Moon Dragons / Before Reading / Orientation /
Truth and Lies
Exploring the theme of honesty and deception.
Lesson length: 30 minutes
Lesson from Moon Dragons series
Text potential
- Theme: Honesty and deception
Strategies used
- Discussion and Dialogue
Purpose
Whether it is always right to tell the truth is central to The Moon Dragons. This activity foregrounds children’s initial thoughts and records their ideas so they can be revisited after they have read the story.
Preparation
- Large sheets of paper for group work or whiteboards and markers.
Process
Begin by writing the words ‘truth’ and ‘lies’ on the paper or have the children write them on whiteboards.
In small groups, ask them to share their first thoughts about the two words and record them on the paper. Prompt them with the following questions:
- Have you ever told a lie?
- Why did you tell a lie?
- Has anyone ever told you a lie?
- Why do people tell lies?
Final reflection
- Is it always wrong to tell a lie?
Briefly discuss the reasons behind children’s ideas. At this point keep the discussion brief as you will revisit after you have read the story. Encourage authentic responses by allowing a genuine exploration of the question.
Gently challenge children’s thinking without forcing a specific response.. At the beginning of year 2 many children will see this clear cut but some may be starting to think about the importance of context.
Key vocabulary
lie, truth
Contributors
