Why was Lincoln called Honest Abe? One famous story says that when young Abe worked in a store, he once charged a customer a few pennies too much by mistake. That evening, he walked miles to return the money!
Lincoln believed that telling the truth and treating people fairly mattered more than anything. His honesty made people trust him — and that trust helped him become president.
You can be honest like Abe every day: tell the truth even when it is hard, return things that are not yours, admit mistakes, and keep your promises. Honesty builds trust, and trust makes friendships, families, and even countries stronger.
1. What did young Abe do when he charged a customer too much?
2. How did honesty help Lincoln become president?
3. Name two ways YOU can be honest like Abe.
Write what each word means in your own words.
Write YES if it is honest, or NO if it is not.
| Action | YES or NO |
|---|---|
| Telling the truth even when it is hard. | |
| Keeping extra change that is not yours. | |
| Admitting you broke something by accident. | |
| Blaming your sibling for your mess. | |
| Keeping a promise you made. | |
| Returning a toy you borrowed. |
Think of a time you told the truth even though it was hard — or a time honesty helped you. Fill in your story below.
| Question | My answer |
|---|---|
| What happened? | |
| What was the honest thing to do? | |
| How did it feel afterward? | |
| How did it build trust? |
1. Why does honesty make a leader stronger?
2. What nickname would YOU want to earn, like 'Honest Abe'? Why?
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
| I learned... | Circle one |
|---|---|
| Why Lincoln was called Honest Abe | YES / NOT YET |
| How honesty builds trust | YES / NOT YET |
| Ways I can be honest every day | YES / NOT YET |