Manners Matter: Helper's Guide

Group Activities: Nice Advice

The Right Foot

Because advice columns are so popular, it's clear that people want to do the right thing. But often they don't know how. Every day, bewildered letter-writers leave it up to "Dear Abby," "Ann Landers," "Miss Manners," and other social experts to tell them what to do. By now, you have acquired a good bit of knowledge about manners. But are you an etiquette expert?

Civil Action

Have each participant think of a social dilemma or question, then write it on an index card in the form of a letter beginning with "Dear Manners Expert." Collect all the cards and shuffle them. Have the participants sit in a circle. Choose someone to begin the game and give that person the stack of cards, with the questions facing down. The starting player should draw a card and read it aloud. Anyone wanting to answer should raise his or her hand and wait to be called upon by the person holding the card. (Players should not answer any questions they wrote themselves). The cardholder should continue to call on people until the correct answer is given. The cardholder should consult one of your etiquette books if he or she is unsure of the correct response. Award players one point for every correct answer. Play should continue to the left. The game is over when all the cards have been read and all questions answered. The person with the most points is the "Etiquette Expert." If you like, present the winner with movies tickets or some other reward. Give the other players consolation prizes.

Extra Polish

Ask the children to make up another etiquette game by modifying a favorite group game.

Finishing School

Share

• What did you learn about etiquette by playing the game?
• What good manners did you actually use while playing?
• What do you think was the hardest question in the game?

Process

• How did players depend on the "honor system" in this game?
• Does every etiquette question have a "right" answer? Explain.
• Why is it important to be nice to someone you may never meet again?

Generalize

• What other group activities have you participated in where your manners were put into play?

Apply

• How can you use manners to "get ahead" in life?