Making Polite Requests in Paired Dialogue for Primary 1

Class: Primary 1
Term: Second Term
Week: 10
Age: 6 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Listening and Speaking
Focal competence: Making polite requests
Key competencies/values: Collaboration; Respect; Communication; Critical Thinking; Responsibility; Leadership
Skills:

• Communicating politely

Previous Lesson: Drawing conclusions from simple story information in Comprehension
Topic: Making Polite Requests
Subject Matter: Making Polite Requests, Using polite requests in paired dialogue

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify polite request expressions like ‘please’, ‘may I’, ‘can I’, and ‘excuse me’.
• State the difference between an impolite command and a polite request.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of using polite words when asking for something.
• Show respect when making requests and responding to them.

Psychomotor Domain

• Make a polite request appropriately in a familiar situation.
• Demonstrate the use of polite requests in a simple paired dialogue.

Social Domain

• Collaborate with classmates to practice making polite requests.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Macmillan English for Primary Schools 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Flashcards with polite words (e.g., “please”, “thank you”, “may I”)
• Picture cards showing different situations for making requests
• Syllables sorting cards
• Letter, word and picture cards
• Exercise books and pencils

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it teaches pupils essential social skills for interacting respectfully with others. Learning to make polite requests helps children communicate their needs effectively and fosters positive relationships in the classroom and at home. It lays a foundation for good manners and respectful communication.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can already say simple greetings and understand basic instructions in English.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Making Polite Requests

What are Polite Requests?

Polite requests are ways of asking for something nicely. They show good manners and respect for others.

Polite Request Expressions

We use special words to make our requests polite. Some common polite words are:

1. Please: Used when asking for something.
2. May I: Used when asking for permission.
3. Can I: Also used when asking for permission, especially in informal situations.
4. Excuse me: Used to get someone’s attention or to ask to pass.

Examples of Polite Requests

1. “Please give me the book.”
2. “May I go out, please?”
3. “Can I borrow your pencil?”
4. “Excuse me, may I pass?”

Using Polite Requests in Dialogue

We use polite requests when talking to people. It is important to use a soft and friendly voice.

Example Dialogue 1:

1. Pupil A: “May I use your crayon, please?”
2. Pupil B: “Yes, you may.”

Example Dialogue 2:

1. Pupil A: “Excuse me, can I sit here?”
2. Pupil B: “Yes, you can.”

Changing Impolite Commands to Polite Requests

It is better to ask politely than to command someone. We can change a command into a polite request.

Impolite Command: “Give me the ball!”

Polite Request: “Please give me the ball.” or “May I have the ball, please?”

Impolite Command: “Move!”

Polite Request: “Excuse me, may I pass?”

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Pair Work, Role-play

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher tells a short story about a child who always asks nicely and gets help, compared to another child who demands things and is often ignored. The teacher then asks, “Which child do you think people like more?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the story and answer the question.

Learning Point: Importance of polite words

Step 2: Explanation of Polite Requests

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what polite requests are and introduces key expressions like “please,” “may I,” “can I,” and “excuse me” using flashcards. The teacher models the correct pronunciation and tone for each phrase.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, repeat the polite expressions after the teacher, and observe the flashcards.

Learning Point: Polite request expressions

Step 3: Identifying Polite Expressions

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows picture cards of different situations (e.g., asking for a book, asking to leave the room, asking to pass). For each picture, the teacher asks pupils to suggest a polite request using the learned expressions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and say appropriate polite requests for each situation.

Learning Point: Using polite phrases

Step 4: Demonstrating Polite Requests in Dialogue

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Role-play

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates simple paired dialogues using polite requests and responses with a confident pupil. For example: “May I borrow your ruler, please?” “Yes, you may.” The teacher emphasizes a polite tone.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration, paying attention to the words and tone.

Learning Point: Dialogue practice

Step 5: Paired Practice

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Pair Work/Supervision

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher divides pupils into pairs and gives them simple scenarios to practice making polite requests and responses. The teacher moves around, listening and providing support.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice making polite requests and responses with their partners.

Learning Point: Collaborative request practice

Step 6: Changing Impolite Commands

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Transformation/Correction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher gives impolite commands (e.g., “Give me water!”, “Open the door!”) and asks pupils to change them into polite requests using “please,” “may I,” or “can I.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils transform impolite commands into polite requests orally.

Learning Point: Polite phrasing

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What polite word can you use when asking for something?
2. How would you ask your friend to borrow their pencil politely?
3. Change this command into a polite request: “Give me your book!”
4. Why is it important to use polite words?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding polite requests

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to copy the essential Board Summary notes on making polite requests and example dialogues into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson content

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reminds pupils to always use polite words when asking for things at home and in school. The teacher praises them for their participation.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils acknowledge the reminder and thank the teacher.

Learning Point: Daily application of politeness

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework/Practice Exercise

Instruction: Write two polite requests you would use at home and two you would use at school. Then, practice saying them with a family member.

1. At Home: _________________________
2. At Home: _________________________
3. At School: _________________________
4. At School: _________________________

Lesson Keywords

• Polite – showing good manners and respect.
• Request – asking for something nicely.
• Please – a word used to make a request polite.
• May I – used to ask for permission.
• Can I – used to ask for permission.
• Excuse me – used to get attention or ask to pass.

Differentiation

For weaker learners: Provide more direct modeling and allow them to repeat phrases multiple times. Pair them with stronger learners for practice. Use picture cues to support their understanding.

For faster learners: Encourage them to create longer dialogues or role-play more complex scenarios involving polite requests, such as asking for help with a difficult task or asking to join a game.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, pupils can watch videos on making polite requests by searching on YouTube for “Polite requests for kids Primary 1” or “Magic words please thank you for children”.

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, prepare flashcards of polite words and picture cards illustrating various request situations. Begin by engaging pupils with a simple story to highlight the value of politeness. Clearly model each polite expression, ensuring pupils understand the correct pronunciation and tone. Provide ample opportunities for paired practice and short role-plays, circulating to offer immediate feedback and correction. Guide pupils to change impolite commands into polite requests, reinforcing the concept. Ensure pupils copy the Board Summary notes during the designated note-taking time. Encourage the consistent use of polite requests in the classroom and remind them to practice at home. Pay attention to pupils’ tone and body language when making requests.