Lesson Plan
Investigation Guide
Students will distinguish honesty, integrity, and reliability by acting as detectives, analyzing case files, and categorizing behaviors to build ethical decision-making skills.
This lesson fosters trustworthiness and ethical reasoning by giving students hands-on practice identifying honest, reliable, and integrity-driven actions, strengthening their social-emotional learning.
Audience
4th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on case sorting with guided discussion
Materials
Prep
Material Setup
10 minutes
- Print and cut out Case File Cards.
- Review the Integrity Detective Slides.
- Familiarize yourself with the Investigation Briefing Script.
Step 1
Detective Briefing
5 minutes
- Gather students and explain their roles as integrity detectives.
- Read the scenario using the Investigation Briefing Script.
- Encourage students to listen carefully for clues.
Step 2
Mini-Lecture on Terms
7 minutes
- Present definitions of honesty, integrity, and reliability using the Integrity Detective Slides.
- Provide examples and non-examples for each term.
- Ask students to share everyday situations illustrating these traits.
Step 3
Case File Sort
10 minutes
- Divide students into small groups and distribute Case File Cards.
- Instruct groups to read each card and categorize it under honesty, integrity, or reliability.
- Circulate and prompt deeper thinking with guiding questions.
Step 4
Class Verdict Poll
8 minutes
- Reconvene as a whole class and have each group present one categorized case.
- Conduct a class poll on whether students agree with the classification.
- Debrief by discussing any disagreements and reinforcing correct reasoning.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Integrity Investigation
Welcome, Integrity Detectives!
Today you’ll explore honesty, integrity, and reliability by examining real-life cases and making ethical decisions.
Welcome students! Introduce today’s mission: you are integrity detectives. Explain that you’ll investigate real-life scenarios to learn about honesty, integrity, and reliability.
Detective Briefing
Scenario Preview:
A student finds a lost backpack on the playground filled with notebooks and money. What should they do?
Listen closely as we read the full scenario!
Read the full scenario from the Investigation Briefing Script. Ask students to listen carefully for clues about honesty, integrity, and reliability.
Integrity Detective Toolkit
Today’s Key Terms:
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Reliability
Orient students to the three key concepts before defining each in detail. Tell them these are their detective tools.
What Is Honesty?
Definition:
Telling the truth, even when it’s hard.
Example:
“I accidentally broke the vase and I’m sorry.”
Non-Example:
Saying “I don’t know” when you really do.
Define honesty. Use examples: telling the truth about breaking a vase; non-example: blaming a classmate for your mistake. Invite students to share examples.
What Is Integrity?
Definition:
Doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching.
Example:
Finding extra change in a vending machine and returning it.
Non-Example:
Taking the change without telling anyone.
Define integrity. Highlight doing the right thing when no one’s watching. Use examples: returning extra change at a store; non-example: taking extra change and hiding it.
What Is Reliability?
Definition:
Being someone others can count on.
Example:
Turning in your homework when you said you would.
Non-Example:
Telling a friend you’ll help them study, then not showing up.
Define reliability. Emphasize following through on promises. Use examples: completing homework on time; non-example: promising to help a friend but forgetting.
Case File Sort
In your groups:
- Read each Case File Card.
- Decide if it shows honesty, integrity, or reliability.
- Place each card in the correct category.
Explain activity instructions. Divide students into small groups, hand out the Case File Cards, and have them categorize each scenario under honesty, integrity, or reliability.
Class Verdict Poll
- Each group presents one categorized case.
- Class votes: agree or disagree with the category.
- Discuss any different opinions.
Guide the class through the poll process. After each presentation, use a show of hands or colored cards to vote. Encourage respectful listening.
Debrief & Discussion
• What surprised you?
• How do these traits help us build trust?
• How will you use honesty, integrity, and reliability at school and home?
Lead a debrief. Ask: What did you learn about honesty, integrity, and reliability? How can we use these traits in our daily lives?
Script
Investigation Briefing Script
Teacher: "Good morning, Integrity Detectives! Today, you’ve been chosen for a very important mission. Your job is to investigate a real-life case and look for clues about honesty, integrity, and reliability. As I read the scenario, listen carefully—your detective eyes and ears need to spot key actions that show each of these traits. Ready? Let’s begin!"
Teacher: "Here’s your case file:"
Teacher (reading slowly and clearly):
"One sunny afternoon at Pinebrook Elementary School, recess is in full swing. A student named Alex heads to the swings and notices a blue backpack lying all alone by the slide. Curious, Alex opens it and discovers two spiral notebooks, a pencil case full of markers, and—surprise—twenty dollars in cash tucked inside a zippered pocket. On the front of the backpack is a name tag: ‘Jordan Lee.’ No one else is around, and Alex wonders what to do next.
Should Alex take the money? Should Alex leave the bag where it is? Or should Alex try to find Jordan and return it? Before deciding, Alex remembers what makes a person trustworthy.
As detectives, think about these questions:
• How might Alex show honesty in this situation?
• What would integrity look like if no one else is watching?
• How could Alex be reliable in following through on a promise?"
Teacher: "Detectives, keep those questions in mind. We’re about to sort through more clues in small groups. Listen closely—your observations will help you crack the case!"
Game
Case File Cards
Cut out each card and distribute to student groups. Each card shows a scenario. Students decide if it illustrates honesty, integrity, or reliability.
Card 1 (Honesty):
After art class, Mrs. Green’s favorite vase was broken. Julia saw it topple but her friend asked her to stay quiet. Julia tells Mrs. Green she saw it fall and explains what happened, even though it was hard to admit.
Card 2 (Honesty):
During a math test, Marcus notices the teacher marked his answer wrong but he knows it’s right. He raises his hand and politely explains why the answer is correct.
Card 3 (Honesty):
Emma accidentally took two cookies at snack time. When the lunch monitor notices, she admits she took extra and returns one immediately.
Card 4 (Integrity):
No one is looking as Danny finds extra change left in the lunch line. He takes the money to the office instead of keeping it for himself.
Card 5 (Integrity):
On his way home, Fernando finds a wallet on the sidewalk. Even though no one else saw him find it, he turns it in to a trusted adult at school.
Card 6 (Integrity):
During recess, Mia notices a classmate dropped a bracelet. She quietly places it in the lost-and-found without telling anyone else about it.
Card 7 (Reliability):
Sophie promises her partner she’ll finish the science project over the weekend. She works on it Saturday morning and sends her friend a photo of the completed work before Monday.
Card 8 (Reliability):
Ethan agrees to feed the class hamster while his classmate is away. Every morning he cleans its dish and refills the water as he said he would.
Card 9 (Reliability):
Lily volunteers to write the daily homework on the board. Each afternoon after school, she goes in and updates the board exactly as she promised.