Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare picture cards showing children telling the truth and keeping promises, as well as puppets or simple props for role-playing scenarios. The central idea for pupils is to understand that honesty means telling the truth and trustworthiness means keeping promises, which makes others feel safe and happy. Observe pupils actively participating in role-play and explaining simple examples of these values.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Second Term
Week: 8
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Social Habits
Curriculum Theme: Social Habits
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Topic: VALUES (HONESTY & TRUSTWORTHINESS)
Subject Matter: Meaning of honesty and trustworthiness and how to practise them.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Define honesty in simple terms.
- Identify examples of honest behaviour.
- Describe what it means to be trustworthy.
Affective Domain
- Show willingness to tell the truth.
- Express the importance of keeping promises.
- Appreciate the value of being trusted by others.
Psychomotor Domain
- Act out simple scenarios demonstrating honesty.
- Participate in role-play showing trustworthiness.
Social Domain
- Interact positively with peers during group activities.
- Share ideas about how to be a good friend by being honest and trustworthy.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources
- Picture cards showing honest and trustworthy actions
- Storybooks about honesty and trust
Instructional Materials
- Chart with pictures of honest and trustworthy children
- Posters illustrating scenarios of truth-telling and promise-keeping
- Puppets or simple props for role-play (e.g., toy, crayon, ball)
- Audio player for a song
- Video display for educational video
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 4-year-olds as it introduces fundamental social values that help them build positive relationships with family and friends. Understanding honesty and trustworthiness helps children learn how to behave responsibly and earn the respect and confidence of others in their daily interactions.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify good and bad behaviours, and they understand simple rules at home and in school. They know how to interact with their friends and teachers.Lesson Content/Board Summary
Meaning of Honesty and Trustworthiness and How to Practise Them
What is Honesty?
Honesty means telling the truth. It means not lying, even when it’s hard. When you are honest, people believe what you say.
- Examples of Honesty:
- Telling your teacher you broke a crayon by mistake.
- Admitting you made a drawing on the wall instead of blaming someone else.
- Returning a lost pencil to its owner.
What is Trustworthiness?
Trustworthiness means people can trust you. They know you will do what you say you will do. You keep your promises and can be relied upon.
- Examples of Trustworthiness:
- If you promise to share your toy, you share it.
- If you promise to help put away the blocks, you help put them away.
- If your mummy asks you to keep a secret, you keep it.
How to Practise Honesty and Trustworthiness
- Always tell the truth, even when you make a mistake.
- Keep your promises to your friends and family.
- Do what you say you will do.
- Return things you find to their owners.
- Be a person others can rely on.
Honesty and Trust Rhyme
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Lyrics:
Honest, honest, tell the truth,
Always kind, for every youth.
No more lies, no hiding things,
Joy and peace, the truth it brings.
Trustworthy, trustworthy, keep your word,
Like a promise, always heard.
Actions:
- “Honest, honest, tell the truth”: Point to mouth, then make a straight line with hands.
- “Always kind, for every youth”: Hug self.
- “No more lies, no hiding things”: Shake head ‘no’, then hide hands behind back and bring them forward.
- “Joy and peace, the truth it brings”: Smile and open arms wide.
- “Trustworthy, trustworthy, keep your word”: Nod head, then bring hands together like sealing a promise.
- “Like a promise, always heard”: Cup ear, then nod.
Watch and Learn About Honesty
Key Words
- Honesty – telling the truth.
- Truth – what is real and correct.
- Trustworthy – when people can believe and rely on you.
- Promise – saying you will do something.
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Explain honesty and trustworthiness using simple, everyday examples relevant to the children’s lives (e.g., sharing toys, admitting mistakes, keeping promises to parents). Use the chart and posters to show visual examples of these behaviours. Encourage pupils to share their own simple examples.
What to show or demonstrate: Point to pictures on the chart showing children telling the truth or keeping promises. Demonstrate with puppets simple scenarios like a puppet admitting it spilled water, or a puppet keeping its promise to help clean up.
