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Character and Life Skills: Honesty Lesson Title: Honest vs. Dishonest: Which Will You Choose? Grade Level: 3-5

Materials• ChartPaper• Marker• Ballofyarn• Slipsofpaperwithscenarios• Paperforskitwriting• Pencils

ProcedureIntroduction

1. Writetheword“honesty”inthemiddleofapieceofchartpaper

2. Askstudents:

• Whatdoeshonestymean?• Whyishonestyimportant?• Whatarethequalitiesofanhonestperson?• Whodoyouknowthatishonest?

3. Recordanswersaroundtheword“honesty”onthechartpapertocreateawordweb.Havestudents definetheterm“web”andasagroupdeterminewhythechartiscalleda“wordweb.”

4. Displaythewordwebintheclassroomtouseasareference.

Direct Instruction (I do)1. Chooseafewstudentstostandinaline,shouldertoshoulder,atthefrontoftheroomfacingtheclass.

2. Whispertothestudentsthatyouchosetostandatthefrontoftheroomthatyouwantthemto answerwithalietoeveryquestionyouask.

Project and PurposeStudentswillroleplayscenariostorepresentwhyitisbettertochoosehonestyoverdishonesty.

Essential QuestionWhyisitimportanttobehonest?

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3. Askthestandingstudentsthefollowingquestions:

• Whydidn’tyoudoyourhomeworklastnight?• DidyoueatthecookieIwassavingforlater?• IheardyoutoldSarahIdon’tlikeher.Isthattrue?• Didyoucleanyourroomlikeyouwereaskedto?• Haveyoustudiedforthetest?

4. Aseachstudentrespondswithalie,wraptheballofyarnaroundthem,continuingtoentangleeach childintheyarn.

5. Keepaskingquestionsandwrappingtheyarnaroundthemuntiltheyarestucktogether.

6. Revealtotheeveryonethatyoutoldthevolunteerstolietoeveryquestionyouasked.

7. Askthestudents:Whatdidtheyarnrepresent?Whathappenswhenwetelllies?

8. Askstudentstoexplainthephrase“Oh,whatatangledwebweweavewhenfirstwepracticetodeceive.”

Guided Exploration (We do)1. Splitstudentsintosmallgroupsandhaveeachgroupsittogetherinacircle.

2. Explainthateachgroupwillreceiveaslipofpaperwithascenarioonit.(NOTE:Ascenarioisashort descriptionofaskitoraveryshortplay.)

ExampleScenariosmightinclude:

• Yourfriendforgetstodotheirhomeworkandaskstocopyyours• Youbuythreecandybarsbutthecashieronlychargesyoufortwo• YoupromisetocleanyourroombutyouwatchTVinstead• Youfinda$20billinthehallwayatschool

3. Eachgroupmustcreateaskittoshowhowthecharacterschoosetobehonestoverdishonestinthe givensituation.Everypersoninthegroupmustplayaroleintheskit.

4. Passouttheslipsofpapertoeachgroup.

5. Teachershouldfloataroundtoeachgrouptomonitorskitdevelopment.

Independent Practice (You do)1. Towardstheendofclass,oronthenextday,haveeachgrouppresentitsskittotheclass.

2. Aftereachgroupperforms,askaudiencestudents:

• Howwouldtheoutcomechangeifthecharacterchosetobedishonest?• Arethereotherwaystosolvetheconflictinthescenario?Explain.• WhatdoyouthinkwillhappenAFTERthisscene?

3. Discussresponseswiththefullgroup.

ConclusionUsestudentresponsesabouthoweachgroupcouldhavechosentobedishonesttogaugeunderstandingof“honesty.”Reviewthewordwebthatwascreatedatthebeginningofthelesson.Askstudentsifthereisanythingelsewecouldaddtothewordwebabouthonesty.

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Vocabularyhonesty (n.)

Definition: theactoftellingthetruth;thequalityofbeingwhatyouappeartobesothatyousaywhatyouthink,showwhatyoufeel,etc.;fairnessandstraightforwardnessofconductContext:Howard’shonestyledhisclassmatestoelecthimclasstreasurer.

dishonest (n.)Definition: deceptiveorfraudulent;disposedtocheatordeceive.Lackingtruthfulness;“adishonestanswer”.LackinghonestyandoblivioustowhatishonorableContext:Therulesenforcedbytherefereearetoprotectbothsidesfromdishonestplay.

web (n.)Definition: anintricatepatternorstructurethatlooksasifithasbeenwovenContext:Peoplecangettangledupinaweboflies.

Teacher Notes