Good Manners, Proper Ways to Sneeze, Yawn and Cough for Pre-School Level 3

Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: First Term
Week: 7
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Personal Development
Curriculum Theme: Personal Development
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme
Topic: GOOD MANNERS: PROPER WAYS TO SNEEZE, YAWN AND COUGH
Subject Matter: Good Manners: Proper Ways to Sneeze, Yawn and Cough

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify the proper way to sneeze, yawn, and cough.
• State why it is important to cover their mouth and nose when sneezing, yawning, or coughing.

Affective Domain

• Show willingness to practice good manners when sneezing, yawning, or coughing.
• Appreciate the importance of hygiene and politeness.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate the proper way to sneeze into their elbow or a tissue.
• Demonstrate the proper way to cover their mouth when yawning.
• Demonstrate the proper way to cough into their elbow or a tissue.

Social Domain

• Participate in role-play activities showing good manners.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources
• Relevant picture charts on hygiene and manners

Instructional Materials

• Pictures showing children sneezing, yawning, and coughing both properly and improperly
• Charts illustrating good manners
• Clean tissues or handkerchiefs
• Puppets or dolls for role-play

Rationale for the Lesson

Learning proper ways to sneeze, yawn, and cough is crucial for 4-year-olds as it teaches them essential hygiene practices and social etiquette. This lesson helps prevent the spread of germs, promotes consideration for others, and builds a foundation for healthy habits and polite behaviour in school and at home.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are generally aware of basic good manners like saying “please” and “thank you” and have some understanding of what germs are.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

GOOD MANNERS: PROPER WAYS TO SNEEZE, YAWN AND COUGH

Good manners mean being polite and showing respect to others. When we sneeze, yawn, or cough, we need to do it properly so we don’t spread germs or disturb people.

Proper Way to Sneeze

• When you feel a sneeze coming, turn your head away from others.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief.
• If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze into your elbow (the crook of your arm), not your hand.
• Say “excuse me” afterwards.
• Throw the tissue in the dustbin and wash your hands.

Proper Way to Yawn

• When you feel like yawning, cover your mouth with your hand.
• Try to yawn quietly.
• Say “excuse me” if you yawn loudly.

Proper Way to Cough

• When you feel like coughing, turn your head away from others.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief.
• If you don’t have a tissue, cough into your elbow (the crook of your arm), not your hand.
• Say “excuse me” afterwards.
• Throw the tissue in the dustbin and wash your hands.

Why is this important? It stops germs from spreading to our friends and teachers, and it shows we are polite and care about others’ health.

Key Words

• Sneeze – When air comes out of your nose and mouth suddenly.
• Yawn – When you open your mouth wide and breathe in deeply because you are tired.
• Cough – When you push air out of your lungs suddenly, usually because you have something in your throat.
• Manners – Polite ways of behaving.
• Germs – Tiny things that can make us sick.

Good Manners Rhyme

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Sneeze and cough, don’t spread the germs,
Cover up, that’s what we learn.
Into your elbow, nice and deep,
So the tiny germs will sleep.

When you yawn, oh so wide,
Cover your mouth, don’t let germs hide.
Good manners show you truly care,
Keep those little germs right there!

Actions: For “sneeze and cough,” pretend to sneeze/cough into elbow. For “cover up,” cover mouth. For “yawn,” pretend to yawn and cover mouth. Point to self for “care.”

Watch and Practise

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

• Play-based Learning
• Demonstration
• Guided Practice
• Role-play
• Songs and Rhymes
• Picture Talk
• Question and Answer
• Imitation

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Greeting

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them what they know about “good manners.” The teacher then introduces the topic: learning good manners when we sneeze, yawn, and cough.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and share simple ideas about good manners. They listen attentively to the topic introduction.

Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of good manners and the lesson topic.

Step 2: Presentation (Proper Way to Sneeze)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows pictures of someone sneezing improperly (into hands) and then properly (into elbow or tissue). The teacher demonstrates the proper way to sneeze into an elbow, explaining why it’s important (to stop germs).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures and the teacher’s demonstration. They listen to the explanation about germs.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the proper way to sneeze and the reason behind it.

Step 3: Guided Practice (Sneeze)

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Correction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to pretend they are about to sneeze and guides them to practice sneezing into their elbows. The teacher offers tissues for those who want to practice using one and disposing of it.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate by pretending to sneeze and practicing the correct action into their elbows or a tissue.

Learning Point: Pupils physically practice the proper sneezing technique.

Step 4: Presentation (Proper Ways to Yawn and Cough)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows pictures of yawning and coughing. The teacher then demonstrates the proper way to cover the mouth when yawning and the proper way to cough into an elbow or a tissue, explaining the importance of politeness and preventing germ spread.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures and the teacher’s demonstrations for yawning and coughing. They listen to the explanations.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the proper ways to yawn and cough and their importance.

Step 5: Guided Practice (Yawn and Cough)

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Role-play

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to pretend to yawn and practice covering their mouths. Then, the teacher asks them to pretend to cough and practice coughing into their elbows or a tissue. The teacher uses puppets for a short role-play.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate by pretending to yawn and cough, practicing the correct actions. They watch and participate in the puppet role-play.

Learning Point: Pupils physically practice the proper yawning and coughing techniques.

Step 6: Reinforcement (Rhyme and Video)

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Singing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing the “Good Manners Rhyme” with actions. The teacher then plays the short video on good manners for sneezing, yawning, and coughing, encouraging pupils to watch and remember the actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme with actions. They watch the video and try to remember the good manners shown.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their learning through song and visual aids.

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. “Show me how you should sneeze if you don’t have a tissue.”
2. “What should you do when you yawn?”
3. “Is it good to yawn with your mouth open?” (Assessment question from seed)
4. “Why do we cover our mouths when we sneeze or cough?”

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: Summarizing/Praise

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the importance of good manners for sneezing, yawning, and coughing. The teacher praises pupils for their participation and reminds them to always practice these good habits.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and receive praise from the teacher.

Learning Point: Pupils internalize the importance of practicing good manners.

Lesson Keywords

• Sneeze – To suddenly push air out of your nose and mouth.
• Yawn – To open your mouth wide and breathe in deeply when tired.
• Cough – To push air out of your lungs suddenly.
• Manners – Polite ways of behaving.
• Germs – Tiny things that can make you sick.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who struggle, provide more one-on-one demonstration and hand-over-hand guidance to practice the actions. Use larger pictures for clearer visual cues and repeat the rhyme more frequently.
• Extension: Encourage pupils who grasp the concept quickly to explain to a peer why these manners are important. Ask them to identify other situations where good manners are needed (e.g., saying “please” and “thank you”).