Good Manners, Courteous Behaviour at School and Home for Pre-School Level 3

Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Second Term
Week: 2
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Personal Development
Curriculum Theme: Personal Development
Previous Lesson: Understanding and showing care for others
Topic: GOOD MANNERS: COURTEOUS BEHAVIOUR AT SCHOOL AND HOME
Subject Matter: Good Manners: Courteous Behaviour at School and Home

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Identify polite words used for greeting.
• Describe proper ways to sit and focus when doing homework.

Affective Domain

• Show willingness to use polite words like “please” and “thank you.”
• Appreciate the importance of good manners at school and home.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate appropriate greetings to teachers and peers.
• Practise sitting correctly for homework.

Social Domain

• Participate in role-play scenarios involving greetings and homework.
• Interact courteously with peers during activities.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources
• Early Learner Environmental Studies

Instructional Materials

• Pictures showing children greeting adults and peers
• Picture cards of polite words (e.g., “Good Morning,” “Please,” “Thank You”)
• A small table and chair for demonstration
• A child’s workbook or drawing book and pencil
• Puppets or dolls for role-play

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is crucial for 4-year-olds as it introduces fundamental social skills that foster positive interactions and a respectful environment. Learning good manners like greeting and proper homework habits helps children develop self-discipline and consideration for others, preparing them for successful social and academic experiences.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can already recognise familiar faces at school and home and have been encouraged to say “hello” or “bye-bye” in informal settings. They also have some experience with simple classroom routines.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

GOOD MANNERS: COURTEOUS BEHAVIOUR AT SCHOOL AND HOME

Good manners mean behaving in a kind and polite way towards others. Courteous behaviour shows respect and makes people happy.

Courteous Behaviour at School and Home:

1. Greeting Others:
   • Always greet your parents, teachers, and friends.
   • Use polite words like: “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” “Good evening,” “Hello,” “How are you?”
   • Remember to say “Please” when you ask for something.
   • Always say “Thank you” when someone helps you or gives you something.
   • Say “Excuse me” when you want to pass, interrupt politely, or sneeze.
   • Look at the person you are greeting and smile.
2. Doing Homework Properly:
   • Find a quiet and clean place to do your homework.
   • Sit properly with your back straight and feet on the floor.
   • Hold your pencil correctly.
   • Focus on your work and try your best.
   • If you need help, ask an adult politely.
   • It is best not to drink water or eat while doing homework to avoid spills and distractions. Drink water before or after.

Key Words

• Manners – polite ways of behaving.
• Courteous – showing good manners and respect.
• Greet – to say hello to someone.
• Homework – school work done at home.
• Please – a polite word used when asking for something.
• Thank you – a polite word used to show gratitude.

Magic Words Song

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Please and Thank You, magic words,
Say them often, like the birds.
Good morning, good afternoon,
Make friends happy, very soon.
Excuse me, sorry too,
Good manners, just for you!

Actions:

• “Please and Thank You”: Join hands as if praying, then open them wide.
• “Say them often”: Tap lips gently.
• “Good morning, good afternoon”: Wave gently.
• “Make friends happy”: Smile and point to self and then outwards.
• “Excuse me, sorry too”: Hold hands up slightly, then cross over chest.
• “Good manners, just for you!”: Give a thumbs up.

Watch and Practise Polite Words

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm0M_0JpX3Q

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Role-play, Imitation, Repetition, Practical Activity.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Motivation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and asks them how they greeted their parents or guardians this morning. The teacher then introduces the topic of good manners and courteous behaviour.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s greeting and share how they greeted people at home. They listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and introduced to the concept of greetings and good manners.

Step 2: What are Good Manners?

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what good manners mean using simple words and shows pictures of children behaving politely (e.g., sharing toys, helping a friend). The teacher asks pupils to give examples of good manners they know.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation, observe the pictures, and share simple examples of good manners they have seen or practised.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the basic meaning of good manners.

Step 3: Courteous Greetings and Polite Words

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to greet an adult (e.g., “Good morning, Ma/Sir”) and a peer (e.g., “Hello, [friend’s name]”) with a smile and eye contact. The teacher introduces polite words like “Please,” “Thank You,” and “Excuse me” using picture cards and encourages pupils to repeat them.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the teacher’s demonstrations, repeat the greetings and polite words, and practise greeting their neighbours in class.

Learning Point: Pupils learn and practise using polite greetings and magic words.

Step 4: Rhyme and Video Reinforcement

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Song/Video Integration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Magic Words Song” with actions. After the song, the teacher plays the “Magic Words Song” video from the Board Summary to reinforce the lesson on polite words and actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with the teacher, perform the actions for the rhyme, watch the video, and repeat the polite words shown in the video.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of polite words through song and visual aids.

Step 5: Doing Homework Properly

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Instruction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher uses a small table, chair, book, and pencil to demonstrate the proper way to sit for homework (back straight, feet on the floor) and hold a pencil. The teacher explains the importance of a quiet place and asking for help politely.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration, try to imitate the correct sitting posture at their desks, and listen to the instructions.

Learning Point: Pupils understand and practise good habits for doing homework.

Step 6: Role-play and Discussion

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Role-play/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher organises simple role-play scenarios where pupils practise greeting each other, asking for a crayon politely, or thanking a friend. The teacher also asks questions about good homework habits.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in short role-play activities, demonstrating greetings and using polite words. They answer questions about how to do homework well.

Learning Point: Pupils apply good manners in practical, simulated situations.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 4–5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.

1. What do you say when you ask for something? (Expected: Please)
2. What do you say when someone gives you something? (Expected: Thank you)
3. Show me how you greet your teacher in the morning.
4. Show me how you sit when doing your homework.
5. Is it good to drink water while doing your homework? Why/Why not?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises pupils for their participation and reminds them to always use good manners at school and at home, as it makes everyone happy. The teacher leads a final quick sing-along of the “Magic Words Song.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher’s concluding remarks and sing the song one last time.

Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to practise good manners daily.

Lesson Keywords

• Manners – polite ways of behaving.
• Courteous – showing good manners and respect.
• Greet – to say hello to someone.
• Homework – school work done at home.
• Please – a polite word used when asking for something.
• Thank you – a polite word used to show gratitude.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who struggle, provide larger picture cards of polite words, use hand-over-hand guidance for demonstrating greetings or sitting posture, and allow them to respond by pointing or repeating after a peer. Focus on one or two key polite words and actions.
• Extension: For advanced learners, encourage them to use polite words in short sentences (e.g., “Please give me the book.”), ask them to identify other situations where good manners are important (e.g., sharing, waiting for turns), or have them lead a small group in a greeting role-play.