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “Honesty and Trust Rhyme” by singing it slowly and clearly. Demonstrate the actions for each line. Sing it two to three times, encouraging pupils to join in with the words and actions. Explain that the song reminds us to always tell the truth and keep our promises.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to learn more about honesty. Play the video “Honesty Song for Kids” by The Kiboomers. After watching, ask pupils what they learned about telling the truth and why it’s important. Encourage them to sing along to parts of the song if they remember.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils understand the difference between telling the truth and lying, and if they can identify simple actions that show trustworthiness. Watch for their participation in the rhyme and their ability to relate the video content to the lesson.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Storytelling, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Role-play, Repetition, Practical Activity.Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them about their favourite stories where characters told the truth or kept a promise. The teacher introduces the topic of honesty and trustworthiness.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and share simple thoughts about stories. They listen attentively to the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concepts of honesty and trustworthiness.
Step 2: Explanation of Honesty
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining/Visual Aids
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what honesty means using simple words and shows pictures on a chart of children telling the truth (e.g., admitting to drawing on a table). The teacher asks pupils if they know what it means to be honest.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation, look at the pictures, and try to give simple answers about honesty.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that honesty means telling the truth.
Step 3: Explanation of Trustworthiness
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining/Examples
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains trustworthiness as keeping promises and being reliable. The teacher gives examples like “If I promise to read you a story, I will read it.” The teacher asks pupils how they can show they are trustworthy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and offer simple ideas on how to be trustworthy, like “I will share my toy if I promise.”
Learning Point: Pupils understand that trustworthiness means keeping promises and being reliable.
Step 4: Rhyme and Video Reinforcement
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Singing/Visual Learning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing the “Honesty and Trust Rhyme” with actions. Then, the teacher plays the short educational video on honesty and encourages pupils to watch and learn.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme with actions and watch the video attentively, trying to understand the message.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of honesty and trustworthiness through song and video.
Step 5: Guided Discussion and Examples
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Facilitating
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils questions like, “What happens when you tell the truth?” or “Why is it good to keep your promises?” The teacher guides them to understand that honesty and trustworthiness make people happy and trust them.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer questions, sharing their simple thoughts and experiences.
Learning Point: Pupils connect honesty and trustworthiness to positive outcomes like trust and happiness.
Step 6: Role-Play Activity
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Role-playing/Encouraging
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher sets up simple scenarios for role-play using puppets or props.
- Scenario 1: A child accidentally breaks a toy. What should they do? (Be honest)
- Scenario 2: A child promises to help a friend clean up. What should they do? (Be trustworthy)
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils volunteer to role-play the scenarios, demonstrating honesty and trustworthiness.
Learning Point: Pupils practise demonstrating honest and trustworthy behaviours.
Step 7: Evaluation/Review
Time: 4–5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.
- What does it mean to be honest?
- Give one example of being trustworthy.
- Show me how you can tell the truth if you accidentally spill water.
- Why is it good to be honest and trustworthy?
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Summarising/Reinforcing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them to always be honest and trustworthy at home and at school. The teacher leads a final round of the honesty rhyme.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher’s summary and sing the rhyme one last time.
Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to apply the learned values in their daily lives.
Lesson Keywords
- Honesty – telling the truth.
- Truth – what is real and correct.
- Trustworthy – when people can believe and rely on you.
- Promise – saying you will do something.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who find it difficult to grasp the concepts, the teacher can use more direct examples from their immediate environment, provide hand-over-hand guidance during role-play, or use larger, clearer picture cards. Focus on identifying just one example of each value.
- Extension: For pupils who quickly understand, the teacher can ask them to think of another situation where being honest or trustworthy is important, or encourage them to explain in their own words why these values make people happy. They can also lead a small group in a role-play scenario.
Community Join the conversation Open discussion +