Learning Respect and Manners

Written by: Denae Mohlman
Subject Area(s): Sociology and Psychology
Grade Level: Fourth Grade
Utah State University

Objectives:

1. Students will understand the difference between respectful and disrespectful behaviors through discussion of the simulation and successful completion of the worksheet on manners and respect.

2. Students will review and understand the six pillars of character, by writing in their journals reasonable ways they can demonstrate the six pillars in their lives.

Materials Needed:

-Copies of Showing Respect and Using Manners worksheet

-Overhead transparency with six pillars listed (citizenship, caring, respect, responsibility, fairness, and trustworthiness.)

-Pencils

-Journals

Procedures:

1. Explain to the students that today instead of having a teacher lead the shared reading, the teacher will pick a student to lead the class. Tell the student that the teacher will become a student and he or she may pick on him or her to read.

2. Do a simulation. Turn the time over to the student selected, and join the students at their desks. Start doing things that would be disrespectful (e.g., get up and sharpen a pencil, talk across the room, stand up and walk around, etc.).

3. After a few minutes, ask the students if some of the behaviors were distracting and disrespectful. Explain that often these same sorts of things happen in the class when they get up during the lessons.

4. Explain that today they will be learning about ways to show respect for each other and the types of good manners they should display.

5. Explain the concept of active listening. When the teacher or another student is talking, mouths should be closed, hands should be still, and ears should be open.

6. Using the overhead, briefly review the six pillars of character. Have the students take their journals out and, for each of the six pillars, write down one way they can show them in their lives.

7. Bring the class back together. Ask for the students to volunteer their thoughts of the six pillars, and make notes on the overhead under each of them.

8. Give the worksheet to the students and have them take it home and complete it for homework.

Assessment:

1. Journal entries show the students' understanding of the six pillars and reasonable ways they use the six pillars in their own lives.

2. Answers on worksheet show serious thought and understanding of how to change behaviors to show respect and manners.

  Questions? E-mail Denae at slzzc@cc.usu.edu

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