Trust Builders Slides First Grade Life Skills & SEL Unit: Honesty & Caring
Trust Builders
Understanding Stealing, Feelings, and Keeping the Trust Bridge Strong
Hands Respect Others
Always Ask First
Fix Mistakes with Truth
What is Trust?
Big Idea
The Invisible Bridge
Trust is like a bridge between your heart and your friend's heart.
When people trust you, they know your words are true and their things are safe with you.
Feeling Safe
Friends don't have to worry or hide their belongings.
Believing Words
When you make a promise, people know you will keep it.
When trust is strong, playing, sharing, and learning together feels wonderful!
Borrowing, Sharing, or Stealing?
Look closely at how each choice treats other people!
Borrowing
You ASK first.
You take good care.
You give it BACK.
Builds Trust!
Sharing
Both friends agree.
Using it together.
Taking turns gladly.
Brings Us Closer!
Stealing
Taking WITHOUT asking.
Sneaking or hiding.
Keeping what is not yours.
Breaks the Bridge!
Remember: If you did not ask and hear "YES", it is not yours to take!
How Does Stealing Break Trust?
The Ripple Effect
Worry & Hurt
The owner feels sad and confused. "Where did my favorite eraser go? Who took it?"
Feeling Unsafe
Classmates start watching their desks. They feel like they have to hide their things from others.
Doubting Words
It becomes hard to know who is telling the truth. Friends feel nervous to play or lend items.
Stealing is not just about the object. It hurts how safe friends feel together.
Checking Our Feelings
Stealing makes everyone's heart feel heavy, not happy.
😢
The Person Whose Thing Was Taken
Feels disappointed and upset.
Wonders who they can trust.
Misses something special to them.
😟
The Person Who Took It
Feels scared of getting caught.
Tummy feels twisty and guilty.
Cannot enjoy playing with it in secret.
Doing what is right gives you a peaceful, proud, and happy heart!
The Trust Shield: Stop, Think, Ask!
Three simple steps when you see something you really want
1
STOP
Freeze your hands right away! Do not touch or slide it into your pocket.
2
THINK
Ask your brain: "Does this belong to me? How would my friend feel?"
3
ASK
Use friendly words: "May I please borrow that when you are finished?"
If they say "not right now," we respect their answer with a calm smile!
Repairing the Bridge: Making Amends
Fixing Mistakes
1. Return the Item Right Away
Give it straight back to its owner or tell a trusted teacher gently.
2. Tell the Honest Truth
Honesty takes courage. Say what happened without blaming someone else.
3. Give a Heartfelt Apology
"I am sorry I took your marker without asking. I will take care of your trust."
Making amends takes practice, but it puts strong bricks back into the bridge!
Classroom Promise
The Trust Builder Pledge
Let's say our promise together!
My hands will respect what belongs to others.
I will always ask before I borrow or touch.
I will tell the truth and protect our trust bridge!
🌟 You are an honest and caring friend! 🌟
Trust Builders Teacher Guide 1st Grade SEL • Relationship Skills
Trust Builders Teacher Guide
Duration: 40–45 Mins
Setting: Whole Group & Partner
Learning Objectives
Define Stealing: Taking or keeping something without clear permission.
Explain Trust: Describe how taking without asking breaks the "trust bridge" and makes peers feel unsafe or sad.
Practice Stop-Think-Ask: Use a concrete 3-step decision filter before touching others' items.
Model Amends: Return items with honesty and a sincere apology.
Key Vocabulary
Trust: Knowing someone keeps promises and keeps things safe.
Permission: Hearing an honest "yes" before touching.
Borrowing: Asking first and giving it back.
Amends: Fixing a hurt to rebuild trust.
Anchor Metaphor: The Invisible Trust Bridge
Tell students: "Trust is like an invisible bridge between every pair of friends. When we tell the truth and ask permission, we place strong bricks on that bridge. But when we take something without asking, it's like knocking out a big brick. The other person wonders, 'Is it safe to leave my crayons near you? Can I believe your words?' Today we learn how to keep our bridges strong!"
Scripted Anchor Story: "The Shiny Dinosaur Eraser"
Read aloud to class
"Leo saw Maya's shiny green dinosaur eraser sitting on the edge of her desk during math. It had tiny golden spikes. Leo loved dinosaurs more than anything. Maya was across the room getting a tissue."
