A tool to teach kids the difference between tattle-taleing and crimes.

The crime line is one of 2 lines kids line up at to come in the room after recess. The line that is not the crime line always goes into the classroom first. The crime line is a line the kids can stand in to report crimes. I always ask the 5 questions pointing to each finger on my hand as I fold them into the palm of my hand.

1. Did it hurt you?

2. Did it damage your property?

3. Did it hurt someone else?

4. Did it hurt their property?

5. If it didn’t do one of the four than why are you standing in the crime line?

Just in case you’re not sure what the definition for crimes is, the first four are crimes!