Trust or Trouble Facilitator Guide Facilitator Guide
Trust or Trouble
45 Minutes
7th Grade
Objective
Students will distinguish trust, confidentiality, and gossip; apply a decision tree to social scenarios; and identify when and how to seek adult help per school procedures.
Approach
Hands-on activities, real-world scenarios, and role-plays using a structured decision-making framework.
Teacher Preparation
Review the Decision Points slide deck.
Print Quick Pulse quizzes and Answer Key .
Set up Four Corners labels: Trust, Confidentiality, Gossip, Unsure.
Preview the Mini-Video Script for read-aloud or recording.
Familiarize yourself with the Decision Tree framework.
Verify school procedures for escalating safety concerns.
Lesson Timeline
5 min
Prime and Pre-Assessment
Quick Pulse Pre-Quiz
Distribute the Quick Pulse Pre-Quiz (2 mins silent completion).
Briefly explain the upcoming Rumor Ripple activity.
5 min
Rumor Ripple Demonstration
Hands-on Experience
Form a line; whisper a simple message from start to finish.
Debrief: How did the message change? Discuss social harm of gossip.
10 min
Key Concepts & Video
Direct Instruction
Define Trust, Confidentiality, and Gossip using slides.
Present "Why Gossip Hurts" script (video or read-aloud).
Think-Pair-Share: When might you need to tell an adult?
10 min
Guided Practice: Decision Tree
Active Learning
Walk through the Confidentiality Decision Tree steps.
Students work in pairs on three provided scenarios.
Discuss: Was it confidential? Did gossip occur?
10 min
Assertive Role-Play
Skill Building
Teach I-statements using the Script Starters handout.
Pairs practice assertive refusal or safety disclosure.
Reinforce school help-seeking procedures.
5 min
Post-Assessment & Commitment
Reflection & Assessment
Complete Quick Pulse Post-Quiz.
Commitment: Write one strategy to reduce gossip.
Included Materials
Decision Points Slides
Quick Pulse Quizzes (Pre/Post)
Trust/Gossip Answer Key
Rumor Ripple Guide
Decision Tree Worksheet
Four Corners Discussion
Mini-Video Script
Assertive Script Starters
Decision Points Slide Deck Decision Points
Trust, Gossip & Help
Trust
Gossip
Help
Teacher Note: Welcome students! Today we use our Decision Tree to decide when to keep a confidence or seek help.
Objectives
1
Differentiate between trust , confidentiality , and gossip .
2
Apply the Decision Tree to real social scenarios.
3
Identify when and how to seek adult assistance .
Teacher Note: Read each objective aloud and connect to the Rumor Ripple activity.
Key Concepts
Trust
Placing confidence in someone to respect your private information.
Confidentiality
Keeping shared information private and secure within a circle.
Gossip
Sharing private info or unverified rumors that can cause harm.
Teacher Note: Define each term clearly; invite students to share brief non-personal examples.
The Decision Tree
Step 1
Is this info meant to be private ?
Step 2
Could sharing it cause harm ?
Step 3
Do I have permission to share?
Step 4
Is there a severe risk ? Tell an adult!
Use these steps
Teacher Note: Walk through the steps slowly. Emphasize that Step 4 overrides others if safety is involved.
Guided Practice
• Work with a partner .
• Read each scenario carefully.
• Refer to your printed worksheet .
• Decide: Keep it , Avoid Gossip , or Seek Help .
Teacher Note: Explain pairing and encourage students to write their reasoning on their worksheet.
Scenario 1
“Your friend tells you they failed a big test and asks you not to tell anyone. What do you do?”
Teacher Note: 2–3 minutes for discussion. Listen for: "Is this private? Yes. Is it harmful? No."
Quick Pulse Pre Quiz Quick Pulse: Pre-Quiz
Trust & Gossip
Name:
Date:
Read each question carefully and select the best answer. This helps us see what you already know about social boundaries.
1
Which of the following best describes confidentiality?
Sharing private details with anyone you talk to.
Keeping private information only between the people involved.
Posting secrets about someone online.
Talking about someone behind their back.
2
What is gossip?
Sharing private information only with the person who told you.
Talking about someone behind their back and spreading rumors.
Telling a teacher when someone is at risk.
Researching facts before sharing information.
3
Which statement best describes trust?
Believing that someone will respect your private information.
Sharing secrets to build friendships.
Gossiping about classmates after school.
Posting updates online without permission.
4
You hear a rumor that another student cheated on a project, but you’re not sure if it’s true. This is an example of:
Trust
Confidentiality
Gossip
Reporting
5
Describe a situation where you should seek help from a trusted adult rather than keeping information confidential.
