Activity: Integrity of Life1. Play the song "Honesty" by Billy Joel. Divide stanzas into sections. Assign students into small groups to discuss the meaning of each stanza.
2. Have students brainstorm times when they feel tempted to be dishonest. Divide those times by whether they involve family members, friends, or strangers. After you’ve discussed why students would be dishonest in those situations turn the situations around so that the student is the one being lied to. How do they feel now? 3. Discuss cheating on tests, homework, etc. What are effects of not being honest in school? 4. Ask students for examples from TV programs that make dishonesty seem glamorous. Can they recognize dishonesty, even when it seems justified. 5. Ask students, in a discussion format: Was it easier to find examples of honesty or dishonesty? Why? 6. Ask students to give you examples of people they have heard about, either present or past, who were known for their honesty. Make a list of those people. Ask students: Are people who are honest common or rare? 7. Ask students: Would you have returned the change to customer? Would you have given the woman the extra weight of goods? Why or why not? Would you have returned the damaged book to its owner and told him the truth about what happened? Would you agree to pay for the book? 8. Ask students if they think that our leaders of today are honest . Why or why not? 9. Ask students: Do any here desire to become leaders? Is honesty a virtue that is important? Do you believe that the day-to-day opportunities to tell the truth are a form of preparation for a future as a leader? 10. Make a two-column chart on chart paper. At the top of the left column, write Consequences for Lying. At the top of the right column, write Consequences for Telling the Truth. |
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