Difficult Ethical Choices · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

When Good Values Pull in Different Directions

Personal & Social Development · Responsible Decision-Making · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A friend tells you a secret that could mean someone gets hurt, and begs you not to tell. Which two values are pulling against each other?

    • Loyalty and safety
    • Honesty and kindness
    • Speed and patience

  2. What is a moral dilemma?

    • A choice where the right answer is obvious to everyone
    • A choice where two good values pull against each other and there is no perfect answer
    • A choice where you just pick whatever is fastest

  3. In a moral dilemma, one side is always completely wrong.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Tom finds out his friend is planning something risky and dangerous. What should Tom do first, before deciding what to do next?

    • Name the values pulling at him, like loyalty and safety
    • Ignore it and hope it works out fine
    • Tell everyone right away without thinking it through

  5. Mia's friend asks, 'Do you like my drawing?' but it does not look great. Mia wants to tell the truth, but she also does not want to hurt her friend's feelings. Which values are in tension?

    • Honesty and kindness
    • Loyalty and safety
    • Fairness and courage

  6. If keeping a promise means someone could get badly hurt, which value should usually come first?

    • Safety
    • Keeping the promise no matter what
    • Not upsetting your friend

  7. Priya's friend copied answers on a test and asks Priya not to tell the teacher. Priya values loyalty to her friend, but also fairness to her classmates. Which response best shows weighing both values and explaining a decision?

    • Priya says nothing because friends never tell on each other
    • Priya tells the teacher right away just to get her friend in trouble
    • Priya first urges her friend to tell the teacher himself, and if he will not, she decides to speak up because fairness to the class matters most

  8. Jack says, 'If a choice makes me feel bad afterward, that proves I chose wrong.' Is Jack's thinking correct?

    • Yes, feeling bad always means the choice was wrong
    • No, even a good choice in a dilemma can feel uncomfortable because you gave something up
    • No, feelings never matter in a dilemma
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

When Good Values Pull in Different Directions W1-mt_6xj94tmpi--s1

  1. Loyalty and safety · Keeping the secret shows loyalty, but telling someone could keep your friend safe.
  2. A choice where two good values pull against each other and there is no perfect answer · A moral dilemma is hard exactly because both sides have something good to offer.
  3. False · A real dilemma has valid points on both sides. That is what makes it hard.
  4. Name the values pulling at him, like loyalty and safety · Naming the values first helps you see clearly which one protects people best.
  5. Honesty and kindness · Telling the truth is honest, but softening it can still be kind.
  6. Safety · Promises exist to help people. When keeping one puts someone in danger, safety usually matters more.
  7. Priya first urges her friend to tell the teacher himself, and if he will not, she decides to speak up because fairness to the class matters most · This choice respects the friendship by giving Priya's friend a chance, while still protecting fairness for everyone else.
  8. No, even a good choice in a dilemma can feel uncomfortable because you gave something up · In a dilemma, both options have a cost. Feeling uneasy does not mean you chose badly.
Worksheet · LightMySky