montessori For The Future

Find ideas, activities, and practice to bring your classroom and teaching up a level while laying a foundation of environmental awareness for a better tomorrow.

Integrity

There comes a point each year, when I find myself wondering why my students are doing what they KNOW they shouldn’t be doing. Usually, it becomes apparent to me during rest time. Someone will sit up and I’ll look over, so they lay back down. As soon as I turn away, they are back up. It’s like a game to them! A game that I’m not interested in playing, but don’t realize I’m playing until it’s too late.

Bracelet with a pair of eyes.

Integrity means, “Doing the right thing even when no one is watching.”

The last couple years I’ve pulled out a set of lessons on integrity! I love teaching these social emotional lessons and my students have really responded to them. It also helps me to just be more aware that my students are in a testing phase. It’s similar to the beginning of the year, but different. This phase seems to sneak up on me every time! But once I realize what’s going on, I can make sure that I don’t keep falling into the trap of playing their game.

Teacher with a husky dog stuffy on each shoulder, performing a puppet show.
Performing puppet shows gets the most sincere reactions!

One of the introductory lessons is a puppet show where I pretend I’m a student at rest time and my conscience (good and bad) is trying to guide me. The “bad” conscience is relatable and the “good” conscience is what I’m trying to steer them towards. In all honesty, I’m still working this script. The “bad” gets TOO big of laughs!

Group of PreK students sitting at tables and completing a worksheet.
Teacher sitting at group time, holding the book, "This is Not My Hat" by Jon Klassen.
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

There are several children’s books that can be used to teach integrity. Two of my favorites are by Jon Klassen, We Found a Hat and This is Not My Hat. After reading and discussing both, I guide my students in completing this worksheet. It works well as an assessment of students’ understanding of integrity and can guide future lessons.

Student completed worksheet with two turtles, one hat, and a cactus to color. The worksheet reads, "I practice integrity when I" and children's writing completes the sentence with, "don't talk when the lights are off."
“don’t talk when the lights are off.” In my classroom, turning the lights off at the end of lunch signals silent eating and time to get ready for rest time.
Worksheet with two turtles, one hat, and a cactus to color. Worksheet reads, "I practice integrity when I" and is completed in student writing, "let other people play my game."
I adore how this student problem-solved by gluing a piece of scrap paper over a miss-spelling.

Another excellent children’s book to read while teaching integrity is The Empty Pot by Demi.

This whole set of lessons is available for free! As the creator, I hope you love them. If not, I would appreciate your honest feedback.

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Laura Oliphant

Hi! I’m Laura. I’m an early childhood, Montessori teacher and curriculum writer. Outside the classroom I enjoy hiking, camping, skiiing, running, and relaxing. I’ve been in the classroom for ten years and am AMS credentialed with two masters in education.