Do your kids or students reach for a fib when the truth feels too hard to say? Teaching Kids About Lying and Telling the Truth is a Building Character workbook for ages 8 to 12 that helps kids understand what integrity means, why people lie, and how lying and telling the truth affect the trust friends, family, and others have in them.
This workbook is printed and shipped by Amazon. Order the paperback on Amazon.
The workbook was written by Tammy Roose, an upper elementary teacher and the creator of Tarheelstate Teacher, and is adapted from her Integrity & Honesty SEL Unit for upper elementary classrooms.
NOTE: This 91-page paperback is written for kids to work through on their own or alongside a parent or teacher. If you are teaching integrity to a whole class, the Integrity & Honesty SEL Unit covers the same topic with 20 days of lesson plans and Google Slides (digital download only).
Through reading passages, honesty scenarios, sorting activities, and journal prompts, kids practice what to say and do when telling the truth isn't easy, including how to fix a lie, how to respond to a dare, and how to keep a promise they made to themselves.
WHY PARENTS LOVE THIS WORKBOOK
- A Variety of Engaging Activities in One Book: Reading passages, sorts, honesty scenarios, graphic organizers, quote reflections, and creative projects like the Integrity MVP Badge and a Blueprint for Integrity.
- Kids Can Work On Their Own or With an Adult: Directions are written for kids ages 8 to 12, so they can complete the activities independently or alongside a parent, teacher, or counselor. Children can work from the first page to the last, or skip to the sections that fit what they need right now. The "I Am What I Do" Habit Tracker follows a monthly calendar for kids who want to track their honest choices over several weeks.
- Start with Understanding: The workbook opens with a page for adults on lying as part of normal development, so your conversations about honesty start from understanding.
- Setting Integrity Goals that Can Continue After the Workbook: An "I Am What I Do" Habit Tracker, a Post Reflection & Action Plan, a Weekly Goal Reflection, and a Declaration of Commitment help kids keep practicing honest habits.
- No Right or Wrong Answers: The activities focus on reflection, discussion, and real-world application.
WHAT'S INSIDE THE INTEGRITY WORKBOOK
✨ Section 1: The Heart of Integrity: What Is Integrity?, important vocabulary, My Beliefs About Honesty & Integrity, reflection questions, and the "I Am What I Do" Habit Tracker
✨ Section 2: Integrity & Everyday Life: Examples and Non-examples of Integrity Sort, Acting with Integrity at School, Acting with Integrity at Home, A Race for Integrity, Integrity in the Real World, and the Integrity MVP Badge
✨ Section 3: Integrity & Telling the Truth: Why Do People Lie?, The Ripple Effect of a Lie, The Broken Trust Jar Activity, the T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak filter, Fix the Lie, and honesty scenarios that compare honest and dishonest responses
✨ Section 4: Integrity & Character: The Honor Wall story, My Character vs. My Reputation, The Dare, Steps to Navigating Peer Pressure, and Brick by Brick: Building a Strong Character
✨ Section 5: Carrying Integrity Forward: A Blueprint for Integrity, Promises We Can Make to Ourselves, My Pledge to Keep My Word, an Honesty & Integrity Choice Board, and a Declaration of My Commitment to Honesty & Integrity
✨ Appendix: Recommended picture books about honesty and reproducible templates
Learning to be honest isn't always easy, especially when telling the truth means admitting a mistake or disappointing someone. Teaching Kids About Lying and Telling the Truth helps kids take responsibility for their choices, repair trust after a mistake, and make choices they're proud of, even when no one is watching.
THIS WORKBOOK IS PERFECT FOR
- Parents and caregivers supporting social emotional learning at home
- Teachers and school counselors leading character education lessons
- Homeschool families and after-school programs
CASEL STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
Self-Awareness
- Demonstrating honesty and integrity
- Linking feelings, values, and thoughts
Self-Management
- Setting personal and collective goals
Social Awareness
- Showing concern for the feelings of others
Relationship Skills
- Developing positive relationships
- Resisting negative social pressure
- Communicating effectively
Responsible Decision Making
- Identifying solutions for personal and social problems
- Anticipating and evaluating the consequences of one's actions
MORE BUILDING CHARACTER WORKBOOKS
Each workbook in the series follows a similar layout, so kids know what to expect from one topic to the next:
- Empathy & Caring About Others
- Being & Getting Motivated
- Being Yourself
- Having Courage
- Making & Keeping Friends
- Setting Goals
- Showing Responsibility & Making Good Choices
- Growing in Gratitude
- Developing a Growth Mindset
- Conflict Resolution
BOOK DETAILS
- Paperback, 91 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches
- Ages 8 to 12 (grades 3 to 6)
- Author: Tammy Roose
- Publisher: Tarheelstate Teacher Publishing
- ISBN: 978-1968882006
- Available on Amazon: order the paperback here
Copyright © Tammy Roose, Tarheelstate Teacher LLC. The purchase of this workbook gives the buyer permission to reproduce pages for single classroom, home, or small group use only.
