The+Importance+of+Honesty

Unit Theme/Big Idea: The Importance of Honesty *Role-playing scenarios can be geared toward more challenging and moral dilemmas (similar to Marty’s) for older students.
 * Lesson Plan Template**

Essential questions: Why is honesty important? How do we handle situations when the truth hurts?

Standards: I can act in an honest manner. I can make appropriate decisions. I will work on having positive relationships.

Go Around/ gathering: We know that honesty is an extremely important quality, but have you ever felt that telling the truth might create a problem?
 * || Describe the activity: This lesson follows a whole class read-aloud of the chapter book Shiloh. Students are faced with difficult scenarios in which telling the truth comes with consequences, for themselves or someone else. This activity is geared toward higher-level intermediate students who have the ability to evaluate situations from multiple perspectives. ||

Body of the Lesson: Select one: Use pair-shares Interviews __X__ Fishbowls Cooperative learning groups Concentric circles Others (please name)

What connections can be made between students’ prior knowledge and this lesson?

Many students at this level have come across situations where telling the truth either creates more problems, is hurtful, or there is justification for one’s actions. Students, having just read Shiloh, have a greater understanding of a moral dilemma someone can be faced with if a situation is serious and many different feelings are involved. This lesson seeks to help students identify proper choices should a situation like this come up.

How will I begin this lesson? What is the hook?

Using Marty’s situation with Shiloh as an example, discuss as a class how Marty lied. Was this right or wrong? Do students understand how Marty felt? Would they have reacted in the same manner? How many believe it was okay for Marty to lie about Shiloh?

How will I demonstrate this new concept or skill?

1) Following the discussion of Marty’s behavior, and students’ thoughts and feelings about Marty’s actions, the teacher discusses the importance of honesty, defines integrity, and shares how honesty and integrity are related. Emphasis is placed on the importance of trust, but also acknowledging others’ feelings while sharing your own. Teacher asks students about a time where they personally felt that lying or shading the truth may have been easier than telling the honest truth. 2) Students are assigned into groups of two or three, depending on numbers. Each student group selects a pre-written scenario to discuss, role-play, and debrief in a fish-bowl setting. Pre-written scenarios could include: a. A cooked food at a friend’s house that someone may not like. b. An outfit a friend is wearing that may not be flattering. c. A writing piece that leaves room for quite a bit of work. d. Receiving an unwanted gift as a present. e. A friend’s new haircut that may not be flattering. f. A piece of artwork that is painted or colored not to your liking. g. Attending a party or event that wasn’t thoroughly enjoyed. 3) Students are given time to work out role-playing the scenarios in their head, and then participating in a fishbowl session where their role-plays are shared and discussed by the group.

Checklist: is the lesson geared toward multiple learning styles? (//Differentiation)// __X_ interpersonal__

Reflection time: Students journal about their learning and/or understandings after participating in the fishbowl.

Bloom’s Taxonomy: Which critical thinking skills did this lesson address? Evaluating: Is the truth more important than someone’s feelings in a given situation? Analyzing: What is the best way to respond in a kind and considerate manner? Understanding: Others’ perspectives and the role a student plays in them. ||
 * || How?

__X___ understanding __ remembering

Whole class debrief: Ask, what did you learn? What activity/knowledge/instructional mode/etc. helped you most with the lesson? What helped you least?