Self-Awareness
Family Resources on
Integrity - Choices
Lesson Topic
Integrity Choices
Essential Questions
How do we show integrity?
If this lesson was used in the classroom: Students learned the definition of honesty, discussed why it is important to be honest and in small groups wrote about a plan for what to do if they are put in a situation where others may encourage them to be dishonest.
Getting Ready for the Conversation
The video in this module features a student named Clinnard. Clinnard and some friends found a wallet in their school’s gym with a lot of cash in it. His friends wanted to split the money between them and keep it. Instead Clinnard did not take any money and reported that the wallet had been found even though he knew his friends would get in trouble.
Conversation Starters and Practice at Home Activities
The first item is for follow-up after viewing the lesson video.
Why do you think it was such an easy decision for Clinnard to tell an adult about the money and what the other two students did?
What do you think would have happened if Clinnard had taken part of the money along with the other students? How would the owner of the wallet be affected?
If you were in Clinnard’s place, would you have found it easy to do the same thing Clinnard did? Why or why not?
Name some people who are important to you. If you took something that was not yours, what would the reaction of the people you mentioned be? What about if you saw someone take something that was someone else’s? Describe why these people’s reactions are important to you.
School to Home Resources on Integrity - Choices
Materials
- Paper and writing utensils
- In a remote environment, students may need to use writing software and email completed stories to facilitator to complete Activity 3.
Previewing Activity:
Prepare students that the video will show a boy, named Clinard, who is faced with a tough decision.
Ask students:
- What does it mean to choose to do the right thing?
- What does it mean to act with integrity?
- (Optional) What should you do if you find something valuable that does not belong to you?
Activity 1:
Watch video: Integrity: Clinard [3 minutes]
Activity 2:
Use the following questions to guide your discussion after viewing the video.
Did Clinard make the best decision? Why or why not? Clinard said, “If I didn’t do the right thing, the consequences would be bad”. What do you think he means by this?
Describe some of the consequences Clinard could have faced if he had done nothing.
Why does Clinard say it is important not to steal? Do you agree?
Activity 3:
Write your own story.
Introduction:
Students should start by thinking about a time or situation where they or someone close to them had to choose to do the right thing, even though it was difficult. If students have read a book or story recently that illustrates this, use this as an example to discuss and compare to Clinard’s story.
Direct Instruction:
Explain to students that they are going to create their own story about someone making a decision with integrity.
Guided Exploration (We do):
Students should brainstorm ways that someone they know acted like Clinard and showed integrity. Ask students to write down key points from their story. Depending on reading and writing level, allow students to draw a picture if necessary.
Independent practice
Place students with a partner to create an original story that demonstrates someone making a decision with integrity. Depending on reading level, have students write their stories out or use a storyboard to tell their stories.
Have groups share and discuss. The focus should be on the importance of being honest and having integrity even when it might be hard to do so. Ask each group questions to reinforce this concept.
Conclusion
Discuss how students can act with integrity and reinforce why integrity is important.
Vocabulary and Definitions
Circumstances (n.), the specific details of an event or the facts that affect a situation.
- Under the circumstances, we cannot possibly hope to compete with the healthy competitors.
Consequences, (n.), something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions.
- Alice know that if she stained her sister’s sweater there would be serious consequences for her action.
Integrity (n.), being honest; doing the right thing; the quality of always having high more principles.
- Sandra acted without integrity when she cheated on her history test.
