I Will Not Tell a Lie

During circle time we read the story “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”

This book is a perfect example of honesty and what can happen if you don’t tell the truth.

I asked the children if they have ever lied. Surprisingly many of them admitted that they had. I asked them about some of the things they had lied about and what the consequences were when they got caught in a lie.

Some of the things they lied about was hitting a brother or sister or taking away their toy, breaking something, spilling milk or water, tearing a book, coloring on the wall.

When I asked them what happened when they got caught in a lie they talked about being put in time out, saying they were sorry or cleaning up their mess. It was a really rich conversation and I could see the remorse in their faces and hear it in their voices. I encourage you to have conversations like this with your children because it is a great way for them to learn and hear from each other.

I had a big piece of chart paper taped to the wall and asked them what honesty meant to them.

Here is what they said,

• Tell the truth
• Don’t steal
• Don’t lie
• Don’t tell on someone else
• Don’t make up stories

I had brought in all kinds of props to act out “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” we had stuffed sheep, a wolf and large sticks that would be their staff.

Below is the story in case you don’t have the book.
There once was a shepherd boy who was bored as he sat on the hillside watching the village sheep. To amuse himself he took a great breath and sang out, "Wolf! Wolf! The Wolf is chasing the sheep!" The villagers came running up the hill to help the boy drive the wolf away. But when they arrived at the top of the hill, they found no wolf. The boy laughed at the sight of their angry faces. "Don't cry 'wolf', shepherd boy," said the villagers, "when there's no wolf!" They went grumbling back down the hill. Later, the boy sang out again, "Wolf! Wolf! The wolf is chasing the sheep!" To his naughty delight, he watched the villagers run up the hill to help him drive the wolf away. When the villagers saw no wolf they sternly said, "Save your frightened song for when there is really something wrong! Don't cry 'wolf' when there is NO wolf!" But the boy just grinned and watched them go grumbling down the hill once more. Later, he saw a REAL wolf prowling about his flock. Alarmed, he leaped to his feet and sang out as loudly as he could, "Wolf! Wolf!" But the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come.
At sunset, everyone wondered why the shepherd boy hadn't returned to the village with their sheep. They went up the hill to find the boy. They found him weeping. "There really was a wolf here! The flock has scattered! I cried out, "Wolf!" Why didn't you come?" An old man tried to comfort the boy as they walked back to the village. "We'll help you look for the lost sheep in the morning," he said, putting his arm around the youth, "Nobody believes a liar...even when he is telling the truth!"


I hope if you do this with your class you have a great time and the children learn about not telling a lie and the importance of being honest.
Peace and Joy,
Barb