Trustworthiness

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Hopefully, you have never been in this situation.

Even if you haven't, take some time to think about everything that the act of stealing implies, and discuss it with your teacher or parent.

• What type of person takes things without permission or paying? 
• Would you trust this friend not to take your things without asking?

Now think about what you would do if the friend knew that you saw him steal the item, and asked you to lie for him. Would you do it? Would a true friend ask you to do something that is immoral?

Take a moment to discuss this with your parent or teacher.

• What if you did lie, and your friend decided to tell the truth? 
• Who would be in trouble? 
• Would you ever be able to trust that friend again?

Trust is a huge part of all relationships, especially friendships. You should be able to trust your friends, and they should have trust in you. When someone is trustworthy, you can have confidence in him or her.

Trustworthiness shows itself in at least four different ways:

1. Integrity: Your thoughts, words, and actions all agree with each other.
2. Honesty: You tell the truth, sometimes volunteering information because it is essential or important for another person to know.
3. Keeping your promises: You do what you say you will do.
4. Loyalty: You support your friends, family, commitments, and your country.

Work with your teacher or parent to make a list of examples of actions that show the following qualities of trustworthiness:

• Integrity
• Honesty
• Keeping promises
• Loyalty

Once you have completed your list, put it aside and watch The Boy Who Cried Wolf:

Now that you have watched the video, make a list of all of the character qualities of the boy in the story. Compare this list to the list you made previously.

• Is the boy in the story trustworthy? Why or why not? Discuss this with your teacher.

Once you have thoroughly discussed the trustworthiness of the boy, answer the following questions. You can write the answers on the back of your paper, or you can answer and discuss them out loud together with your teacher or parent:

1. What happens when a person lies a lot?
2. Why didn't the people believe the boy when there really was a wolf?
3. What is the best way to make sure people believe us all the time?
4. Has this sort of thing ever happened to someone you know?