Caregivers Guide - Episode Descriptions

#125 Mind Your Manners

At breakfast one morning Bo is making a lot of noise and Wimzie is eating with her fingers, wiping her hands on her clothes and belching. Graziella, Rousso and Yaya explain that adults don't like bad manners and that good manners make people feel more comfortable. Wimzie says that all her friends have bad manners and that burping is funny. The children have all been invited to a birthday party and Graziella gives them a crash course in good manners. Wimzie doesn't take the lesson seriously, and at the party the other children make fun of her and call her a "piggy". Wimzie is ashamed, and when Graziella invites her to a special pilot's breakfast at the airport, Wimzie doesn't want to go because she's afraid she'll embarrass her mother. Yaya has an idea and has a "practice good manners" breakfast with the children. Wimzie and Graziella have a great time at the breakfast and Wimzie learns to mind her manners.

Theme: Social Skills

Children will learn to be confident in their capacity to learn and improve.
Children will learn that good manners help to make others feel comfortable.
Children will learn that there are consequences to their actions.

Vocabulary:

manners
discreet
introduce

Suggested Activities:

Before you view: Wimzie becomes very sad at a birthday party today. Watch to see why.

While you view: See suggestions in "How to use this guide".

After you view: Go back to your pre-viewing activity and have the children respond to the question. (Answer: Because the children at the party called Wimzie an "oink oink.") Talk about what you've seen and take some time to discuss it.

Extended Learning Activities

Option 1: Graziella and Yaya's Manners Quiz (Discussion Activity)
Materials required: None

Remind the children that in today's show Graziella and Yaya gave lessons about the good manners they would like to see at Wimzie's House. Test the children's memory of Graziella's manners lesson.

When you meet someone it is polite to say (Answer: "Hello, how do you do?" or "My name is _____________", or "It's nice to meet you").
When you eat you should always chew with you mouth _____________ (Answer: Closed).
When you wipe you hands you should use a _____________ (Answer: Napkin).
You should never wipe your hands on your _____________ (Answer: Clothes).
It is not polite to _____________(burp) in public, but if you do make sure to say _____________ (Answer: "Excuse me.").

Ask the children if they can remember any other good manners.

Option 2: "Our Mind Your Manners" Poster (Craft Activity)
Materials required: Poster paper, markers/crayons/paints

The Wimzie's House "Mind Your Manners" show teaches a lot of good manners, but it's important to stress that each family may have its own set of manners. Tell the children that they are going to create a "Mind Your Manners" poster to hang in the classroom or home play area. Have the children name the good manners that are important in their home or classroom. Record these on the poster paper. When you are finished, have the children color or design around the text. Read the poster with the children. Reinforce good manners by reviewing the poster as questions of manners arise.

Option 3: Our Practice Good Manners Meal (Role Play Activity)
Materials required: A special manners meal (The children may use their usual lunch time meal)

Tell the children they are going to have their own "Practice Good Manners Meal" to practice the good manners that their group feels are important. Some examples of good manners might come from the poster (Option 2, above) or might include: Use your napkin, say "please" and "thank you," chew with your mouth closed or say "excuse me" if you burp. Review a few appropriate manners before beginning the meal. During the "Practice Good Manners Meal," praise the children for remembering and using good manners.

Theme Related Books:

Manners, Aliki, Greenwillow (cloth) Mulberry (paper), 1984.
What Do You Say Dear?/What Do You Say Dear?, Sesyle Joslin, Harper & Row/Harper Collins (cloth) Harper Trophy (paper), 1958.
Brats, X. J. Kennedy, McElderry, 1986.
The Bad Good Manners Book, Babette Cole, Dial, 1995.

Notes

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