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Learning Together Joyfully: April: The Seven Sacred Teachings – Honesty.

The Seven Sacred Teachings, also known as the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, is a set of teachings on human conduct towards others. The 7 Guiding Principles include: respect, humility, courage, truth, wisdom, love, and honesty. Many Aboriginal organizations and communities have adopted the 7 guiding principles, in one form or another, as moral and cultural foundations. Many Aboriginal organizations and communities have adopted the 7 guiding principles, in one form or another, as a moral steppingstone and cultural foundation. Each community has adapted the teachings to suit their community values. These Seven Teachings act as guiding principles towards restoration of the cultural values, beliefs, and practices that were forbidden to Indigenous peoples. Recognizing that not all First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures and histories recognize The Seven Sacred Teachings or the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, the intent is to be as inclusive as possible. Despite where the teachings may have originated, they share the importance of abiding by a moral respect for all living things. In April, the focus of the sacred teaching is on honesty.

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  1. Read and Sing Together
  2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing
  3. Explore, Engage & Interact together
  4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition
  5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning

Honesty, represented by Sabé, Bigfoot or Sasquatch, means being honest with ourselves, speaking and living our truth from the heart. Honesty is refusing to lie or engage in gossip about others.  Honesty is being true to our words. Honesty is never judging or condemning others, but to speak well of others, honouring their uniqueness within the human family. North American Aboriginal culture closely follows an animal called Sasquatch. Sasquatch walks among the people to remind them to be honest to the laws of the creator and honest to each other. The highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual was the saying “There walks an honest man. He can be trusted.” To be truly honest was to keep the promises one made to the Creator, to others and to oneself. The Elders would say, “Never try to be someone else; live true to your spirit, be honest to yourself and accept who you are the way the Creator made you.”

Never lie or gossip, be honest with yourself and others.  Speak from your heart.  Be true to your word.

rabbitandbearpaws.com

1.  Read and Sing together 📚 

One trait to develop character is honesty. Telling the truth isn’t always natural for children. They know honesty is the best option, but it may mean disappointing someone. Children may lie to avoid punishment or to protect their friends. Teaching children to be truthful in their actions and words helps them develop healthy relationships and to be seen as trustworthy. A great resource that encourages children to think through situations before they happen is found in books. An honest person is someone truthful and reliable. They are typically fair-minded and have a strong sense of integrity.. On the other hand, a dishonest person is deceitful and untrustworthy. They often have little regard for others and often act out of self-interest. Honesty is the foundation of trust, and relationships cannot thrive without trust. Additionally, honesty is essential for making good decisions. Honesty also keeps the wrong person from getting blamed for something they didn’t do. When people are honest, they can more easily identify their right choices. Reading children’s books about honesty and trustworthiness helps you start discussions about the consequences of dishonesty. This includes punishment, losing the trust of others and telling more lies to cover the first one.

Consider these questions to use with books about Honesty

  • What is a lie?
  • Why do you think people lie?
  • Is it ever okay to lie? Why or why not?
  • Explain if you think it is easier to lie or tell the truth.
  • What are some of the consequences of lying?
  • Are some types of lies more severe than others?
  • Is there ever a time when it is okay to lie? Why?
  • Is it okay to keep quiet rather than tell the truth?
  • Is it ever wrong to tell the truth?
  • Why do we tell the truth? Why are some people dishonest?
  • How do you know if you can trust someone?
  • What does it mean when you trust someone? What signs or actions do you look for?
  • How did [character’s] honesty/dishonesty affect the story and the other characters?
  • How would the story have changed if [character] had been honest in the first place?
  • What words would you use to describe [character’s] actions?
  • Why do you think [character] was dishonest? What is the evidence?
  • How do you think [character] felt when they were lied to? How do you feel when someone lies to you?
  • Why do you think [character] did/didn’t trust [character]?

BOOKS ABOUT HONESTY: The following picture books about honesty tell stories illustrating the importance of being truthful and building trust-based relationships. You can use these stories to open up discussions with your children about why honesty and trust are important and discuss the consequences of dishonesty.