Quick Pulse Post Quiz Quick Pulse: Post-Quiz
Trust & Gossip
Name:
Date:
Reflect on today's lesson and select the best answer for each question. Think about the Decision Tree steps we practiced.
1
Which statement best describes trust?
Believing that someone will respect your private information.
Sharing secrets to build friendships.
Gossiping about classmates after school.
Posting updates online without permission.
2
Which of the following actions shows confidentiality?
You only share a friend’s secret with the person who told you.
You post a friend’s secret online because it’s funny.
You tell everyone about a rumor you heard.
You search online for details and share them.
3
You overhear a rumor that a peer is moving to another school, but you’re not sure if it’s true. What should you do?
Share the rumor with your friends to see what they think.
Ask the peer directly or talk to a trusted adult if you’re still unsure.
Post it on social media to get confirmation.
Ignore it and keep it entirely to yourself.
4
Which situation requires you to seek adult help immediately?
Your friend says they got grounded at home.
A classmate feels upset about a test score.
Your friend tells you they are thinking about harming themselves.
You hear someone complaining about a boring class.
5
After this lesson, what is one action you will take to prevent gossip or maintain confidentiality at school?
Trust Gossip Pulse Answer Key Trust/Gossip Pulse Answer Key
Teacher Reference for Pre & Post Quizzes
Quick Pulse Pre-Quiz
Question 1 (1 pt)
Correct: Keeping private information only between the people involved.
Explanation: Confidentiality is about honoring the requested boundary of privacy.
Question 2 (1 pt)
Correct: Talking about someone behind their back and spreading rumors.
Explanation: Gossip involves sharing private or unverified info that causes social harm.
Question 3 (1 pt)
Correct: Believing that someone will respect your private information.
Explanation: Trust is the expectation of reliability and respect for shared info.
Question 4 (1 pt)
Correct: Gossip
Explanation: Unverified rumors about peers are the primary form of school gossip.
Question 5 Scoring Rubric (0–2 pts)
Prompt: Describe a situation where you should seek adult help rather than keeping info confidential.
2 pts: Identifies serious/high-risk scenario (self-harm, threats, abuse) + states immediate adult contact.
1 pt: General scenario (upset friend) or suggests telling an adult without clear risk description.
0 pts: No scenario, incorrect action, or staying silent despite risk.
Quick Pulse Post-Quiz
Question 1 (1 pt)
Correct: Believing that someone will respect your private information.
Question 2 (1 pt)
Correct: You only share a friend’s secret with the person who told you.
Question 3 (1 pt)
Correct: Ask the peer directly or talk to a trusted adult if you’re still unsure.
Explanation: Verifying prevents rumors from turning into widespread gossip.
Question 4 (1 pt)
Correct: Your friend tells you they are thinking about harming themselves.
Explanation: This is a high-risk situation that bypasses standard confidentiality.
Question 5 Scoring Rubric (0–2 pts)
Prompt: What is one action you will take to prevent gossip or maintain confidentiality?
2 pts: Names a specific, actionable strategy (e.g., "I will check facts," "I will ask permission before sharing").
1 pt: General commitment (e.g., "I will be more careful," "I won't gossip").
0 pts: No actionable strategy or irrelevant response.
Rumor Ripple Demonstration Rumor Ripple Demonstration
Hands-on Classroom Activity
Purpose Visualize how info changes as it spreads.
Time 5 Minutes
Prep Simple sentence prepared.
Activity Steps
1
Formation: Have students form a single-file line or a large circle (seated or standing) so they can easily whisper to the person next to them.
2
The Spark: Whisper a prepared message to the first student only.Suggested Message: "My neighbor got a fluffy golden puppy yesterday."
3
The Spread: Each student whispers the message one time only to the next person. No repeating or clarifying is allowed.
4
The Reveal: When the message reaches the final student, ask them to say it out loud for the whole class to hear.
5
Comparison: Write the original message on the board and compare it to the final version. Usually, significant details have changed!
Debrief Discussion
How did the final message differ from the original?
Why did these changes happen? (e.g., mishearing, assumptions, wanting to make it "juicier")
In a real school setting, how might hearing or sharing gossip like this affect friendships?
What steps can we take to prevent spreading unverified information?
Activity based on the classic "Telephone" game, adapted for Social-Emotional Learning.
Confidentiality Decision Tree Worksheet Confidentiality Decision Tree
Guided Practice Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Step 1
Is it meant to be private?
Step 2
Could sharing cause harm?
Step 3
Do I have permission?
Step 4
Is there severe risk?
Scenario 1
“Your friend tells you they failed a big test and asks you not to tell anyone.”
Step 1 Reflection
Step 2 Reflection
Step 3 Reflection
Step 4 Reflection
Final Decision:
Keep Confidential Avoid Gossip Seek Adult Help
Scenario 2
“A classmate sends a message saying they feel like harming themselves. Should you keep this secret?”
