Introduction
Honesty is a vital skill for high school students to develop, as it fosters trust and healthy relationships. However, it’s essential to strike a balance between honesty and tact to prevent inadvertently hurting others’ feelings. This blog post will explore an activity that educators can use to teach students when to be honest and when to hold back, along with discussion questions and related skills. By learning this skill, students will be better equipped to navigate social interactions and develop positive connections with their peers.
No-Prep Activity
This activity, called “Honesty vs. Tact Role-Playing,” requires no preparation or materials from the educator. The goal is to help students understand the impact of their words and practice finding the balance between honesty and tact.
Divide students into pairs, and provide each pair with a scenario that requires a response. One student will play the role of the person seeking feedback, and the other will play the role of the person providing feedback. In the first round, the feedback provider must be honest but not considerate of the other person’s feelings. In the second round, the feedback provider should find a balance between honesty and tact.
After each round, have the pairs discuss how the feedback made them feel, and what could have been done differently to strike a balance between honesty and tact. Then, have the class come together to discuss their experiences and insights.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to strike a balance between honesty and tact?
- How can being too honest potentially hurt others’ feelings or damage relationships?
- What strategies can we use to be honest without being hurtful?
- Can you think of a time when someone was too honest with you? How did it make you feel, and what could they have done differently?
- How can we apply this skill to various aspects of our lives, such as friendships, family relationships, and schoolwork?
Related Skills
Striking the balance between honesty and tact is just one aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other related skills that high school students can benefit from include:
- Active listening: Being attentive to others’ feelings and needs during conversations.
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the emotions of others, which can help guide our responses.
- Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements with others in a respectful and constructive manner.
- Self-awareness: Recognizing our emotions and understanding how they influence our actions and decision-making.
Next Steps
If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources to help your high school students develop Social-Emotional Learning skills, we invite you to sign up for free samples of our materials. Our comprehensive resources provide educators with engaging and effective tools to support students’ growth. Visit Everyday Speech to access these valuable resources and help your students build essential life skills.
