Teaching Kids Good Manners: Fun Etiquette Lesson Plan & Activities

Easily teach children etiquette and the importance of good manners with this engaging lesson plan. Includes discussion prompts, brainstorming, fun role-playing scenarios, and creative activities to make learning politeness memorable for kids.

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Materials Needed:

  • Paper
  • Crayons or Markers
  • Index cards
  • Scenario Cards (examples below, you can make your own!)

Lesson Activities:

1. What is Etiquette? (10 mins)

Let's start by talking about a fancy word: Etiquette! Have you ever heard it before? Etiquette is like a secret code for being polite and respectful to others. It's about knowing the right way to act in different situations so everyone feels comfortable and happy. Why do you think being polite is important?

(Discuss ideas like: making friends, showing respect, making others feel good, avoiding hurt feelings).

2. Manners Brainstorm! (15 mins)

Let's brainstorm! Take a piece of paper and fold it in half. On one side, write or draw examples of 'Good Manners' (things that are polite). On the other side, write or draw examples of 'Not-So-Good Manners' (things that might be considered impolite).

Think about:

  • Eating at the table
  • Talking to friends or grown-ups
  • Playing games
  • Being online or using a phone/tablet

(Examples: Good - Saying please/thank you, chewing with your mouth closed, waiting your turn, listening when someone talks. Not-So-Good - Interrupting, talking with food in your mouth, shouting, ignoring someone, grabbing toys).

Talk about the lists together. Why are the 'good manners' good and the others not?

3. Manners Mission: Role-Playing! (20 mins)

Time for a fun mission! We'll use scenario cards (you can write these on index cards). Read each scenario and act out how someone with good manners would handle it. Then, maybe act out the impolite way for comparison!

Scenario Card Examples:

  • You are eating dinner and need someone to pass the salt from the other end of the table. What do you do/say?
  • Someone gives you a gift you don't really like. What do you say?
  • You accidentally bump into someone. What do you do/say?
  • You want to join a game your friends are playing. How do you ask?
  • You are talking to your grandparent on the phone. How should you speak?
  • You disagree with something a friend says. How can you say it politely?

(Take turns acting out the polite responses. Discuss why these responses are better).

4. Create a Manners Reminder Poster (15 mins)

Let's make a colorful poster to remind us about good etiquette! Choose one or two important manners we learned today (like 'Say Please and Thank You' or 'Listen When Others Speak'). Draw pictures and write the words clearly on a piece of paper. You can hang this up where you'll see it!

5. Wrap-up (5 mins)

Great job on your Etiquette Adventure today! Remember, using good manners is like giving a small gift of kindness and respect to the people around you. It helps make our interactions smoother and happier. What's one manner you'll focus on practicing this week?