Step 1 Reflection
Step 2 Reflection
Step 3 Reflection
Step 4 Reflection
Final Decision:
Keep Confidential Avoid Gossip Seek Adult Help
Scenario 3
“You hear a rumor that another student cheated on the project. You’re not sure if it’s true. What should you do?”
Step 1 Reflection
Step 2 Reflection
Step 3 Reflection
Step 4 Reflection
Final Decision:
Keep Confidential Avoid Gossip Seek Adult Help
Always consider safety first. If Step 4 is a "YES," your choice is clear.
Four Corners Discussion Guide Four Corners: Trust or Gossip?
Interactive Movement Activity
Setup & Purpose
This activity encourages critical thinking as students physically move to corners representing their stance on social scenarios.
Corner 1: Trust Corner 2: Confidentiality Corner 3: Gossip Corner 4: Unsure
How to Facilitate
Read a scenario aloud and give students 10 seconds of silent thinking time.
On your signal, students move to the corner that best represents their choice.
In corner groups, students discuss why they chose that corner for 2 minutes.
Invite one volunteer from each corner to share their group's reasoning.
Activity Scenarios
Scenario 1
“Your friend tells you they cheated on a homework assignment and begs you not to tell anyone.”
Scenario 2
“You overhear a rumor that a classmate’s family is moving away—you're not sure if it's true.”
Scenario 3
“A peer confides they’re being bullied and asks you to keep it secret.”
Scenario 4
“You learn that someone in your class might harm themselves.”
Whole-Class Debrief
• What similarities or differences did you notice between corner groups?
• How do trust and confidentiality differ from gossip in these cases?
• At what point does private information become something you must tell an adult?
• Which scenario was the most challenging to decide on, and why?
Key Lesson Point
When safety is involved (Scenario 4), there is only one "right" corner: Seeking Adult Help.
Gossip Hurts Script Handout Script
Why Gossip Hurts and When to Tell
RUNTIME: ~2 MIN
DATE: JAN 2026
Scene 1
Visual: Title card—bold text “Gossip: What It Is and Why It Hurts” appears over a subtle ripple animation.
VOICEOVER:
“We all hear stories at school—some true, some not. But when private information spreads without permission, it can turn into gossip and cause real damage.”
Scene 2
Visual: Two animated classmates, Mia and Jay, talking quietly. A thought bubble above Jay shows an exaggerated rumor.
VOICEOVER:
“Meet Mia and Jay. Jay heard a rumor about Mia online and shared it with friends—even though he wasn’t sure it was true.”
ON-SCREEN TEXT: “Gossip = sharing private or unverified information.”
Scene 3
Visual: Ripple effect spreading outward—each ripple carries a new version of the rumor.
VOICEOVER:
“Each time gossip travels, it changes—details get added, names get twisted, feelings get hurt. What started as a whisper turns into a wave that can damage trust and friendships.”
ON-SCREEN CALLOUT: Harm: damaged reputations, broken friendships, hurt feelings.
Scene 4
Visual: Split screen—Left side shows a Decision Tree; right side shows a worried student thinking.
VOICEOVER:
“Before you share something, ask yourself: 1) Is this private? 2) Could it hurt someone? 3) Do I have permission? 4) Is it high risk? If you reach a serious concern—like someone feeling unsafe—stop gossip and tell a trusted adult right away.”
Scene 5
Visual: A school counselor’s door opens. Students walk in together.
VOICEOVER:
“Remember: it’s brave to protect someone’s privacy—and braver still to speak up when a friend needs help. If you ever hear something that signals danger or self-harm, tell a teacher or counselor. You’ll help keep everyone safer.”
Protect Privacy. Prevent Gossip. Seek Help.
Assertive Script Starters Handout Assertive Script Starters
Building Respect through I-Statements
What is an I-Statement?
An I-statement is a way of expressing your feelings and needs without blaming others. It focuses on your experience and keeps the conversation calm.
The Formula
"I feel [emotion] when you [behavior] because [reason]. I would like [request]."
Why Use Them?
They reduce conflict by avoiding blame ("You always...")
They make it more likely your friend will actually listen.
They help you set clear boundaries.
The Toolbox: Script Starters
“I feel ______ when ______, because ______. I would like ______.”
“I’m uncomfortable with ______. Could we ______ instead?”
“I need ______ so that ______.”
“It bothers me when ______. Let’s try ______.”
Practice Your Own
Think of a time someone spread a rumor or asked you to share something private. How could you respond assertively?
My I-Statement
I feel
when
because
I would like
Clear communication builds trust. Blaming communication builds trouble.
