Polite Request Forms for Oral Communication for Primary 1

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

Skills:

• Communicating politely

Previous Lesson: Reading short familiar sentences accurately
Topic: Making Polite Requests: Dialogue
Subject Matter: Polite request forms needed for oral work

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify common polite request expressions.
• Differentiate between polite requests and impolite commands.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of using polite language in daily interactions.
• Show respect when making and responding to requests.

Psychomotor Domain

• Use polite request forms (e.g., please, may I, can I, excuse me) in simple sentences.
• Participate in short dialogues using polite requests and responses.

Social Domain

• Collaborate with peers in role-playing polite request scenarios.
• Communicate effectively and respectfully with others.

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 Primary English for Primary 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Approved publisher-neutral text
• Letter, word and picture cards (e.g., cards with “Please”, “May I”, “Can I”, “Excuse me”)
• Exercise books and pencils
• Please and thank you game board (if available, for interactive practice)
• Chart showing examples of polite requests and responses

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it teaches pupils essential social skills for respectful communication. Learning polite request forms helps children interact positively with others, fostering good manners and a harmonious classroom and home environment. It lays a foundation for effective and considerate oral communication.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have basic knowledge of simple greetings and the importance of good manners in general.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Making Polite Requests: Dialogue

What are Polite Requests?

Polite requests are gentle ways of asking for something or asking someone to do something. They show respect and good manners.

Polite Request Expressions

Some common polite request expressions are:

1. Please: Used to make a request softer and more polite.

• Example: “Please give me the book.”

May I: Used to ask for permission.

• Example: “May I go out?”

Can I: Also used to ask for permission or if something is possible.

• Example: “Can I borrow your pencil?”

Excuse me: Used to get someone’s attention politely or to ask someone to move.

• Example: “Excuse me, may I pass?”

Suitable Tone and Respectful Response

When making a polite request, it is important to use a soft and kind voice. When someone makes a polite request, we should respond respectfully.

1. Request: “Please, can I have some water?”

• Response: “Yes, you can.” or “Here you go.”

Request: “May I sit here?”

• Response: “Yes, you may.” or “Of course.”

Changing Impolite Commands to Polite Requests

It is important to turn impolite commands into polite requests.

1. Impolite Command: “Give me the ball!”

• Polite Request: “Please, can you give me the ball?”

Impolite Command: “Move!”

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

Simple Dialogue Example

Pupil A: “Excuse me, may I borrow your crayon?”

Pupil B: “Yes, you may. Which colour do you want?”

Pupil A: “Please, can I have the red one?”

Pupil B: “Here you go.”

Pupil A: “Thank you.”

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and tells a short story about two children, one who always asks politely and another who always demands. The teacher asks pupils which child they like more and why.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the story and answer the teacher’s questions, identifying the importance of good manners.

Learning Point: Importance of politeness

Step 2: Introducing ‘Please’

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the word “Please” using a word card. The teacher demonstrates how to use “Please” in simple requests like “Please give me a pen” or “Please sit down.” Pupils repeat the phrases.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the word card, repeat the polite requests after the teacher, and practice using “Please” in simple sentences.

Learning Point: Using ‘please’ politely

Step 3: Introducing ‘May I’ and ‘Can I’

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces “May I” and “Can I” using word cards. The teacher explains that these are used to ask for permission. The teacher gives examples like “May I go out?” or “Can I borrow your book?” and guides pupils to practice.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the word cards, repeat the phrases, and practice asking for permission using “May I” and “Can I” with their classmates.

Learning Point: Using ‘may I’, ‘can I’

Step 4: Introducing ‘Excuse Me’

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces “Excuse me” with a word card. The teacher explains its use for getting attention or asking to pass. The teacher demonstrates scenarios like “Excuse me, teacher” or “Excuse me, may I pass?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the teacher’s demonstration and practice saying “Excuse me” in different contexts.

Learning Point: Using ‘excuse me’

Step 5: Practicing Tone and Responses

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Role-play/Feedback

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to practice making requests with a polite tone. The teacher also teaches respectful responses to requests. Pupils work in pairs to role-play simple request and response scenarios.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice using a polite tone and responding respectfully in pair work, taking turns making and answering requests.

Learning Point: Respectful requests, responses

Step 6: Changing Impolite Commands

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Comparison/Correction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes some impolite commands on the board (e.g., “Give me water!”, “Sit down!”). The teacher then guides pupils to change them into polite requests using the expressions learned.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the impolite commands and suggest polite ways to rephrase them, practicing the new forms.

Learning Point: Polite vs. impolite forms

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. Mention two polite words you learned today.
2. How do you ask for a pencil politely from your friend?
3. What do you say if you want to pass someone?
4. Change this command to a polite request: “Give me the book!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Polite request forms

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 polite request expressions and examples into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Copying polite request notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reminds pupils to always use polite words when speaking to others, both at school and at home, and commends them for their participation.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils acknowledge the importance of using polite words.

Learning Point: Value of polite communication

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Practice making polite requests at home and write down two examples in your notebook.

1. Ask your parent for food politely.
2. Ask your sibling for a toy politely.

Lesson Keywords

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

Differentiation

For weaker learners: Provide more one-on-one practice with picture cards and simple, repetitive phrases. Focus on mastering “Please” and “Thank you” first. Use visual cues for tone of voice.

For faster learners: Encourage them to create longer dialogues with more complex scenarios. Challenge them to identify impolite requests from a short story and rephrase them politely.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, search on YouTube for: “Polite requests for kids Primary 1” or “Manners and polite words for children”.

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, prepare word cards for “Please,” “May I,” “Can I,” and “Excuse me.” Also, think of simple scenarios for role-playing, such as asking for a pencil, asking to go to the toilet, or asking to pass. Begin by engaging pupils with a story or discussion about good manners to set the context for polite communication. Demonstrate each polite expression clearly, providing simple, relatable examples. Encourage pupils to repeat phrases and then practice in pairs or small groups. Pay attention to their tone of voice, guiding them to use a soft and respectful manner. During the evaluation, check if pupils can both identify and use the polite forms. Ensure pupils copy the Board Summary notes neatly into their books for future reference. Reinforce the lesson by encouraging pupils to use these polite requests in their daily interactions within the classroom and at home.