Code of Trust Lesson Plan SEL & Character Development • Grades 4–5
Code of Trust Lesson Plan
Building Integrity, Reliability, Honesty, and Discretion in Peer Relationships
45–60 Minutes
CASEL Competencies
Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making, Self-Management
Essential Question
How do our daily choices build or break trust with others and ourselves?
Core Materials
Trust Detective Activity, Scenario Cards, Trustworthy Assessment Sheet
Measurable Learning Objectives
Identify & Define: Students will accurately define the 4 Pillars of Trust (Honesty, Reliability, Integrity, Discretion).Analyze Peer Scenarios: Students will evaluate everyday social dilemmas and determine the trustworthy course of action.Apply Accountability: Students will articulate how to repair damaged trust when a promise is broken or a mistake is made.
The Four Pillars of Trustworthiness Framework
1. Honesty (Truthfulness)
Telling the truth with kindness. Communicating facts without distorting, exaggerating, or misleading. Owning up when you make an error.
2. Reliability (Dependability)
Keeping promises, following through on commitments, meeting deadlines, and showing others they can count on your word.
3. Integrity (Moral Anchor)
Doing what is right even when no one is watching. Standing up for fairness and resisting peer pressure to cheat or exclude.
4. Discretion (Loyalty & Safety)
Guarding personal confidences, avoiding hurtful gossip, while knowing when to seek adult help if someone's safety is compromised.
Pacing Guide (45–50 Minutes)
8 Mins
Hook & Anchor Discussion: The Jenga Tower Analogy
Explain how trust is built block by block over months, but can be destabilized or toppled by a single dishonest choice.
12 Mins
Direct Instruction: Unpacking the 4 Pillars
Explicitly teach definitions. Address key nuance: honesty with kindness vs. "brutal honesty"; loyalty vs. reporting safety hazards.
15 Mins
Guided & Partner Practice: Trust Detective Cases
Pairs solve 4 real-world dilemma dossiers (The Broken Tablet, Group Project Slip, Locker Secret, The Referee Whistle).
12 Mins
Assessment & Personal Pledge
Individual completion of Trustworthy Choices Assessment and personal reflection commitment.
Grade 4–5 Character Education Curriculum Page 1 of 2: Overview & Framework
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Step-by-Step Delivery & Differentiation
Page 2 of 2
Scripted Discussion Prompts & Formative Checks
“What does it feel like when someone keeps a promise you were worried they’d forget?”
Expected response: Relieved, safe, respected, valued. Emphasize that reliability creates emotional safety in friendships and teams.
“What is the difference between keeping a friend's private confidence and keeping an unsafe secret?”
Core Rule of Discretion: If someone is in danger, being hurt, or hurting others, staying quiet is NOT loyalty. Trustworthy friends get help from a trusted adult.
“If you make a mistake and break trust, how do you fix it? Is trust lost forever?”
The Repair Formula (A.C.T.): A cknowledge what happened truthfully, C lear up how you will fix the damage, and show consistent T ime/behavior change.
Common Grade 4–5 Misconceptions
Misconception: "Honesty means blunt criticism."
Teach students the difference between honest integrity and unnecessary insults. Truth should be delivered with empathy and helpful intent.
Misconception: "A white lie harms nobody."
Explore how "small" cover-ups spiral into bigger deceptions and erode faith over time when uncovered.
Targeted Differentiation & Scaffolding
Support / Striving Learners
Provide sentence stems for scenario analysis: “This choice shows / violates [Pillar] because...” Partner with an empathetic peer model for Case 3.
Multilingual Learners
Provide visual anchor icons for each pillar (Speech bubble = Honesty, Clock = Reliability, Compass = Integrity, Lock = Discretion). Pre-teach cognates.
Advanced / Extension
Have students draft a classroom “Code of Trust Charter” or analyze a historical figure whose integrity was tested during a moral dilemma.
Classroom Integration & Ongoing Reinforcement
Post the 4 Pillars prominently in the room. Throughout the week, issue “Trust Tickets” or positive shout-outs when students demonstrate integrity without prompting (e.g., returning found items, acknowledging honest errors, keeping collaborative team commitments).
Code of Trust • Instructional Planning Guide Assessment & Student Worksheets Accompany This Guide
Trust Detective Activity Worksheet Case Files Trust Detective Agency
Trust Detective Activity Worksheet
Name:
Date:
The 4 Pillars of Trust:
Honesty (Truth) • Reliability (Promises) • Integrity (Right Choice) • Discretion (Loyalty/Safety)
Mission: Read each peer case file carefully. Identify which Pillar of Trust is being put to the test, analyze the challenge, and write out the trustworthy action plan.
Case File #1
The Borrowed Tablet
Pillar in Question: ___________
During science class, Mia borrows Noah's tablet to look up diagrams. As she sets it on the table, it slips off the edge. When she picks it up, there is a visible spiderweb crack across the screen protector. Nobody else saw the drop, and class ends in two minutes.
1. What might Mia feel tempted to do, and why is that dangerous for trust?
2. Write Mia’s trustworthy response to Noah using honesty and accountability:
Case File #2
The Secret at the Lockers
Pillar in Question: ___________
At lunch, Leo whispers to Jordan: “Promise you won’t tell anyone! We’re going to hide Tyler’s backpack behind the gym dumpsters after sixth period so he thinks he lost it.” Jordan promised to keep secrets earlier that morning.
