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One of my students once described courtesy as "the things you do that make respect real:
"Right on," I said."It's one way we show that we care for and respect others." Because lots of students don't see or hear many examples of courtesy in their day-to-day lives - and because being courteous is a habit built by repetition - teaching courtesy begins with our own behavior. When we set a standard and model courteous behavior, students learn that good manners are not ends in themselves, but are aspects of caring and respect. Beyond that, the following fun-filled activities for students put the courtesy we model for them in context.
THE COURTESY KIDS MEET THE RUDE DUDEStart by discussing what courtesy is and what it is not. One way to do this is to draw a group of five stick figures on the board - these are the Courtesy Kids. Next draw a stick figure standing by itself - the Rude Dude. (Leave space under each in which to write attributes.) Tell the class that the Courtesy Kids are polite, caring, and respectful. Ask: What do you think the Courtesy Kids sound like? What kinds of things do they say? Record children's responses on the board underneath the illustration. Then ask: How do you think the Courtesy Kids act? If someone cut in line, what would a Courtesy Kid say and do? If a Courtesy Kid wanted to use the markers and someone else had them, what would he or she do? Record these responses. Repeat the process with the Rude Dude. Once you have introduced courtesy in this way, you can refer to it throughout the year by saying something like, "I like the way I'm hearing a lot of Courtesy Kid words" or "Did we hear a Rude Dude in our classroom?"
CREATING COMIC KIDS
Children enjoy making comic strips featuring the Courtesy Kids and the Rude Dude. Have them think of situations like the ones suggested, and then draw the response they think the Courtesy Kids would make and contrast it with the response the Rude Dude would make. Don't be concerned if, during these discussions, children are more amused and engaged by the negative behavior of the Rude Dude. This often happens, but kids are still learning about courtesy.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, DEAR?
Another way to open the discussion of courtesy is to use Sesyle Joslin's delightful book What Do You Say, Dear? (HarperCollins, 1986), which presents children with outrageous situations and challenges them to think of courteous responses. For primary-grade children, read the book aloud. You'll find that a discussion will follow naturally because the story invites children to respond. Older children will probably find the book a little juvenile, so explain that you are using it as a jumping-off point. Have kids create politeness posters of situations similar to the ones described in the book.
CHAIN REACTIONS
For this activity you'll need strips of light-colored construction paper measuring approximately 2 by 8 1/2 inches. Explain to the class that they will be on a courtesy campaign, looking for courteous behavior on the part of classmates on the playground, in the cafeteria, or wherever they go. Launch the campaign by citing several examples of courteous behavior you've witnessed. Write each on a strip of construction paper and begin assembling a paper chain that you affix to the wall.
Ask children to create a new link, including the act and the courteous child's name, whenever they see an example of courteous behavior. (Younger children can dictate their observations to you.) Then have them loop the paper strip through the ring at the end of the chain and tape, paste, or staple it closed. Then set goals: Can enough links be added to the chain to stretch it from one end of the room to the other? Can it grow long enough to go around the corner? Can it go all the way around the room? Has a new link been added each day?
You might also have children report examples of caring, helpful, and respectful behavior on the part of classmates in a class discussion or in their journals, to reinforce the idea that courtesy is an aspect of caring and respect.
Editor's Note: For tips on how teacher Dolores Choat uses this activity in her classroom, see Instructor's October 1995 Grade 2-3 Grade-Perfect Theme Club.
POLITENESS PLAYERS
Role-playing is an effective way to teach courtesy because it enables children to practice appropriate behavior. Here are some situations for kids to act out.
* Someone offers you food you don't want.
* You accidentally bump into someone who is drawing.
* You've been waiting for a turn on the class computer.
* Someone calls you a name you don't like.
* Someone accidentally knocks you down on the playground.
Have kids act out appropriate responses that incorporate what they have learned about courtesy and respect. (Young children may want to use puppets.) These activities can be enlivened by encouraging children to draw on the types of situations presented in the book What Do You Say, Dear?
WILLIAM J. KREIDLER, a classroom teacher for 20 years, currently works for Educators for Social Responsibility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, developing materials and leading teacher workshops in conflict resolution. |
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