Lesson -1 HONEST

"Honesty is the best policy." - Benjamin Franklin

Objectives 1. Understanding honesty as a part of character

2. Assigning it a place above self-acceptance and oneself.

3. Understanding honesty in social set up.

Honesty implies fairness and straight-forwardness of conduct. Honesty includes qualities like sincerity, integrity and trustworthiness. They are the good qualities that every person should possess and certainly worthwhile in one's personal and social life. Being honest with others is very essential for creating and maintaining healthy relationships. Similarly, being honest with oneself is vital for personal development and growth, as well as self-acceptance and self-esteem.

Activity 1: Tick the correct one

Tick (√) any one column to check your honesty.

S. No.	Questions	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
1.	Most of the people are honest.
2.	Most of the people are trust-worthy.
3.	Most of the people are kind.
4.	I am trustful.
5.	Most of the people will respond in the same way as they are trusted by others.

 

Activity 2: Traditional Story Telling

Here's a classroom activity for first-hand information on honesty. We will have signs showing "Strongly Agree" and "Strongly Disagree" posted on the opposite walls of the classroom. To begin the activity, here are certain instructions:

Your opinion about two different stories will be asked. All the students of the class will line up along the wall between these signs depending on how strongly you agree or disagree with how the characters in the stories act. If you can't decide, you should stand in the middle of the class between these two signs.

Next, the class will be divided into two groups almost of equal size and then the stories will be narrated one by one.

1. The Lion and the Shepherd Boy

In this story, a shepherd boy screams loudly- "Lion, Lion" and presents a false story to the villagers about a lion attacking his sheep. Initially, he receives a lot of attention from others, but is ultimately found lying. Later one day, a lion actually takes away his sheep. No one believes his words while he shouts because he has lied about it before. This story not only encourages us to tell the truth but shows us how lying may prove fatal and backfire.

 

The Honest Woodcutter

In this story, a poor woodcutter loses his only axe as it falls into the river while cutting wood. He gets very upset because he has no money to buy a new one. Seeing him sitting sadly in condolence on the river bank, the king, who was passing by, sends his royal diver to dive into the river and bring out the woodcutter's axe. The diver brings out a golden axe and says, "I found this axe in the river. Is it yours?" The woodcutter replies honestly that it is not his axe. The diver then brings out a silver axe. The woodcutter again tells the diver that it is not his axe. Finally, when the diver brings out his wooden axe, he replies happily that it is his, and takes it after thanking the diver for getting him his axe. Seeing that the man is so honest, the king, who is actually a God of water, is highly pleased with the woodcutter. He asks the diver (his servant) to give him all the three axes as a reward.

After narrating both the stories, the teacher will ask the students to stand in front of the signs that correspond with their agreement or disagreement with the characters actions. Further, the students will justify why they chose to stand where they did. Their responses can be written on the board.

Activity 3: Creative Skill Approach

The teacher will ask every student to think about a person who, according to him/her, is very honest. This will be a creative activity in which all the students will participate. The students will be given some time to think about that person. Engaging students in an artistic and creative exercise like this will provide them with an opportunity to think about honesty. Then, the students will be asked to draw a sketch, poster or collage of that person depicting his/her activities in support of their thoughts. The drawings will be as unique as the child. Showing the drawing of each child to the class, the teacher will explain how the student has creatively depicted honesty as a useful trait in his/her drawing.

Activity 4: Case Study Approach

The teacher will narrate a situation to the students and then ask them to answer some questions as per their opinion about the given situation.

During summer vacation, the students were asked to read a newspaper every day and write down ten main news headlines in a notebook. Rahul went through The Tribune' daily and noted down the news headlines. Seema also completed the daily activity. Kiran borrowed the notebook from Seema to copy down the homework so that she could submit it to the class teacher.

Worksheet

Q.1. What was the homework?

Ans……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Q.2. Who all completed their homework?

Ans………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Q.3. Which methods were availed to finish the homework?

Ans…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Q.4. Which method seems appropriate to you and why?

Ans……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Q.5. In that situation, how would you complete your homework?

Ans……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Q.6. What do you think was the honesty level of all the three students?

Ans…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Activity 5: True/False Method

Students will state whether the following statements are true or false after reading them (in order to evaluate honesty):

1. The mason stole a cement bag without intimation from the work allotted to him on contract.

2. Chanda borrowed a pencil from Swaran to write notes but finding it beautiful, kept it for herself; bought a new pencil and gave it to Swaran.

3. I admit that unfair means were adopted to stand first, but it was essential.

4. In games, my performance was good but the result was not good.

5. Pahul broke a cup but didn't tell anyone about it. He kept it in its place after pasting its handle with fevikwik.

 

RESPECT

Objectives 1. To instil in the students a sense of respect for others.

2. Enhance self-esteem by understanding the importance of respect.

3. Enhance fellowship and interaction through mutual respect.

The feeling of honour or esteem that arises within a human being for someone is called respect. When we respect our peers or someone older or younger than us, we are, in fact, setting an example of self- respect as well as respect. Respect cannot be demanded but should be commanded. The reaction that we receive in response to the words we choose to address someone makes it quite evident how the other person has perceived our sense of respect for him.

 

Activity-1

A group of five students will come to the blackboard to perform an activity under the guidance of the teacher. Each student will be asked to speak a sentence respectfully as if conversing with someone. The rest of the students will reply in response to the sentences spoken by each one of them. The teacher will monitor the activity very keenly and will then utter all the sentences one by one to make the students understand which sentence is to be spoken with how much of softness, sweetness, naturality and with what expressions.

First Student: Sat Sri Akal, my dear friends!

Class: Sat Sri Akal!

Second Student: Hello, Friends!

Class: Hello!

Third Student: Good Morning, my dear friends!

Class: Good Morning! (Teacher smiles.)

Fourth Student: How are you all?

Class: Fine! What about you?

Fifth Student: May you all be well!

Class: May you be well too!

The same activity will be repeated with five other students but in the second activity, these students will address the same sentences as used in the above conversation but in a high-pitched tone and rapidly with an expression of annoyance on their face. A change will be noticed in the response of the class. The teacher will discuss the change with the students. It becomes quite evident from the response of the class that in order to earn respect for yourself, you need to respect others.

Activity-2

In this activity, five students who are interested in acting will come in front of the class and perform the activity under the guidance of the teacher. According to the teacher's instructions, they will make five different types of faces.

1. The first student will make a happy smiling face.

2. The second student will make a tearful face.

3. The third student will look at the class with an angry face.

4. The fourth student will make a sad face.

5. The fifth student will look embarrassed; cast his eyes down and avoid eye contact with anyone.

Now the teacher will ask the students which of the gestures and expressions will arise respect within them. This activity will make it clear that the kind of respect one can earn depends on one’s gestures and facial expressions.

Worksheet

Q.1. Which persons have earned more respect from the students and why?

Ans……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Q.2. What is the benefit of respecting others?

Ans…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Q.3. What changes do you need to make within yourself in order to gain self-esteem?

Ans……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Q.4. State whether the following statements are Right or Wrong:

1. Respect for others is what earns you respect.

2. Respect can only be shown to those older than oneself, not to younger ones or peers.

3. There are also people who feign respect only when they need something

4. Respecting someone gives us spiritual happiness.

 

The purpose of the above activities is to explain to the students that by respecting others, we earn double respect, happiness and joy. We can make our life more enjoyable and meaningful only by respecting others in our home, family, relationships and society.