1. Is Jordan bound by discretion to keep this secret? Why or why not?
2. What should Jordan do to protect Tyler without becoming a bully’s accomplice?
Trust Detective Agency • Investigation Dossier Page 1 of 2 • Turn over for Cases 3 & 4
Investigation Dossier • Continued
Cases 3 & 4 & The Code of Trust
Page 2 of 2
Case File #3
The Group Project Promise
Pillar in Question: ___________
David promised his social studies group that he would complete the colored maps at home on Thursday night. At 6:00 PM, his favorite neighbor invites him over to test out a brand-new multiplayer game. David considers showing up on Friday with unfinished maps and making up an excuse.
1. How would David’s choice to play games impact his group’s ability to trust him in the future?
2. How can David demonstrate true reliability tonight?
Case File #4
The Unseen Hand Ball
Pillar in Question: ___________
Tied 2-2 in the final minutes of a recess soccer match, Elena accidentally brushes the ball with her hand before scoring the winning goal. The student referee was looking at the other goalpost and yells, “Goal counts! Blue team wins!”
Trustworthy Choices Assessment Unit Assessment • Character & Ethics
Trustworthy Choices Assessment
Demonstrating your understanding of the 4 Pillars of Trust
Name:
Date:
Score:
Part 1: Match the Pillar to Its Meaning (4 Points)
Write the matching letter in the blank
1. Honesty
2. Reliability
3. Integrity
4. Discretion
A. Keeping private information safe and refusing to spread hurtful gossip or rumors.
B. Doing what is right and fair, even when nobody is watching you.
C. Communicating the truth clearly without distorting facts or covering up mistakes.
D. Being dependable and keeping commitments and promises you have made.
Part 2: Scenario Analysis (6 Points • 2 pts each)
5. Maya promised her little brother she would help him build a birdhouse at 3:30 PM. Her friend invites her to the park instead. Which choice demonstrates reliability ?
A) Go to the park and pretend she forgot about the birdhouse.
B) Honor her commitment to her brother first, or respectfully arrange a new time they both agree on before going to the park.
C) Tell her brother that friend plans are always more important than family promises.
D) Help him for 2 minutes, rush through it sloppy, and run out the door.
6. A student finds a $20 bill on the library floor when no one is around. Demonstrating integrity means:
A) Putting it in their pocket because “finders keepers” applies when no one is watching.
B) Asking their friends if anyone wants to buy snacks with it.
C) Turning the bill into the librarian or front office lost-and-found.
D) Hiding it under a book until the end of the school year.
7. When is a student obligated to break a promise of secrecy to a classmate?
A) Whenever the secret is juicy enough to make others laugh.
B) Whenever someone's physical or emotional safety or well-being is at risk.
C) Whenever another classmate demands to know the information.
D) Only if the teacher offers extra credit for sharing rumors.
Trustworthy Choices Assessment • Page 1 of 2 Turn page over to complete Parts 3 & 4
Assessment • Part 3 & 4
Constructed Response & Real-World Application
Page 2 of 2
Trust Choices Answer Key Teacher Evaluation & Grading Guide
Trust Choices Answer Key
Grading rubric and exemplar responses for worksheet and assessment
Total Points: 20
Part 1: Vocabulary (4 pts • 1 pt each)
1. Honesty: C (Communicating truth without distorting facts)
2. Reliability: D (Being dependable; keeping commitments)
3. Integrity: B (Doing right even when no one is watching)
4. Discretion: A (Keeping confidences; no hurtful gossip)
Part 2: Multiple Choice (6 pts • 2 pts each)
5. Birdhouse dilemma: B (Honor commitment first or negotiate a new time)
6. Unseen $20 bill: C (Turn into librarian/lost-and-found)
7. Obligated to break secret: B (When safety/well-being is at risk)
Part 3: Short Response Exemplar Responses (6 pts • 3 pts each)
Question 8 (Honest Feedback vs. Brutal Honesty):
Exemplar: Honest feedback aims to help someone grow using kind, constructive words (e.g., “I liked your opening slide; practicing your timing will make it even stronger”). Brutal honesty uses truth as an excuse to demean or hurt feelings without offering helpful support.
Question 9 (Admitting Mistakes vs. Cover-ups):
Exemplar: Admitting a mistake immediately shows courage and integrity, proving your word can be counted on. A cover-up causes double the damage: the initial mistake plus the deception, which breaks trust far more severely.
Part 4: Repairing Broken Trust Rubric & Exemplar (4 pts)
Exemplar Student Response: “First, Aiden must Acknowledge the truth directly to Lucas: apologize for leaving the jacket outside and admit that blaming the dog was a lie. Next, he must Clear up/repair the damage by offering to replace the zipper or pay for repairs. Finally, he must show consistent Time & behavior change by respecting Lucas’s boundaries, keeping all future promises, and never lying again.”
4 Pts (Exceeds) All 3 A.C.T. steps thoroughly articulated with actionable steps.
3 Pts (Meets) Mentions apology, repair, and future honesty with clear reasoning.
2 Pts (Approaching) Mentions saying sorry or fixing it, but misses accountability for the lie.
1 Pt (Emerging) Vague response without actionable repair steps.
Activity Case Dossier Reference Key
Case 1: Honesty. Mia must inform Noah immediately and offer to replace the protector.
