Meaning of Simple Courtesy and How to Greet Politely for Pre-School Level 2

Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Social Habits
Curriculum Theme: Social Habits
Previous Lesson: Understanding basic classroom rules and routines.
Topic: SIMPLE COURTESY: GREETING POLITELY
Subject Matter: Meaning of simple courtesy and how to greet politely.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define simple courtesy in their own words.
• Identify different ways to greet politely.

Affective Domain

• Show willingness to greet adults and peers politely.
• Appreciate the importance of being courteous.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate polite greetings (e.g., kneeling, bowing, shaking hands) when prompted.

Social Domain

• Interact with others using polite greetings.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources
• Relevant Social Habits workbook for preschoolers

Instructional Materials

• Charts showing children greeting politely
• Posters with pictures of different greeting styles
• Video clips demonstrating polite greetings
• Audio recordings of polite greetings (e.g., “Good morning,” “Good afternoon”)
• Puppets or dolls for role-play

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for 3-year-olds as it introduces them to fundamental social skills necessary for positive interactions. Learning simple courtesy and polite greetings helps children develop respect for others, build good relationships, and integrate smoothly into their home, school, and community environments.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can already say “hello” and “bye-bye” and are familiar with basic interactions with family members and teachers.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Simple Courtesy: Greeting Politely

What is Simple Courtesy?

Simple courtesy means being kind, polite, and respectful to others. It means showing good manners. When we are courteous, we make others feel happy and respected.

What is Greeting Politely?

Greeting politely means saying “hello” or “good morning” in a kind and respectful way when we see someone. It shows that we acknowledge them and have good manners.

How to Greet Politely:

• Saying kind words:
  • “Good morning, ma/sir” (in the morning)
  • “Good afternoon, ma/sir” (in the afternoon)
  • “Good evening, ma/sir” (in the evening)
  • “Hello” or “Hi” (to friends)
• Using our bodies respectfully:
  • Boys: A slight bow of the head or a gentle handshake (if appropriate).
  • Girls: A slight bow of the head or a gentle kneel (if appropriate in Nigerian culture).
  • Looking at the person’s face when greeting.

Key Words

• Courtesy – being kind and polite.
• Greet – to say “hello” or “good morning” when you see someone.
• Politely – in a respectful and kind way.

Greeting Song

Tune: “Are You Sleeping, Brother John?”

Lyrics:

Good morning, good morning,
How are you today?
Good morning, good morning,
Let’s all smile and say.
Hello, hello, hello, hello,
It’s a happy day!

Actions:

• “Good morning”: Wave hand.
• “How are you today?”: Point to a friend.
• “Smile and say”: Smile broadly.
• “Hello, hello”: Wave again.
• “Happy day”: Clap hands.

Watch and Practise

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly, “Good morning, children!” and asks them how they greet their parents or friends at home. The teacher then introduces the topic of simple courtesy and greeting politely.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s greeting and share how they greet people they know.

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

Step 2: Explanation of Simple Courtesy

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Using visuals

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what “simple courtesy” means using simple language and shows charts or pictures of children being kind and polite (e.g., sharing, saying “please”). The teacher asks pupils to repeat “courtesy means being kind and polite.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation, look at the pictures, and repeat the definition of courtesy.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the basic meaning of simple courtesy.

Step 3: Demonstrating Polite Greetings (Verbal)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Modelling/Oral practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates different polite verbal greetings for different times of the day (Good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening) and “Hello.” The teacher uses an audio recording if available and encourages pupils to repeat after her.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the greetings and repeat them after the teacher, practising pronunciation.

Learning Point: Pupils learn and practise polite verbal greetings.

Step 4: Demonstrating Polite Greetings (Physical)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Physical demonstration/Guided imitation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates the appropriate physical greetings for boys (slight bow) and girls (slight curtsy/kneel) in a Nigerian context, using puppets or by modelling. The teacher guides pupils to imitate the actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the demonstrations and try to imitate the physical greetings for boys and girls.

Learning Point: Pupils learn and practise physical greetings with respect.

Step 5: Role-play and Song Reinforcement

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Facilitating role-play/Singing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher invites pairs of pupils to role-play greeting each other or the teacher. The teacher then leads the class in singing the “Greeting Song” with actions to reinforce the lesson.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils take turns role-playing greetings and actively participate in singing the song with actions.

Learning Point: Pupils apply greeting skills in a simulated environment and reinforce learning through song.

Step 6: Video Observation and Discussion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Media integration/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the short video clip on polite greetings. After the video, the teacher asks pupils what they observed about how the children greeted each other and adults.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video attentively and share their observations about the greetings shown.

Learning Point: Pupils observe different examples of polite greetings and discuss them.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

1. What does “courtesy” mean?
2. How do you greet your teacher in the morning?
3. (Teacher calls a pupil) Show me how you would greet an elder politely.
4. (Teacher calls another pupil) Show me how you would greet your friend.

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

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Encouraging

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them to always be courteous and greet politely at home and at school. The teacher ends the lesson with a final polite greeting to the class.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher’s summary and say goodbye politely.

Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to practise courtesy and polite greetings daily.

Lesson Keywords

• Courtesy – being kind and polite to others.
• Greet – to say “hello” or “good morning” when you meet someone.
• Politely – doing something in a kind and respectful way.
• Respect – showing care and good manners to others, especially elders.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who find it difficult to remember the words or actions, provide more one-on-one modelling and repetition. Use larger picture cards for visual cues. Pair them with a more confident peer during role-play.
• Extension: Encourage more confident pupils to demonstrate greetings in different scenarios (e.g., greeting a visitor, greeting a younger child). Ask them to name other polite words they know (e.g., “please,” “thank you”).