Taking Turns and Making Polite Requests in Dialogue for Primary 1

Class: Primary 1
Term: Third Term
Week: 2
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 a short dialogue aloud with suitable expression
Topic: Making Polite Requests
Subject Matter: Taking turns in a polite dialogue

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify polite request expressions.
• Formulate simple polite requests using appropriate words.

Affective Domain

• Show respect when making requests and responding to others.
• Appreciate the importance of politeness in communication.

Psychomotor Domain

• Participate in short role-plays using polite requests.
• Demonstrate taking turns in a dialogue.

Social Domain

• Interact politely with peers and the teacher.

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 publisherneutral text
• Letter, word and picture cards (e.g., a picture of a book, a pencil, a cup)
• Exercise books and pencils
• Please and thank you game board
• Whiteboard/Chalkboard
• Markers/Chalk

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for Primary 1 pupils as it teaches them essential social skills for effective communication. Learning to make polite requests and take turns helps pupils interact respectfully with others, fostering a positive classroom and social environment. These skills are fundamental for building good relationships and expressing needs appropriately.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should be able to greet people and say “thank you” and “sorry” in simple situations.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Making Polite Requests

What is a Polite Request?

A polite request is a kind way of asking for something or asking someone to do something. It shows respect and good manners.

Polite Request Expressions

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

1. Please: Used when asking for something. Example: “Please give me the book.”
2. May I: Used when asking for permission. Example: “May I go out?”
3. Can I: Also used when asking for permission or something. Example: “Can I borrow your pencil?”
4. Excuse me: Used to get someone’s attention politely or to pass by. Example: “Excuse me, teacher.”

Suitable Tone and Respectful Response

When making a polite request, we should use a soft, friendly voice. When someone makes a polite request to us, we should respond kindly. For example, if someone says “Please give me the book,” you can say “Here you are” or “Sure.”

Changing Impolite Commands to Polite Requests

An impolite command tells someone what to do directly, which can sound rude. We can change commands into polite requests by adding polite words.

Examples:

1. Impolite Command: “Give me the pen!”
2. Polite Request: “Please give me the pen.” or “May I have the pen, please?”
3. Impolite Command: “Go out!”
4. Polite Request: “May I go out, please?”

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating Prior Knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them how they ask for things politely at home or in school. The teacher reminds them of the importance of good manners.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning words like “please” and “thank you.”

Learning Point: Importance of politeness

Step 2: Explanation of Polite Requests

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what a polite request is, using simple language. The teacher models how to make a polite request using a picture card (e.g., holding up a picture of a book and saying, “May I have the book, please?”).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and observe the teacher’s demonstration.

Learning Point: Polite request meaning

Step 3: Identifying Polite Request Expressions

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces and writes polite request expressions (please, may I, can I, excuse me) on the board. The teacher uses word cards for each expression and asks pupils to repeat after her. The teacher gives simple scenarios for pupils to identify which expression to use.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils repeat the expressions and identify appropriate ones for given scenarios.

Learning Point: Polite expressions identified

Step 4: Practising Polite Requests in Dialogue

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Role-Play/Pair Work

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher models a short dialogue with a pupil, demonstrating taking turns and making a polite request (e.g., “May I borrow your pencil, please?” “Yes, you may.”). The teacher then asks pupils to work in pairs to practise similar dialogues using different picture cards.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practise making polite requests and taking turns in pairs.

Learning Point: Request formation practice

Step 5: Responding Respectfully to Requests

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to respond politely to a request (e.g., “Here you are,” “Sure,” “Yes, you can”). The teacher asks pupils to practise responding politely in their pairs.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practise giving respectful responses to requests.

Learning Point: Responding politely

Step 6: Changing Impolite Commands to Polite Requests

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Transformation/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher gives impolite commands (e.g., “Give me water!”). The teacher then guides pupils to change these commands into polite requests using the words they have learned (e.g., “Please give me water.”).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate in transforming commands into polite requests.

Learning Point: Commands to requests

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 can use when asking for something.
2. How would you politely ask your friend for their book?
3. What should you say if someone asks you, “May I use your crayon, please?”
4. Change this command into a polite request: “Open the door!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Polite request skills

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 using polite expressions into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Board summary copying

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the lesson by reiterating the importance of using polite words and taking turns when speaking. The teacher encourages pupils to practice these skills daily.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and acknowledge the importance of politeness.

Learning Point: Politeness importance

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Write down two polite requests you can make to your parents at home and two polite requests you can make to your teacher in school.

1. To your parent: _________________________________________
2. To your parent: _________________________________________
3. To your teacher: _________________________________________
4. To your teacher: _________________________________________

Lesson Keywords

• Polite – showing good manners and respect for others.
• Request – an act of asking for something.
• Please – a word used to make a request more polite.
• May I – used to ask for permission.
• Can I – used to ask for permission or to ask for something.
• Excuse me – used to get someone’s attention or to apologise for a minor interruption.
• Turn-taking – waiting for your chance to speak in a conversation.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, the teacher will provide more one-on-one modelling and allow them to use only “please” and “thank you” initially. Stronger learners will be encouraged to create more complex dialogues and use a wider range of polite expressions, including “would you mind” or “could you please.”

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search on YouTube: “Polite requests for kids Primary 1” or “Manners and polite words for children”

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have all instructional materials ready, especially the picture and word cards, to make the lesson interactive. Begin by engaging pupils with a brief discussion on good manners. Model each polite expression clearly and provide ample opportunities for pupils to practice in pairs through role-play, focusing on both making requests and responding politely. Pay attention to their tone of voice. Guide pupils carefully when transforming impolite commands into polite requests. During the note-taking stage (Step 8), supervise pupils to ensure they copy the Board Summary accurately. Encourage continuous use of polite language in the classroom to reinforce learning.