Truth Seekers Teacher Guide Lens of Truth
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Topic: Bias & Conflict Resolution
Grade: Middle School (6-8)
Duration: 55 Minutes
Objectives
Define perspective as a combination of POV, background, and beliefs.
Identify bias and motivation in conflicting firsthand accounts.
Materials
Lens of Truth Slideshow
Conflict Simulation Case Files (one per group of 3)
Secret Motivation Cards (pre-cut)
Key Vocabulary
Perspective: POV + Background + Beliefs
Firsthand Account: A primary source from an eyewitness.
Lesson Pacing
Time Segment Teacher Action 5 min Warm-Up Display Slide 2. Facilitate discussion on referee neutrality. 10 min Video & Theory Watch Khan Academy video. Use the pause points listed below. 25 min Simulation Distribute Case Files and Secret Cards. Circulate to observe mediation. 10 min Debrief Mediators present their "Truth Findings" vs. the "Hidden Reality." 5 min Closure Connect simulation to history/news via Exit Ticket.
Video Pause Points & Discussion
0:30 - Defining Truth
"Can two people tell the truth and still say different things?"
Guide students to realize that "truth" is often filtered through sensory perception and personal experience.
1:33 - The Baseball Analogy (CRITICAL)
Discuss: "The narrator suggests an umpire might like 'power over people.' How does that personality trait change how they see a play?"
This introduces **Internal Motivation**. Even "neutral" figures have subconscious biases.
2:15 - Prediction
"Before we hear the crash stories, why might a driver and a cyclist naturally blame each other?"
Explore self-preservation bias: Nobody wants to be the "bad guy" or pay for damages.
Simulation Facilitation
The Setup
Group students in triads. Assign: Party A, Party B, and Mediator.
Give Party A and B their Secret Motivation Cards . Do not let them show the cards!
The Mediator receives a "Fact-Finding Sheet."
The Goal
The Mediator's job isn't to pick a winner, but to find the **True Account**. They must cross-reference stories to spot contradictions and hidden motivations.
Debrief Questions
Q1: Mediators, when did you first suspect someone was lying? What "clue" gave it away?
Q2: Parties A and B, did you find yourself actually believing your "secret" story was the truth?
Q3: How does having a "financial interest" (paying for a phone) change how we report facts?
Truth Lens Slides LENS OF TRUTH
Uncovering Bias and Motivation in Conflict
Warm-Up
"Can a referee ever be truly neutral?"
Think about:
• Their past experiences
• Their mood
• Pressure from the crowd
The Challenge:
Is "unbiased" actually possible for a human being?
Case Study: Multiple Accounts
Khan Academy
Embedded media
"The more accounts you have, the more confident you can feel in the accuracy of the facts."
The Anatomy of Perspective
Point of View
Background
Beliefs
PERSPECTIVE
The "Lens" through which we see every event in our lives.
Conflict Simulation
The Scenario
A student borrowed a phone from a friend. Now, the screen is cracked. They can't agree on who is responsible.
Rules of Play
• Use your Secret Motivation .
• Do NOT show your card to anyone.
• Mediators: Look for contradictions!
A
Party A
The Borrower
B
Party B
The Owner
M
The Mediator
The Fact Finder
Reflecting on the Lens
"When reading history or watching the news, how can we tell if an author has a 'hidden motivation' like our role-players today?"
Money
Power
Reputation
Conflict Simulation Packet Conflict Case File #2401
Name: ____________________
Date: __________
The Incident: The Cracked Screen
Situation: Alex (Party A) borrowed Sam’s (Party B) smartphone for the weekend because Alex’s phone was being repaired. On Monday morning, Alex returned the phone with a large spiderweb crack across the screen. Sam is demanding that Alex pay $200 for a professional screen replacement. Alex refuses, saying it’s not their fault.
Mediator Task
Your job is to interview both parties separately, then together. Find the "True Account" by spotting contradictions.
Step 1: Party A Interview
Step 2: Party B Interview
Contradiction Tracker
Note where their stories don't line up. What is their "Motivation" for lying or stretching the truth?
The Verdict: What actually happened?
Secret Motivation Cards
Teacher: Cut along the dotted lines and distribute to students.
PARTY A: ALEX (The Borrower)
Your Public Story:
"I kept the phone in its protective case the whole time. I put it on my nightstand Sunday night, and when I woke up, the crack was there. I think the screen was already weak or Sam gave it to me with a tiny crack I didn't notice."
YOUR SECRET TRUTH (Do not share directly!)
You actually dropped the phone while taking a selfie at a party Saturday night. You weren't using the case because it "looked ugly." You are terrified of your parents finding out because they told you never to borrow expensive things. You are hoping if you act confident, Sam will just give up.
Motivation: Avoid Trouble / Fear of Parents
PARTY B: SAM (The Owner)
Your Public Story:
"That phone was brand new and perfect when I gave it to Alex. I need the full $200 for a repair because I can't even use it now. Alex is being totally irresponsible and a bad friend."
YOUR SECRET TRUTH (Do not share directly!)
The phone is actually two years old and has been glitching for months. You were already planning to get the new model next month. You're asking for $200 because a repair actually only costs $80, and you want to use the extra $120 to buy a new pair of shoes you've been wanting.
Motivation: Financial Gain / Greed
Truth Lens Exit Ticket EXIT TICKET: The Lens
Debate & Civics | Bias & Perspective
Student Name
Date
1. In today's simulation, what was more powerful in changing the "truth": the physical facts or the person's motivation? Why?
2. How does this simulation apply to reading about a historical event (like a war or a revolution)?
3. Match the term to its definition:
Perspective A. An account from an eyewitness
Bias B. POV + Background + Beliefs
Firsthand Account C. A prejudice in favor of one thing
"The more accounts you have, the more confident you can feel in the accuracy of the facts."
