Manners in Public

INTRODUCTION

4-H4-H Life Life Skills: Skills: Manners are how we treat each other and expect to me ResponsibleResponsible Citizenship, Citizenship, treated. Manners make our family, school, community, ConcernConcern for for Others, Others, Social Social and world a pleasant place to live. Sometimes our SkillsSkills manners may be more relaxed at home because we are around people that are more familiar with us and to us.

AcademicAcademic Standards: Standards: However, when we are “out and about” in public, we need to have more formal manners to show respect 3-5; 6-8 GradeGrade Level(s): Level(s): 3-5; 6-8 and consideration for others.

Time:Time: 30-45 30-45 minutes minutes WHAT TO DO Let’s play a game to see how much you know about SuppliesSupplies Needed: Needed: manners in public. Divide the group up into 2-4 teams ChairsChairs (one (one per per team) team) (depending on the size of your group- it is ideal to have 6- PencilPencil and and paper paper for for keeping keeping 10 members per team). scorescore ListList of of questions questions Have the teams line up. Place an empty chair in front of each line. The first person on the team sits in the chair. You will ask one of the questions from the list, and the first person to stand up from the chair gets to answer. If they answer correctly, their team gets a point. Once the question is correctly answered, the people that were sitting the in the chairs must go to the back of the line and the next person in line must sit in the chair and try to answer a question. Team-mates can help with the answer as long at the person remains seated but once they stand up, the team cannot yell out answers or help them. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!

Manners in Public Questions (answers are printed in italics): TRUE/FALSE Questions 1. It is OK to ride your bike, scooter, or skateboard on the sidewalk as long as there are no pedestrians around. FALSE- only ride in designated areas. 2. When walking on the sidewalk or in a hallway, walk on the right side. TRUE 3. It is fine to talk on the phone while waiting in line, checking out at a store, eating in a restaurant, or in the bathroom. FALSE- keep all phone calls short while in public places. Do not answer the phone at all while in the bathroom. 4. When waiting in line, it’s first come, first serve. TRUE- Respect others by not breaking in line.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution 5. If the trash isn’t yours, then you don’t have to pick it up. FALSE- it is good manners to pick up litter even if you are not the one who dropped it. 6. It is OK to leave your trash in the parking lot if there is no trash can around. FALSE- littering is never cool. If there is not trash can around, you need to carry the trash to your car, put it in your purse or backpack, or find a nearby trashcan. 7. You should respect other people’s personal space by standing at least 12 inches away from them while waiting in line or talking to them. FALSE- Respect other’s personal space- try to stay at least 18 inches away from another stranger. 8. If you bump into someone, just say “Excuse me” or “I’m sorry.” TRUE 9. Don’t block aisles, hallways, or walkways. TRUE 10.It’s rude to stare, but brief eye contact and a smile is always appropriate. TRUE 11.If you are the first to go through the door, hold it open for the person behind you. TRUE 12. If someone’s cell phone keeps ringing during a movie at the movie theater you should ask them to turn it off. FALSE- ask the manager to ask them to turn it off or set it to vibrate.

TALK IT OVER Sharing-  How did you feel about this game? Processing-  Why is it important to have good manners in public as well as at home? Generalizing-  What did you learn about manners through this game? Applying-  How will what you learned today benefit you in the future?

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution