Honest Hearts Social Story My Storybook
Name: ______________________
🐿️
Sammy’s True Tales
A story about sharing real words, growing big friendships, and being proud of who you are!
Honest Hearts Series Page 1
Honest Hearts Social Story Student: ____________________
🐿️ 🌰 🎈
This is Sammy the Squirrel . Sammy loves playing in the green forest with his friends, Barney Bear and Penny Pippin.
Sometimes, Sammy wants his friends to think he is super cool. He worries they won’t play with him if his life is just ordinary. So, Sammy tells giant stories that are not true!
"Guess what!" Sammy says. "I found a flying acorn as big as a house, and it carried me up to the clouds!"
Sammy loves big attention... Page 2
Honest Hearts Social Story Student: ____________________
🐻 🐿️ ❓
Wait a minute!
His friends got so excited! "Wow! Show us!" they cried, running to the magic flying acorn tree. But when they got there, there was nothing. No big flying acorn.
"Oh," said Barney Bear, looking sad. "That wasn't true. I feel sad when I can't trust what you say, Sammy." Sammy felt a heavy, cold feeling in his tummy. He just wanted them to like him!
Wise Old Owl flew down. "Sammy," Owl whispered, "it is fun to play pretend. But when we talk about real life, our friends need to hear the real truth. It keeps everyone safe and happy!"
Pretend vs. Real Page 3
Honest Hearts Social Story Student: ____________________
🐿️ ❤️ 🐻
Sammy took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," he told his friends. "I wanted to tell a super cool story so you would play with me. I just found a regular brown leaf today."
Barney Bear smiled big. "We love playing with you, Sammy! You don't need magic acorns to be our friend. We love who you really are!"
From that day on, Sammy decided to tell True Tales . He felt light, happy, and loved.
My Honest Heart Pledge
I want my friends and teachers to trust my words. I promise to speak the truth because:
It makes friends feel safe.
My real story is enough.
I can tell the truth! Page 4
Honest Hearts Teacher Guide Honest Hearts
Behavioral Intervention Guide • Kindergarten
Teacher Resource
Why Do Kindergarteners Struggle with Truth?
At age 5-6, children are actively navigating the boundary between fantasy (imagination) and reality . When a child is consistently untruthful, it is rarely malicious. In this lesson, the root trigger is Attention or Approval Seeking . The child invents stories or denies misdeeds to gain positive social recognition or avoid disappointing trusted adults.
The "No-Trap" Approach
Avoid asking setup questions like "Did you spill this?" when you already know the answer. This prompts self-defense lies. Instead, state facts directly: "I see a spill here. Let's work together to clean it up."
Praise Brave Honesty
Separate the consequence of a misdeed from the truth-telling. Always lavish praise for the truth first: "Thank you for being so brave and telling me the truth. Now, let's fix the problem."
Intervention Response Script (When a Tall Tale is Told)
1. Gently label the story type:
"That sounds like an amazing imagination story! You have a wonderful brain. Now, tell me the real-life truth so I can know what really happened."
2. Validate the need for attention:
"I love listening to you. You don't need a giant story to get my attention. I love hearing your regular, real stories about your day!"
How to Use the Page 2 Tracker
Review the social story daily. Use the visual tracker on Page 2 during checkout. Each morning, afternoon, and afternoon recess, let the student put a sticker or checkmark if they had a "Honest Heart Day" (no attention-seeking stories in that block). Keep the interaction highly encouraging!
Honest Hearts Intervention Page 1
Daily Honest Hearts Tracker
Visual Reinforcement Board for Student & Teacher
Week of: _________
Sammy’s True Tales Star Chart
Color a star for each time block of brave truth-telling!
My Goal: 10 Stars
Monday
AM ☀️
★
PM 🌤️
★
Tuesday
AM ☀️
★
PM 🌤️
★
Wednesday
AM ☀️
★
PM 🌤️
★
Thursday
AM ☀️
★
PM 🌤️
★
Friday
AM ☀️
★
PM 🌤️
★
Teacher Observation Log (Confidential)
Day Truth Level (H/M/L) Behavior Notes / Triggers Observed Action Taken Mon ⬜ High ⬜ Med ⬜ Low __________________________________________ _______________ Tue ⬜ High ⬜ Med ⬜ Low __________________________________________ _______________ Wed ⬜ High ⬜ Med ⬜ Low __________________________________________ _______________ Thu ⬜ High ⬜ Med ⬜ Low __________________________________________ _______________ Fri ⬜ High ⬜ Med ⬜ Low __________________________________________ _______________
Honest Hearts Intervention Page 2
Honest Hearts Home Connection Home Connection
Growing Honest Hearts Together
Parent & Teacher Guide
Dear Family,
At school, we have been reading "Sammy’s True Tales," a social story about speaking the truth in a brave way. In kindergarten, telling tall tales is a common way for children to seek positive recognition, make friends feel excited, or play pretend. We are practicing the difference between "imagination play" and telling "real-life truths."
Home Strategy Guide
1. Label the Story Type
If your child tells an untruth, say: "That sounds like a beautiful imagination story! Now let's hear the real-life truth." This takes away the shame.
2. Praise Brave Honesty
When they confess to a misdeed, praise the honesty first: "Thank you for telling the truth. It is safe to tell the truth. Now let's fix it."
Daily Honest Hearts Slip
Teacher sends this slip home to share daily successes!
Cut & Send
Student: ______________________ Date: ______________________
Today, I told: True Tales!
🏆
I was brave when: I spoke reality
✨
My Teacher was: So Proud!
❤️
Teacher Note:
Today, Sammy did a wonderful job when...
Teacher Initials: _______ Parent Signature: ______________________
Honest Hearts Home Partnership Guide Page 1
True Tales Sorting Activity True Tales Sorting
Interactive Sorting Cards • Kindergarten SEL
Activity Sheet
Cut and Sort!
Cut out the cards below. Work with your partner or teacher to decide if the card is an Imagination Story (fun to pretend!) or a Real-Life Truth (important to tell accurately) .
1 🦖
"I have a giant pet dinosaur living in my green backyard."
2 🥛
"I accidentally spilled my glass of milk on the carpet."
3 🚀
"I can run as fast as a rocket ship to the bright moon."
4 🖍️
"I broke the red crayon by pulling too hard on the tip."
5 🍪
"I ate all my round crackers at table snack time."
6 🎈
"I found a magic leaf that lets me fly in the forest."
Honest Hearts Sorting Activity Page 1
True Tales Reflection
Show What You Know • Kindergarten SEL
Name: ______________________
Practice Scenario
If I lose my favorite toy at recess time, what should I say to my teacher?
A "A giant dragon swooped down from the clouds and grabbed it!"
B "I misplaced my toy on the slide and I need a little help finding it."
My Real-Life Story
Draw with colored pencils or crayons
Draw a true story about something you actually did today (like playing, reading, or eating a snack).
Honest Hearts Reflection Worksheet Page 2
Honest Hearts Slides Honest Hearts Presentation Kindergarten SEL
Sammy's True Tales
Learning the superpower of telling the truth, growing friendships, and speaking from our hearts!
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Hi friends!
Introduce Sammy the Squirrel to the class Slide 1 of 5
Our Creative Brains Part 1
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It's Fun to Play Pretend!
What is Imagination?
Imagination is when we play pretend stories inside our heads!
Pretending we are flying rocket ships.
Making toys talk and build castles.
✨ Pretend play is amazing when we play games!
Ask: "What is your favorite pretend game to play?" Slide 2 of 5
Our Trustworthy Words Part 2
What is the Real Truth?
The truth is sharing words about what actually happened in real life.
Telling what snack we actually ate.
Saying we dropped a toy by accident.
❤️ Telling the truth makes our friends feel safe!
🍎 🧸 🌳
Real Life is Beautiful Too!
Discuss: "Why does the truth keep our class safe and happy?" Slide 3 of 5
Help Sammy Choose! Interactive Talk
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Sammy dropped a puzzle piece on the floor by accident and it rolled under the shelf. He is worried his teacher will be sad. What should Sammy say?
Choice A 🌪️
"An giant wind storm flew in the window and blew the puzzle piece away!"
Imagination Story
Choice B 🧩
"I dropped the piece and it went under the shelf. Can you help me reach it?"
Real-Life Truth
Lead a classroom vote: Choice A or Choice B? Slide 4 of 5
Honest Hearts Graduation Daily Promise
Our Honest Hearts Pledge
"I promise to keep my heart proud and clean,
Telling true stories of what I have seen.
My friends and my teachers will trust what I say,
We tell the brave truth every night and day!"
Stand up and recite the classroom pledge together! Slide 5 of 5