Be sure to check out the other posts in the How To Homeschool For Free series too!
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I love this quote by Emily Post:
“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.”
—Emily Post
I didn’t grow up in a fancy house with servants, nor did I know why there were two or three forks in a place setting until I was in high school Home Economics. Each person at our supper table only had one fork. I thought others put out extra forks in case one fell on the floor! What I did know is that that people should be polite and pass the food to the left. Saying “Please” and “Thank you” was par for the course at our table. We said a blessing over our meals, and we knew that food was not free. We ate what we were given and helped clean up afterwards. If we had extra food, we invited someone over to join us, and others did the same for us. I know that my parents taught me to treat others the way I want to be treated. If only the world could be full of those kinds of people… well, what a world it would be!
Learning Manners
Emily Post and Everyday Manners
Emily Post.com covers almost everything you might need to know. Emily Post is known today for her timeless advice on entertaining, weddings and all things etiquette. She also has quite an interesting biography, which you can read on this site. While there are not any lesson plans that I could find, there are plenty of ways to find real-life lessons for learning everyday manners.
In Good Company
In Good Company is a company that has curriculum for sale, but they also have a free lesson download. They call themselves “The Civility Experts!” and have plenty to say about it on multiple websites with activities for kids. Visit here for your free download of “Be a Manners Detective.”
Manners Matter with 4H
North Carolina 4H has a free lesson plan for manners on their club website. “Manners Matter” is an etiquette curriculum for three age groups. The series includes activity guides for ages 5 to 8, 9 to 12, and 13 to 19. The series also includes a Helper’s Guide with tips and background information, along with several activities designed for group participation. This looks like a well-thought-out program that could encompass several weeks or months, depending on your preference.
Mommy Nature
This is a 4-day schedule for “Good Manner Week” at a preschool, but you can just use it as you please. The lessons include a list of books that fit the lesson, DVD suggestions, and other activities.
Creation Science Academy
Here is a take on the Biblical origins of good manners, how our perceptions of manners have changed over the past generation, and what our response should be. It’s more than a pdf download. It is a thought-provoking article with ideas for application in life.
WebQuests About Manners
WebQuest with Miss Rumphius
Your student’s quest will be to study citizenship through the eyes of author Barbara Cooney’s story, Miss Rumphius, and through projects and activities. Be ready to read, visit the web, and complete the tasks to earn a Good Citizenship Award.
WebQuest with Do Unto Otters
This is a WebQuest based on the book “Do Unto Otters:A Book about Manners”, by Laurie Keller. Students will create a brochure on different types of manners, based on the story’s characters. They will do a little research first, but it’s all in the webquest.
About Jody
