💛 SELLevel 1Lesson 20
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Telling the Truth

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

What you will learn

  • 1Tell the difference between honest and dishonest choices
  • 2Sort examples into the correct group
  • 3Explain that telling the truth helps people trust you and fix problems
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Mini Lesson

Telling the truth means saying what really happened. It can feel brave, especially after a mistake, but honest words help people trust you and help problems get fixed.

What is the truth?

  • The truth is what is real and what really happened.
  • An honest choice uses true words.
  • A dishonest choice hides the truth, changes it, or blames someone else.

Why does telling the truth matter?

  • Truth helps people trust you.
  • Truth helps grown-ups understand what happened so they can help.
  • Truth helps fix mistakes instead of making the problem bigger.

What can dishonesty look like?

  • Saying "Not me" when you did it.
  • Blaming another person for your choice.
  • Saying a job is done when it is not.

What if I made a mistake?

  • Stop and take a breath.
  • Say what really happened.
  • Help fix the problem if you can.

Words to know

Truth

Words that tell what really happened

e.g. I tell the truth even when it is hard.

Honest

Telling the truth

e.g. It is honest to admit my mistake.

Dishonest

Saying something that is not true

e.g. Saying "Not me" when I did it is dishonest.

Trust

When people believe you because you are honest

e.g. My friends trust me because I am honest.

Brave

Doing the right thing even when it is hard

e.g. It was brave to say what really happened.

A child honestly tells what happened after spilling paintA child stands beside spilled paint and tells a grown-up, I spilled it. A green check mark shows honesty.I spilled it.Truth helps fix problems.
Honest words tell what really happened, even after a mistake.
Honest choice and dishonest choice side by sideOne side shows a green box with the words I broke it. The other side shows a red box with the words Not me when the child really did it.HonestDishonestI broke it.Not me.Truth builds trust. Lies break trust.
Honest choices use true words. Dishonest choices hide or change the truth.
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Ask yourself: "Am I saying what really happened?"

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