Lesson Plan
Trust Tree Teacher Guide
Students will understand trustworthiness, practice honesty, and identify two personal actions that build trust within their classroom community.
Building trust fosters a safe, respectful classroom environment, enhances social-emotional skills, and lays the foundation for positive peer interactions and collaborative learning.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Storytelling, guided discussion, and hands-on craft
Materials
- Growing Trust Slides, - Narrated Tree Story Script, - Leaf Pledge Craft, - Markers or Colored Pencils, - Chart Paper or Whiteboard, and - Tape or Magnets
Prep
Prepare Lesson Materials
10 minutes
- Print or copy enough Leaf Pledge Craft templates for each student
- Gather markers or colored pencils
- Set up chart paper or whiteboard in front of room
- Load and review Growing Trust Slides
- Read through the Narrated Tree Story Script to familiarize with pacing
Step 1
Warm-Up: Mindful Breathing
5 minutes
- Invite students to sit comfortably “under” an imaginary tree
- Lead three deep, slow breaths to promote calm focus
- Ask: “How does it feel when someone you trust keeps a promise?”
- Note student responses to connect to trustworthiness
Step 2
Story Narration
8 minutes
- Display slide 1 of Growing Trust Slides
- Read aloud the Narrated Tree Story Script, pausing for emphasis on trust and honesty
- Ask comprehension questions after key moments (e.g., “What choice did the seedling make?”)
- Differentiation: Show visuals or use sentence frames for ELL and emerging readers
- Assessment: Observe listening skills and responses
Step 3
Discussion and Reflection
10 minutes
- Ask: “What does trustworthiness mean to you?” and chart responses on paper or board
- Distribute Leaf Pledge Craft templates and art supplies
- Students write two personal actions (e.g., telling the truth, keeping promises) on their leaves
- Differentiation: Provide sentence starters or word banks for students needing support
- Assessment: Review each leaf to check understanding of trust-building actions
Step 4
Pledge Sharing and Display
7 minutes
- Pair students to share their leaf pledges with a partner
- Invite volunteers to read one pledge aloud to the class
- Use tape or magnets to attach leaves to a classroom “Trust Tree” on chart paper or wall
- Assessment: Listen for clear, relevant examples of trust-building actions
Slide Deck
Secrets of the Trust Tree
A 30-minute 3rd grade lesson exploring trustworthiness, honesty, and personal choices that help our classroom community grow strong.
Welcome students and introduce today’s lesson. Explain that just like trees need care to grow, trust needs our honest actions to grow too.
Point out the lesson objective: “Today we will learn what trustworthiness means and identify two actions we can take to build trust in our classroom.”
Warm-Up: Mindful Breathing
• Sit comfortably “under” an imaginary tree.
• Take three slow, deep breaths together.
• Discuss: “How does it feel when someone you trust keeps a promise?”
• Note responses on the board.
Lead students through a quick breathing exercise – imagine sitting under a big, leafy tree. Model deep breaths and ask how it feels when someone keeps a promise.
Connect the calm feeling to feeling safe and trusting.
Story Time: The Seedling’s Choice
“Once, a tiny seedling stood at a fork in the path of a forest clearing. A gentle breeze whispered, ‘Will you share my acorns, or keep them all for yourself?’ The seedling paused…”
Display this slide and transition to story time. Read from the Narrated Tree Story Script, pausing to ask comprehension checks:
• “What choice did the seedling make?”
• “How did that choice affect its friends?”
What Is Trustworthiness?
Trustworthiness means being honest, keeping promises, and acting in ways others can rely on.
• Honesty: Telling the truth
• Reliability: Doing what you say you will do
Guide students to create a shared definition. Chart responses, then refine to this class definition.
Check for understanding by asking for examples from students’ own experiences.
Reflect & Share
- How did the seedling show trustworthiness?
- Think of one way you can show trust in our classroom.
- Share your idea with a partner.
Pair students or use a think-pair-share format. Walk around to prompt struggling students with sentence starters: “I show trust by…”
Leaf Pledge Craft
- Take a Leaf Pledge Craft template.
- On each leaf, write one action you will do to build trust (e.g., telling the truth, keeping promises).
