Playground Manners

GOOD MANNERS (Section #4) – Week 3 – Instructor’s Script

Start the lesson by gathering your students into a tight huddle and ask these three questions:

What does it mean to have good manners?
Why is it important to have good manners?
Can you give me an example of having good manners?

Then share the following story or lesson and ask the questions listed.

This week we are going to talk about being a good, strong on the inside leader.
At recess or on the playground are you a leader or a follower? Are you a good guy or a mean person?

It takes someone who is strong on the inside to share or let others go first. It is a good leader who gives praise for a good effort, or who only says nice things about others. It is a mean person who talks bad, puts others down, or teases others when they mess up.

Once there were two kids. The first one always pushed to be the first one in line, he grabbed toys away from other kids, and didn’t share well. To make matters worse, he was always the first to laugh when someone else messed up. The second kid is good at sharing and would always invite someone who was left out to play in the game. He was quick to say, “Good try, I’m sure you’ll do better next time” when some one messed up.

Which one of these kids was the strongest on the inside? Why?
Which one of these kids would you like to be your friend?
Which one of these kids had more friends? Why?
At the end of the day, which one had more fun? Why?

Having good manners when playing with other children might be hard at first, but in the long run it brings you more friends and fun.

When these kids grow up and become adults, how do you want them to remember you, as someone who was selfish and mean, or as a strong on the inside leader?

Let’s role-play asking some one to join us (break your class into groups of 3 or 4), then pretend that one person is left out. Now, take turns inviting that person into your group.

Let’s role-play telling someone “good try” when they mess up (break your class into groups of 3 or 4), then pretend that one person just struck out in baseball. Now, take turns telling that person “good try” or “You’ll get it next time.”

This week, let’s practice being a good, strong-on-the-inside leader.