  • A Little SPOT of Honesty: A Story About Trust And Integrity by Diane Alber. This is a story about Honesty. Did you know being honest is more than just about telling the truth? It helps you show integrity and ear respect too. It also helps build strong relationships and encourages people to be honest with you. Join a little spot of honesty as we are shown examples of how to be true to yourself and to others!
  • My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook.  Louis always interrupts! All of his thoughts are very important to him, and when he has something to say, his words rumble and grumble in his tummy, they wiggle and jiggle on his tongue and then they push on his teeth, right before he ERUPTS (or interrupts). His mouth is a volcano! But when others begin to interrupt Louis, he learns how to respectfully wait for his turn to talk. This book takes an empathetic approach to the habit of interrupting and teaches children a witty technique to help them manage their rambunctious thoughts and words. Told from Louis’ perspective, this story provides parents, teachers, and counselors with an entertaining way to teach children the value of respecting others by listening and waiting for their turn to speak. This book promotes self-management.
  • Franklin Fibs by Paulette Bourgeois. Franklin tells a fib and finds himself in an embarrassing predicament. This is another winning classic Franklin storybook. 
  • The Empty Pot by Demi. It’s time for the emperor to choose an heir and it turns out that honesty is greatly rewarded. The Chinese emperor has declared that the person who can grow the most beautiful flower from his seeds will become his successor. Although Ping tends to his seed diligently, it doesn’t grow, but he presents his empty pot to the emperor anyway. Ping’s honesty is rewarded when the emperor names him as successor to the throne.
  • Tell the Truth B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra is an entertaining story where the wolf from The Three Little Pigs gets to tell his side of the story. As the reader, you get to decide if he is telling the truth. The pigs sure don’t think he is being honest.
  • A Bike Like Sergio’s by Maribeth Boelts is a story about a boy who finds a bill on the floor of the store. He initially thinks it is $1, but it turns out to be a $100 bill.  Should it matter if it’s $1 or $100?  What is the right thing to do? This is a realistic look at all the thoughts that one goes through when making a decision.
  • In a Day’s Work by Eve Bunting, children learn about the importance of being honest.  A young boy lies that his grandfather is a gardener to get work for them. The employer soon discovers the lie and the young boy learns a lesson about working hard, telling the truth, and the importance of having strong role models to guide us.
  • The Honest-to-Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack is the story of a little girl who happens to be a little too honest and hurts someone’s feelings.  It’s a great lesson in being honest, but also kind in our delivery.  And, also knowing when to speak the truth and when it might not be necessary.
  • Harriet and the Garden by Nancy Carlson. We learn not to run away from a situation just to avoid telling the truth. Harriet is playing ball when she falls into an award-winning flower patch. She races away without telling anyone and later feels guilty about the choice she made.
  • David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon. David has trouble admitting he’s wrong and quickly wants to make excuses for his actions. But before going to sleep, David confesses and apologizes for his choices to his mom. A good dose of humor is served with an underlying theme that it’s best to be honest and own up to our mistakes.
  • Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big by Berkeley Breathed. Edwurd Fudwupper’s humongous fib gets him into trouble with the military, a dogcatcher and a three-eyed alien. It takes his little sister, Fannie Fudwupper, to rescue him. This rhyming book promotes honesty and responsibility.

