Lesson Plan
Investigation Guide
Students will act as integrity detectives to explore and distinguish honesty, integrity, and reliability through a real-world case-study investigation, honing their character reasoning skills.
Understanding honesty, integrity, and reliability builds students’ character, empowers ethical decision-making, and applies these traits to everyday scenarios.
Audience
4th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive case-study with sorting and class discussion.
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Review Integrity Detective Slides
- Familiarize yourself with the Investigation Briefing Script
- Print and cut the Case File Cards into sets for each pair
Step 1
Detective Briefing
5 minutes
- Introduce the mission: students become integrity detectives
- Project Integrity Detective Slides
- Read the scenario aloud using the Investigation Briefing Script
- Explain the case-study purpose and success criteria
Step 2
Mini-Lecture on Terms
7 minutes
- Define honesty, integrity, and reliability on slides
- Discuss real-life examples for each term
- Ask students to share their own examples and clarify distinctions
Step 3
Case File Sort
12 minutes
- Distribute Case File Cards (3–4 cards per student)
- In pairs, sort cards into columns: Honesty, Integrity, Reliability
- Encourage pairs to discuss and justify their reasoning
- Circulate to prompt deeper thinking and guide classifications
Step 4
Class Verdict Poll
6 minutes
- Reconvene and display a few sample cards on the screen
- Invite pairs to share their category choices
- Poll class agreement via show of hands or digital tool
- Summarize key takeaways and correct any misconceptions
Slide Deck
Integrity Investigation
Welcome, Integrity Detectives!
Time to solve the case of Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability!
Welcome detectives! Introduce yourself and explain that today we’ll investigate real-life scenarios to learn about honesty, integrity, and reliability. Encourage excitement and participation.
Your Detective Mission
Objective:
• Distinguish honesty, integrity, and reliability through a case-study investigation.
Read the mission aloud and ensure students understand the learning objective. Emphasize that they’ll sort clues to crack the case.
What Is Honesty?
Honesty = Telling the truth and being open about your actions.
Example: Admitting you forgot your homework instead of making excuses.
Explain that honesty means telling the truth. Use a magnifying glass icon as a visual clue. Ask for student examples.
What Is Integrity?
Integrity = Doing the right thing, even if it’s hard or no one is looking.
Example: Returning extra change you got by mistake.
Define integrity and contrast it with honesty—doing the right thing even when no one’s watching. Show a badge icon.
What Is Reliability?
Reliability = Following through on your promises and responsibilities.
Example: Always being on time for meetings or chores.
Discuss reliability as keeping your promises. Use a clock icon to represent punctuality.
Real-World Examples
- Sara tells her teacher she broke the pencil (Honesty).
- Carlos cleans up the art room after class, even though no one asked (Integrity).
- Maria arrives early every day to feed the class hamster (Reliability).
Walk through each example, asking students: Which trait does this show?
Case File Sort
Instructions:
- Work in pairs •
- You’ll get 3–4 Case File Cards each •
- Sort cards into these folders: Honesty, Integrity, Reliability •
- Discuss and justify your choices
Explain the Case File Sort rules. Emphasize teamwork and reasoning. Show graphic of file folders labeled H, I, R.
Detective Debrief
Reflection Prompts:
• What surprised you about these traits?
• Which trait is hardest to spot?
• How will you use integrity in your own life?
Guide students through prompts. Encourage sharing and wrap up key points.
Script
Investigation Briefing Script
Teacher (enthusiastically): “Alright, Integrity Detectives, gather around! Today we have an important mission. Our community is puzzled by three special traits—Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability—and they need our help to solve the mystery of what each one really looks like in everyday life.
[Show Slide 1: Integrity Investigation]
Teacher: “Welcome to Case File 4-2-0! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become top-notch Integrity Detectives. By the end of our investigation, you will:
• Be able to explain what honesty, integrity, and reliability mean.
• Spot each trait in real-world situations.
• Work together to sort clues, or ‘Case File Cards,’ into the right categories.
Teacher (whispering dramatically): “Detectives, we have hints that these traits sometimes get mixed up. Someone might tell the truth but not follow through on a promise. Someone else might do the right thing in public but make the wrong choice when no one is watching. That’s where you come in—your superpower is asking questions and using evidence!
[Show Slide 2: Your Detective Mission]
Teacher: “Here’s how we’ll crack the case:
- I’ll give you a quick overview of each trait.
- You’ll work with a partner to sort Case File Cards into three folders—Honesty, Integrity, Reliability.
- You’ll explain your thinking and defend your choices to the class.
Teacher (smiling): “Sound exciting? Let’s begin by defining our first trait: Honesty!”
Game
Case File Cards
Use these scenario cards for the Investigation activity. Print, cut, and distribute 3–4 per student. Each card describes a real-life situation illustrating Honesty, Integrity, or Reliability. Students sort them into the correct folders.
| Card ID | Scenario | (Teacher Key) Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lily tells the teacher she accidentally broke the class ruler. | Honesty |
| 2 | Aiden admits he forgot to complete his reading assignment last night. | Honesty |
| 3 | Sam confesses to taking a cookie from the jar without permission. | Honesty |
| 4 | Zoe honestly explains she can’t play at recess because she needs to study for a test. | Honesty |
| 5 | Mia finds a lost wallet in the hallway and returns it with all the money still inside. | Integrity |
| 6 | Noah notices his quiz was graded too low and tells the teacher to correct it, even though it helps his grade. | Integrity |
| 7 | Ava quietly gives her extra lunch money to a classmate who forgot theirs, without being asked. | Integrity |
| 8 | Ethan speaks up to stop a classmate from being teased, even when others laugh. | Integrity |
| 9 | Olivia always hands in her homework on time, without reminders. | Reliability |
| 10 | Lucas arrives early every day to feed the class hamster as he promised. | Reliability |
| 11 | Henry consistently shows up prepared for group projects at the agreed meeting time. | Reliability |
| 12 | Sophia practices her piano lessons daily at the scheduled time, without her teacher asking. | Reliability |