- Color and decorate your leaves.
- We’ll attach them to our classroom “Trust Tree” next.
Explain each step, then circulate to support and encourage neat, thoughtful responses. Remind students to write two personal actions.
Script
Narrated Tree Story Script
Teacher (holding up the slide or turning to face students):
“Alright, friends—gather in close and get ready to step into our story. Imagine we’re in a bright, green forest filled with tall trees and soft moss underfoot. Are you with me? Great!
Once upon a time, deep in a sun-dappled clearing, a tiny seedling peeked its first leaf into the world. The air smelled of pine needles and wildflowers, and all around, the forest buzzed with life.
Just then, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves above. The breeze whispered down to the seedling: ‘Will you share my acorns with the hungry squirrels, or will you keep them all for yourself?’
(Pause and look around the room.)
Teacher: “What do you think—the breeze has given the seedling a choice. Turn to your partner and whisper one sentence about what the seedling might do.”
(Wait 20–30 seconds for sharing.)
Teacher: “Who can share one idea you heard?”
(Call on 2–3 students.)
Teacher (nodding): “Those are wonderful ideas! Now, let’s see what the seedling decides.”
The little seedling closed its tiny leaf-eyes and thought, “If I share these acorns, the squirrels will have food, and I’ll show them I care.” So—the seedling chose to share.
All around, the forest creatures cheered. The squirrels chattered, the birds sang louder, and even the old oak tree creaked with delight. Because of that one honest choice, trust began to grow.
But the forest had another challenge ahead.
Later that day, a wise fox trotted into the clearing. She sniffed the air and said, ‘I need a friend I can count on. If you promise to guard my den while I hunt, will you be honest and keep your word?’
Teacher: “What does the fox want the seedling to do?”
(Wait for responses.)
Teacher: “Yes—she wants a promise. Now, whisper to your partner: Why is it important to keep a promise once you’ve made it?”
(Pause for sharing.)
Teacher: “Let’s hear one reason.”
(Student response.)
The seedling felt a flutter in its stem. It remembered how good it felt when the breeze could trust it. So it lifted its little leaf and said, ‘I promise to watch your den, and I will never peek inside until you return.’
Days passed, and the fox was away for longer than expected. The seedling’s friends invited it to explore and play. But the seedling remembered its promise. Instead of going off, it stood guard—honoring its word.
When the fox finally returned and saw the seedling right where it should be, her eyes shone with gratitude. ‘Thank you for keeping your promise,’ she said. ‘Because of you, I know I can trust my friends.’
(Pause and smile at students.)
Teacher: “Now, let’s talk. How did the seedling show trustworthiness in our story?”
(Call on 2–3 students.)
Teacher (pointing to the board): “Yes—first by sharing the acorns, and second by keeping the fox’s promise, even when it was hard. Those are actions we can all try in our classroom.”
Teacher (closing): “Great listening and thinking, everyone! Keep those examples in your mind as we talk more about trustworthiness.”
Activity
Leaf Pledge Craft
Purpose: Help each student commit to two trust-building actions by writing and decorating leaves to add to our classroom “Trust Tree.”
Materials Needed:
- Leaf Pledge Craft printable template (two large leaf outlines with writing lines inside each)
- Markers or colored pencils
- Scissors
- Tape or magnets (to display leaves)
- Chart paper or wall space set up as our classroom “Trust Tree”
Steps:
- Distribute one printable Leaf Pledge Craft template to each student.
- Explain: “On each leaf, write one action you will take to build trust in our classroom (for example: telling the truth, keeping promises, listening when others speak).”
- Encourage neat handwriting: Provide sentence starters if needed:
- “I will show trust by ________.”
- “I promise to ________.”
- After writing, students color and decorate their leaves, making them bright and personal.
- Students carefully cut out their two leaves.
- Pair-share: Have each student tell a partner one of their pledges.
- Invite volunteers to read a pledge aloud to the class.
- Finally, attach all leaves around our “Trust Tree” display using tape or magnets.
Template Preview (for teacher reference – print at 100% scale):
( ) ( )
( ACTION 1 ) ( ACTION 2 )
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(Within each leaf outline, lines are provided for students to write their pledges.)