Once upon a time, in a town called Jericho, there lived a man named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector, which meant he collected money from people for the government. However, Zacchaeus was not an honest man. He would often take more money from the people than he was supposed to. He thought nobody would ever find out.

One day, Zacchaeus heard about a man named Jesus, who was known for his kindness and wisdom. Zacchaeus was curious and wanted to meet Jesus. But when he heard that Jesus was coming to Jericho, he realized he had a problem. He had been dishonest with the people, and if Jesus found out, he wouldn't want to meet Zacchaeus.

Instead of giving up, Zacchaeus came up with a plan. He decided to be honest and return all the extra money he had taken. He wanted to make things right. So, he went to each person he had collected money from and apologized for his wrongdoing. People were surprised but also happy to see Zacchaeus changing for the better.

When Jesus finally arrived in Jericho, he saw Zacchaeus in the crowd. Jesus called out to Zacchaeus and said, 'Today, I will stay at your house.' Zacchaeus was overjoyed and invited Jesus to his home. He realized that by being honest, he had gained not only the trust of the people but also the friendship of Jesus.

From that day on, Zacchaeus became a changed man. He continued to be honest and fair in all his dealings. He used his wealth to help the poor and needy in his town. The people were amazed at the transformation in Zacchaeus. They saw the value of honesty and integrity through his actions.

The story of Zacchaeus teaches us the importance of honesty. It shows us that no matter how dishonest we have been in the past, we can always choose to change and make things right. When we are honest, we not only gain the trust of others but also discover the joy of doing what is right.

Activity: Think about a time when you were tempted to be dishonest. How did you feel? What did you do? Share your experience with a friend or family member and discuss why honesty is important.

Activity: Draw a picture of yourself being honest and helping others. Think about how it feels to do the right thing and share your drawing with your classmates.