Liar, liar pants on fire! (file folder game)

8th Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Catholic version of the Ten Commandments.)



Liar, liar pants on fire!

Here is a fun game that helps children to recognize what lying is and how to resist it.




This game is free, however it is only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on all activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.


Introduction to game- To bear false witness means to not tell the whole truth. It is lying, but it is much more than lying. We lie to either make ourselves look good (and this is called pride) or sometimes to make others look bad. Sometimes we lie to get out of trouble. Sometimes it’s so easy to lie that we didn’t even realize we lied! The truth is very important because we need to be able to trust each other and understand each other. We need to guard what we say, and say what we mean by speaking the truth.

Do you guard what you say?
Do you lie?
Do you gossip? (Talk about others when they are not around?)
Do you boast and make yourself look better than you are?
Do you try to get others in trouble?
Do you point out other people’s faults unnecessarily?
Do you not tell the whole truth?
Do you say things about people that you wouldn’t want them to know about?





Directions: Put the Game Cards in two small basket and set near the game board. Set an egg timer for a specified time (optional). Place your markers on START. Roll the die and move that many spaces. Follow the directions on the space you land on. If you land on a “Pants On Fire” space, you pick up a corresponding card (light blue card) and read it out loud. On the card is a situation that you must make a choice on how you should answer. Remember that God doesn’t want us to lie or to be deceitful and hopefully you will make the right decision. Answer the question to the best of your ability (the teacher can coach the student if necessary). If you land and on a space with a picture of a person with a long nose, the player to your right picks up a corresponding card (light green card) and reads it out loud. You must answer the question with a “Yes” regardless if it is true or not. The player who read the question must identify whether you told the truth or a lie. If they catch you in a lie, they receive a token.



*As you play the game, take advantage of natural opportunities to highlight behaviors that facilitate or impeded being truthful and being honest. Discuss with the students why someone would be truthful and honest. You could also ask, “What do you think of Kelly’s answer?” or “What else could you say or do?” or “What is the worse thing someone could say or do in this situation?” When appropriate, reinforce a variety of ways to say or do things appropriately.

Continue game as time permits or until the egg timer goes off. The player with the most tokens wins.

Additional Rules: (For older children.) When you land on a space with a picture of a person with a long nose, the player to your right picks up a corresponding card (light green card) and reads it out loud. You must answer the question with a “Yes” regardless if it is true or not. The player who read the card can then ask that person as many questions as he likes in order to help him decide whether the truth is being told or not. Obviously, sometimes they will be telling the truth. Listen carefully how people fabricate stories in an attempt to avoid questions. When the player feels he has heard enough he says “No further questions” and states if you told the truth or a lie.


Liar, liar pants on fire! Game- Directions, Game Board, Situation Game Cards, Truth or Lie Game Cards, Tokens