Lesson 220: Telling the truth

❤️ SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (40 Lessons) • 🟡 C. Making Good Choices

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Objective

I can tell the truth about what really happened, even when it feels hard. I can explain why honesty matters and how to fix a mistake when I have not told the truth.

Materials

Mini-lesson — What does it mean to tell the truth?

Telling the truth means saying what really happened. We call this being honest.

Honesty and trust

  • When we tell the truth, people can trust us.
  • Trust means others believe our words and feel safe with us.
  • Honesty helps friendships and families feel strong.

What is a lie?

  • A lie is when we say something that is not true on purpose.
  • Sometimes children lie because they feel scared, ashamed, or worried about getting in trouble.
  • Even small lies can hurt trust.

Example 1 — Spilled juice

  • The juice spills on the table.
  • Truth: "I spilled it by accident."
  • Lie: "I did not do it." when you did.
  • Honest consequence: an adult can help you clean it and show you how to be more careful next time.

Example 2 — Broken toy

  • The toy breaks while you are playing.
  • Truth: "I broke it. I did not mean to."
  • Lie: hiding the toy and saying nothing.
  • Honest choice: tell the truth, say "I am sorry", and ask how to help fix it.

Fixing a lie

  • Everyone makes mistakes, even with telling the truth.
  • We can fix a lie by:
    • Coming back and telling the real story.
    • Saying "I am sorry I did not tell the truth."
    • Trying to do better next time.

Adults can say: "In our family/class, it is safe to tell the truth. We can fix mistakes together."

Picture strip: "Honest words"

Guided Practice — Truth or not?

You and an adult will read short stories and decide if the child is telling the truth or not the truth.

  1. On a notebook page, draw two columns. At the top of the left column write or trace: "Truth". At the top of the right column write or trace: "Not the truth".
  2. The adult reads a short story, such as: "Sam drops a cookie on the floor and says, 'The dog did it,' but the adult saw Sam drop it."
  3. Talk together: Is Sam telling the truth or not? Draw a little picture or write "Sam" in the correct column.
  4. Try two or three more small stories, including: "I broke it by accident and I am telling you" and "I already brushed my teeth" when they did not.
  5. Each time, ask: "How does the adult feel when the child is honest?" and "How do they feel when the child does not tell the truth?"
  6. Finish by thinking of one real moment when the child told the truth, even though it was hard. Draw it in the "Truth" column and add a small star.
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: As you trace, say a sentence such as "I can be honest and tell the truth."

Practice — Honesty and trust hearts

Use this practice to help your child see how honesty and trust go together.

  1. On a new page, draw a big heart in the middle. Inside, write or trace the word "Trust".
  2. Around the big heart, draw three or four smaller hearts. In each small heart, write or trace an honest action, such as "I told the truth about a mistake" or "I gave back something I found".
  3. For each small heart, talk about: "How does this honest choice help trust grow?"
  4. Next, draw one tiny heart at the bottom and label it "Fixing a lie". Inside, write or trace steps like "tell the truth", "say sorry", "try again".
  5. Ask your child: "How do you feel inside when you are honest?" and "How do you feel when you keep a lie?"
  6. Choose one honest action they want to practise this week and draw a star next to that heart.

Quick Check — Telling the truth

Answer each question about honesty, truth, and trust.

1) What does it mean to tell the truth?

Telling the truth means saying what really happened.

2) What is a lie?

A lie is when we say something we know is not true.

3) Why is honesty important?

Honesty helps build trust and safety in relationships.

4) You broke a crayon by accident. What is an honest thing to say?

Saying what really happened and saying sorry is honest.

5) You spilled water on your paper. Your adult asks, "What happened?" What shows you are telling the truth?

You are honestly saying what really happened.

6) What can you do if you told a lie before?

We can fix mistakes by telling the truth and saying sorry.

7) Your friend asks, "Did you use my pencil without asking?" You did. What is an honest answer?

Honesty means answering truthfully, even when it is hard.

8) How does telling the truth usually make you feel inside?

Honesty can feel hard at first but brings calm later.

9) When should you ask an adult for help with telling the truth?

Adults can help you be honest in a safe way.

10) What is one big goal of this lesson?

The goal is to choose honesty and build trust.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

Next time I will practise…

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