guides.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Clark The Shark

Don't Do That

Grumpy Monkey

Explore more guides for 3rd & 4th Grade.

What If Everybody Did That?

Guiding Questions