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Integrity

Ninth graders build responsible decision-making by acting with integrity — doing the right thing even when it is hard or no one is watching. They order the steps for a tough ethical choice, then apply them to a real dilemma.

Grade 9Integrity45 minutes1 class periodCASELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define integrity.
  • ✓Name the right thing.
  • ✓Resist the easy way.
  • ✓Own your choices.
Essential Question

How do you do the right thing when it would be easier not to?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Integrity Steps

Project this and have students put the steps for acting with integrity in order.

⚖️ Put the integrity steps in orderTry it
Tap the first step of a tough ethical choice!
The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — When No One Is Watching

5 min

Is it still the right thing if no one would ever know?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pose the question.
  • Invite a few views.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Integrity

11 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Integrity Steps.
  • Order the steps.
  • Note honesty over the easy way.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name the right thing in a dilemma.
  • Spot the pressure.
  • Say who it affects.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name.
  • Spot.
  • Say.
4

Apply — Apply

11 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Work through a real dilemma.
  • Choose the honest path.
  • Plan to own the outcome.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Work.
  • Choose.
  • Plan.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say what integrity means.
  • Give one step.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Give one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL Framework for Social and Emotional Learning across its five core competencies.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Act with honesty, integrity, and ethics.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Consider the impact of choices on others.

CASEL
Self-Awareness

Connect actions to personal values.

CASEL
Self-Management

Resist pressure to take the easy way.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Integrity-step cards.
  • Frame: “the right thing is ___.”
  • Discuss a simple dilemma.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Use 3 steps.
  • Use one clear dilemma.
  • Use a visual.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Analyze a real-world case.
  • Write a personal honor code.
  • Debate an ethical gray area.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • ⚖️Integrity-step cards
  • 💻Order the Integrity Steps
  • 📜Dilemma cards
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

integritydoing right even when it is hardhonestybeing truthfulethicsideas of right and wrongvalueswhat matters most to youaccountabilityowning your choicestemptationthe pull to take the easy waycharacterwho you are through your actionsconsequencewhat results from a choice
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is integrity?
Doing the right thing even when it is hard or no one is watching.
QUESTION 2
What comes after noticing the pressure to take the easy way?
Think about who your choice affects.
QUESTION 3
What does owning the outcome mean?
Taking responsibility and learning from it.

Reflect: integrity.

Have students write a short personal honor code. A printable integrity worksheet is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Responsible Decision-Making: IntegrityFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Responsible Decision-Making: IntegrityQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Responsible Decision-Making: IntegrityPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: accountability, character, consequence, ethics, honesty, integrity, temptation, values
  1. ideas of right and wrong
  2. owning your choices
  3. what results from a choice
  4. what matters most to you
  5. the pull to take the easy way
  6. being truthful
  7. who you are through your actions
  8. doing right even when it is hard

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is integrity?
  2. What comes after noticing the pressure to take the easy way?
  3. What does owning the outcome mean?
Answer key — Part A: 1) ethics · 2) accountability · 3) consequence · 4) values · 5) temptation · 6) honesty · 7) character · 8) integrity
Part B: 1) Doing the right thing even when it is hard or no one is watching. 2) Think about who your choice affects. 3) Taking responsibility and learning from it.