BOOKS ABOUT SABE, SASQUATCH OR BIGFOOT

  • Looking for Bigfoot- Chapter 1 & 2; Looking for Bigfoot Chapter 3 & 4); Looking for Bigfoot Chapter 5 & 6 by Bonnie Worth.This book for older readers Is Bigfoot (aka Sasquatch) a descendent of the extinct giant ape Gigantopithecus? Or is it a myth turned pop-culture phenomenon that we want to believe is real? In this objectively written graded reader, author Bonnie Worth examines the evidence for and against the existence of the alleged ape, including its role in native North American folklore, famous sightings and notorious hoaxes, Dr. Grover Kranz’s work with dermal ridges, the Gigantopithecus theory, the Patterson-Gimlin film, and much, much more. Illustrated with photographs and full-color illustrations, this nonfiction, high-concept easy reader will satisfy both skeptics and true believers. 
  • Sid the Sasquatch by Wendy Elliott. This book introduces you to a young, brave and fun-loving sasquatch as we follow him through his daily adventures. Sid does his best to follow the rules, but things get tricky when he stumbles into a friendship with a kind, human boy. What will become of Sid and his new friend? Will Sid’s sasquatch family accept him? Take a journey into the forest with Sid to find out!
  • The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot! by Scott Magoon is a variation of the traditional The Boy Who Cried Wolf. A little boy tries to convince everyone that he has seen Bigfoot even trying to trick them with evidence he created. Then when he really does see him, no one in town believes him.

SONGS:

HONESTY:

SASQUATCH, BIGFOOT

Benefits of Being Honest:

  •  Honesty promotes authenticity.  If you want people to know who you really are, be honest in your self-expression.
  • Honesty fosters courage. Courage is doing what you know you want or need to do, despite your fear. It takes an immense amount of courage to say what you feel.
  • Honesty shows you care. It demonstrates self-respect and respect for others.
  • Honesty creates a circle of love. Honesty sets an example that invites others to imitate and can create an ongoing evolution of loving relationships.
  • Honesty shows maturity and self-acceptance. A kind person conveys honest expression in a style that minimizes painful impact.
  • Honesty fosters a connection. Honesty can bring people closer by creating a safe connection.
  • Honesty attracts honesty. If honesty becomes an unconscious habit, you will become very attractive to other honest people. A life filled with authentic people is vastly enriched.
  • Honesty can keep you out of trouble. You can dig yourself deeper into a hole with lies and deceit.

2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩 

Even telling one lie risks being called a liar. It not only damages our reputation but also reduces others trusting us. One lie often leads to the need to tell another, more significant lie, which risks even greater negative consequences when discovered. Finally, our sense of responsibility and guilt could cause us far more distress than we imagine.

  • Download these one-page lesson plans designed for each title of the Rabbit and Bear Paws: Sacred Seven Series.

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

3. Explore, Engage & Interact together 🌍

  • Download this Lesson Plan for younger children with handouts for them to decide between being honest and dishonest This teacher’s guide includes scenarios.
  • Download this honesty handout.
  • For a downloadable Poster of animals representing each sacred teaching -P. 11.
  • Read and Listen to Pinocchio.
  • Play an Honesty Game
  • Discussion Group Activity: After reading and discussing all of the stories, have a group discussion about the importance of being honest. Emphasize that honesty shows others that we can be trusted and tells us who we can trust. Ask, “Would you want to be friends with someone who was honest or someone who doesn’t tell the truth?”
  • More Honesty Discussion Questions:
    • Why are people dishonest?
    • How does it feel when someone lies to you?
    • Are there ever times when it is okay to lie? Why?
    • Is it easier to tell a lie or tell the truth?
    • Is there a difference between telling the truth and tattling on someone?
    • Do you know people who are honest? Who?
  • When discussing honesty, it’s important to remind children to think about their words. We don’t want students to think “being honest” means being rude or unkind to others. Some things need to be said and some don’t. Engage in a discussion to highlight things we say out loud versus just thinking it. This activity allows students to practice thinking before they speak.
Honesty Sort; Say It Outloud, Just Think It; Helping Students Figure Out What Needs To Be Said
TeachingwithHaley.com

4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition 👭

MOVEMENT: Experiential learning, in which children acquire knowledge by doing and reflecting on their experiences, is full of movement, imagination, and self-directed play. Research has shown time and again that children need opportunities to move in class. Memory and movement are linked, and the body is a tool of learning. Movement allows children to connect concepts to action and to learn through trial and error. 

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning 💭

This poster describes a set of learning principles specific to First Peoples in BC . The First Peoples Principles of Learning were articulated by Indigenous Elders, scholars and knowledge keepers to guide the development of the curriculum and teaching of the English. Download the Poster here.

teachchildren.com