Materials Needed

• Three index cards or small slips of paper
• A notebook and pen
• A small "prop" to act as a pretend polygraph (like a stopwatch or a toy with lights)
• Access to a mirror
• Printed or hand-written "Scenario Cards" (included in the lesson)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, Olivia will be able to:

• Distinguish between "White Lies," "Omissions," and "Harmful Lies."
• Identify common physical signs of stress that occur when someone is being untruthful.
• Explain the "Cost of Lying" in terms of personal reputation and social trust.
• Analyze a situation to determine the most ethical way to tell the truth.

I. Introduction: The Hook (10 Minutes)

Activity: Two Truths and a Lie

We are going to start with a game. Write down three statements about yourself on index cards. Two must be completely true, and one must be a lie. Try to make the lie sound as believable as the truths!

Teacher/Parent Action: Present your own three statements first. Let Olivia guess which is the lie. Then, flip the roles. As Olivia speaks, watch her face and hands closely.

The Big Question: "How did it feel to try and trick me? Did your heart beat faster? Did you want to look away or smile? Today, we’re going to look under the hood of why humans lie and what happens to our brains when we do."

II. Body: The "I Do" - The Three Categories of Untruth (15 Minutes)

Not all lies are created equal. We can generally put them into three "buckets":

1. The White Lie: A small lie told to be polite or avoid hurting someone's feelings. (Example: "I love this sweater!" even if you think it's itchy.)
2. The Lie of Omission: Leaving out an important part of the truth to change the story. (Example: "I went to the park," but leaving out that you went there after being told not to.)
3. The Big Lie/Deception: A lie told to get out of trouble or get something you don't deserve. (Example: "I finished my homework," when it isn't even started.)

The "Cost" of Lying: Explain that every lie is like a "loan" of trust. You get what you want now, but you have to pay it back with interest later. If you lie too much, your "Trust Account" goes bankrupt, and people stop believing you even when you tell the truth.

III. Body: The "We Do" - The Lie Detector Challenge (20 Minutes)

Activity: The Investigator Roleplay

Scientists look for "tells"—tiny physical clues that someone is stressed because they are lying. Let's practice being "Lie Detectors" using these signs:

• The Gaze: Does the person look away or stare too intensely?
• The Fidget: Are they touching their nose, hair, or adjusting their clothes?
• The Pause: Does it take them a long time to answer a simple question?
• The Repeat: Do they repeat your question back to you to buy time to think?

Practice: Give Olivia a "Scenario Card." She has to choose to either tell the truth or a lie about it. You use your "Prop Polygraph" to try to catch her. Then swap! Olivia becomes the investigator and tries to catch you in a lie using the checklist above.

IV. Body: The "You Do" - Creative Problem Solving (20 Minutes)

The "Truth Architect" Project:

Sometimes the truth is hard to say. Your task is to look at the following three difficult situations and write a "Truth Script" for them. How can you be honest without being mean or getting into deeper trouble?

• Scenario A: You accidentally broke a vase while playing. Your mom asks, "Do you know what happened to the vase?"
• Scenario B: Your friend asks if you like their new drawing, but you think it looks messy.
• Scenario C: You forgot to feed the dog, and now it's dinner time. Your dad asks, "Did the dog get his lunch today?"

Success Criteria: Olivia’s scripts must be 1) Honest, 2) Respectful, and 3) Propose a way to fix the problem (e.g., "I'm sorry, I forgot. I'll do it right now!").

V. Conclusion: Recap and Reflection (10 Minutes)

The "Trust Chain" Summary:

• What are the three types of lies we discussed?
• What is one "tell" that shows someone might be lying?
• Why is it harder to keep a lie going than to just tell the truth at the start?

Final Thought: "Truth is like a straight line; it's easy to follow. A lie is like a scribble; the more you add to it, the messier it gets. Being a person of your word means your 'Yes' means 'Yes' and your 'No' means 'No.'"

Assessment & Differentiation

Formative Assessment: Observe Olivia during the "Two Truths and a Lie" and roleplay. Can she identify the physical signs of stress?

Summative Assessment: Review the "Truth Scripts." Do they demonstrate an understanding of how to handle difficult honesty?

Differentiation:

• For Advanced Learners: Discuss the "Boy Who Cried Wolf" fable and write a modern version of it involving social media or school.
• For Scaffolding: If Olivia struggles to identify "tells," watch a short, age-appropriate clip of a game show (like "Would I Lie to You?") and pause to point out body language together.