Simple Courtesy, Using ‘Excuse Me Please’ for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Second Term
Week: 8
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Personal Development
Curriculum Theme: Personal Development
Previous Lesson: Good manners: Saying ‘Thank You’ and ‘You are Welcome’
Topic: Simple Courtesy: Using ‘Excuse Me Please’
Subject Matter: Simple Courtesy – The use of “Excuse me please.”

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify situations where ‘Excuse me please’ should be used.
• State the phrase ‘Excuse me please’ clearly.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of using polite words.
• Show willingness to use ‘Excuse me please’ in appropriate situations.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate the use of ‘Excuse me please’ through role-play.
• Practise saying ‘Excuse me please’ with correct intonation.

Social Domain

• Interact politely with peers and adults using ‘Excuse me please’.
• Participate in group activities demonstrating good manners.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources
• Relevant picture books on good manners

Instructional Materials

• Charts illustrating situations for ‘Excuse me please’ (e.g., bumping, interrupting, needing to pass)
• Video clips on simple courtesy
• Picture cards showing polite and impolite actions
• Role-play props (e.g., toy phone, small table, chairs)

Rationale for the Lesson

Learning to use ‘Excuse me please’ is an essential social skill for 5-year-olds. It helps them navigate social interactions politely, show respect to others, and express their needs without being rude or disruptive. This lesson fosters good communication and respect within the classroom and beyond.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have previously learned about other simple courtesy words like ‘Hello’, ‘Good morning’, ‘Please’, and ‘Thank you’. They also understand that good manners make people happy.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Simple Courtesy: Using ‘Excuse Me Please’

Simple courtesy means being polite and respectful to others. It involves using kind words and actions. One important polite phrase is “Excuse me please.”

We use “Excuse me please” when:

• We accidentally bump into someone.
• We need to pass someone who is standing in our way.
• We need to get an adult’s attention when they are busy talking to someone else.
• We need to interrupt someone politely.

Using “Excuse me please” shows that you are thoughtful and respectful of others.

Key Words

• Courtesy – being polite and respectful.
• Excuse me please – a polite phrase to use when interrupting, passing, or bumping.
• Polite – showing good manners.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

The teacher should display charts showing children in different scenarios where ‘Excuse me please’ is appropriate:

• A child trying to walk past another child.
• A child accidentally touching another child.
• A child wanting to ask a question while adults are talking.

The teacher should also model the correct way to say “Excuse me please” with a gentle voice and a small gesture (e.g., a slight nod or a gentle tap on the arm if interrupting).

Courtesy Rhyme: Excuse Me Please

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Excuse me please, a polite word,
When you need to be heard.
If you bump or need to pass,
Say it nicely, in the class.
Excuse me please, a special phrase,
Good manners brighten all our days.

Actions:

• “Excuse me please, a polite word” – Put hands together as if praying, then open them.
• “When you need to be heard” – Cup hand to ear.
• “If you bump or need to pass” – Gently tap own shoulder, then make a passing motion with hands.
• “Say it nicely, in the class” – Smile and nod.
• “Excuse me please, a special phrase” – Point to mouth, then make a heart shape with hands.
• “Good manners brighten all our days” – Clap hands gently.

How to use the rhyme: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the rhyme several times, encouraging them to perform the actions. This helps reinforce the situations and the phrase in a fun, memorable way.

Watch and Practise

The teacher will show a short video clip demonstrating children using ‘Excuse me please’ in various situations.

After watching, pupils will practise saying the phrase as demonstrated in the video.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Storytelling, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Role-play, Imitation, Practical Activity.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to recall other polite words they know (e.g., ‘Please’, ‘Thank you’). The teacher then introduces the new polite phrase, “Excuse me please.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction of the new phrase.

Learning Point: Pupils recall previous knowledge of polite words and are introduced to ‘Excuse me please’.

Step 2: Presentation of ‘Excuse Me Please’

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Demonstrating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what “Excuse me please” means and when we use it, using the charts and simple explanations. The teacher clearly demonstrates how to say the phrase with a polite tone.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the charts, listen to the explanation, and watch the teacher’s demonstration.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning and appropriate use of ‘Excuse me please’.

Step 3: Guided Oral Practice

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Repetition/Correction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in repeating “Excuse me please” several times, ensuring they use a polite tone. The teacher corrects pronunciation and intonation as needed.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils repeat the phrase after the teacher, focusing on politeness and clarity.

Learning Point: Pupils practise saying ‘Excuse me please’ correctly.

Step 4: Rhyme Reinforcement

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Singing/Action

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Excuse Me Please” rhyme with actions. The teacher encourages energetic participation and reinforces the situations mentioned in the rhyme.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme and perform the actions, internalizing the message of using ‘Excuse me please’.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding through song and movement.

Step 5: Video and Discussion

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the short video clip on using ‘Excuse me please’. After the video, the teacher asks pupils what they observed and which situations required the phrase.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video, then share their observations and identify situations from the video.

Learning Point: Pupils see real-life examples of using ‘Excuse me please’ and discuss them.

Step 6: Role-Play Activity

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application/Role-playing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher sets up simple scenarios (e.g., two pupils talking, one pupil needing to pass, one pupil accidentally bumping another). The teacher guides pairs or small groups of pupils to role-play these situations, ensuring they use “Excuse me please” appropriately.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils take turns role-playing the scenarios, practising the use of “Excuse me please” with their peers.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their learning in practical, simulated social interactions.

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. When do we say ‘Excuse me please’? (Show a picture of someone needing to pass)
2. Say ‘Excuse me please’ politely.
3. Demonstrate what you would do if you accidentally bumped into your friend.
4. Show how you would get the teacher’s attention if she was talking to another adult.

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/Encouraging

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reminds pupils that using “Excuse me please” is a very good habit that shows respect and makes everyone happy. The teacher encourages them to use it at school and at home.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and acknowledge the importance of using the phrase.

Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to practise the learned courtesy word in their daily lives.

Lesson Keywords

• Courtesy – being polite and respectful to others.
• Polite – showing good manners and respect.
• Excuse me please – a phrase used to politely interrupt, pass, or apologize for a small bump.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who struggle, the teacher will use larger picture cards, provide more direct modelling, and encourage repetition in smaller groups. Hand-over-hand guidance can be used during role-play to prompt the correct action or phrase.
• Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, the teacher can ask them to think of additional scenarios where ‘Excuse me please’ might be used, or encourage them to lead a small role-play scenario with their peers.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, prepare the charts, picture cards, and ensure the video clip is ready to play. Set up a small area in the classroom for role-playing. The key to this lesson is consistent modelling and providing ample opportunities for pupils to practise. Emphasize the gentle tone and appropriate body language (e.g., a slight pause, a gentle tap, a small nod) that accompanies “Excuse me please.” Observe pupils during free play to see if they are applying the phrase naturally. Encourage them to use it not just with adults but also with their peers. Praise efforts, even small ones, to build confidence in using polite language. Understanding will be shown by pupils correctly identifying situations and demonstrating the phrase in role-play.