"Leo's hand reached out. His brain whispered, 'Just slip it into your pocket. Maya has plenty of erasers.' He slid it into his pocket. At recess, Maya looked all over her desk. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes filled with tears. Her grandpa had given her that eraser."
"Leo touched the eraser in his pocket. It didn't feel fun anymore. His stomach felt hot and twisty. He realized Maya wasn't just sad about an eraser—she was looking around the room, wondering who had taken it, feeling like her desk wasn't safe."
Lesson Flow & Pacing Guide
5 Mins Hook & Anchor Story
10 Mins Trust Bridge Slides
10 Mins 3-Step Choice Shield
12 Mins Scenario Worksheet
8 Mins Pledge & Reflection
Trust Builders • Social-Emotional Learning Page 1 of 2
Part 2: Classroom Facilitation
Guided Discussion & Restorative Practice
Trust Detective Worksheet Trust Detective Mission
Trust Detective Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Detective Mission: Read each story below. Circle what choice is being made and whether it keeps our classroom trust bridge strong or breaks it!
1
Case of the Shiny Robot
Circle One Choice
Kai sees Liam playing with a cool toy robot. Kai asks, "Can I have a turn after you?" Liam says yes, and Kai hands it back before recess ends.
What choice is this?
Borrowing Sharing Stealing
2
Case of the Purple Marker
Circle One Choice
Ava really wants a purple marker for her picture. When Nora looks away, Ava quickly slips Nora's marker into her own desk box and hides it.
What choice is this?
Borrowing Sharing Stealing
3
Case of the Building Blocks
Circle One Choice
Noah and Mia want to build a tall tower with the wooden blocks. They smile, stack the blocks together, and take turns adding the rooftop pieces.
What choice is this?
Borrowing Sharing Stealing
The Trust Bridge Test: How Does It Affect Friends?
Action A: Taking a sticker off someone's cubby without asking.
Strong Bridge Broken Bridge
Action B: Bringing a lost pencil from the floor to the teacher.
Strong Bridge Broken Bridge
Trust Builders Student Resource • Grade 1 Page 1 of 2
Part 2: Heart & Hands Action
My Trust Builder Action Plan
Stop • Think • Ask
1
STOP
Freeze my hands. Do not grab or hide.
2
THINK
"Is this mine? How would my friend feel?"
3
ASK
"May I please borrow that?"
Trace and write the magic asking words:
Practice: May I please borrow that?
Draw a Trust Builder Picture!
Draw yourself asking a friend or returning something
Finish this sentence about keeping trust:
When I ask permission first, my friends feel...
Official Trust Builder Certified Page 2 of 2
Trust Detective Answer Key Teacher Resource
Trust Detective Answer Key
Reference: Trust Detective Worksheet
Grade 1 • SEL: Honesty & Trust
Use this key during whole-group review or small-group conferences. Encourage students to explain why an action builds or breaks trust, focusing on how feelings are affected.
Page 1: Scenario Solutions
Case 1: Kai asks Liam for a turn with the robot Correct: Borrowing
Rationale: Kai asked permission first, waited for a "yes," took care of it, and returned it before recess ended. Both students felt respected.
Case 2: Ava slips Nora's marker into her desk when Nora looks away Correct: Stealing
Rationale: Ava did not ask, hid the marker, and kept it. This breaks trust because Nora will feel worried and unable to trust her desk area.
Case 3: Noah and Mia stack wooden blocks together Correct: Sharing
Rationale: Both students are playing together at the same time with mutual agreement.
Trust Bridge Test Solutions
Action A: Taking a sticker off someone's cubby without asking. Broken Bridge
Action B: Bringing a lost pencil from the rug to the teacher. Strong Bridge
Page 2: Sample Student Written Responses
Sentence Practice: "May I please borrow that?" (Check for neat letter formation and polite tone).
Sentence Completion: "When I ask permission first, my friends feel..."
"safe and happy because they know I respect them."
"calm because their things won't get lost."
"trusted and glad to be my friend."
Trust Builders Teacher Key • Grade 1 Social-Emotional Learning Single Page Key