I hope these kids get a merit star from their teacher
When my kid was 3 (he's now 17), he told an innocent lie to me. Innocent but conscious, he knew he was lying and he was trying to get something that he wanted (for me to play with him). And I secretly smiled and was pleased, because it suggested that he would make the effort to advocate for himself, and that he was thinking and thinking ahead. I gently called him on it (which is how you learn that lying is wrong), and played with him.
He's doing pretty well now.
This is a real and substantial hack. Most adults wouldn't think of doing this.