MEALTIME MANNERS: You Gotta Eat, Right? But You Gotta Eat RIGHT! Read slide with students. Emphasize that today’s lesson will focus on using appropriate manners at mealtimes.

What are good manners? Being thoughtful Being polite Being respectful Read slide with students. Click each bullet point one at a time and ask them what they think each phrase means. (i.e. Being thoughtful – thinking about how others might feel before doing something; Being polite – using words like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’; Being respectful – saying and doing things that show you honor the other person) NOTE: Each of these points might be a separate lesson if necessary. Now ask the students what each point means at mealtimes.

What manners do YOU use during meals? Read slide with students. Ask what manners they each use when eating and list these on white board or paper. Try to target eating at school, however encourage students to share manners they’ve learned at home – then apply to school setting.

Let’s talk about manners we ALL should use when we eat Read slide with students to re-emphasize today’s topic.

1. Sit Read slide with students. Talk about why it’s important to sit. (i.e. to prevent accidents/spilling) Ask why it’s good manners to sit. (i.e. so that the other person doesn’t have to look up at you)

2. Chew with your mouth closed Read slide with students. Talk about why it’s good manners to chew with your mouth closed. (i.e. no one wants to see your chewed food – it’s gross!)

3. Don’t stuff your mouth Read slide with students. Talk about why it’s not good manners to stuff your mouth with food. (i.e. you can’t possibly chew all of that food with your mouth closed – and didn’t we just talk about how it’s good manners to chew with your mouth closed?)

4. Use your napkin Read slide with students. Talk about why it’s good manners to use your napkin to wipe your face. (i.e. because we sometimes get food on our lips/face when we eat – and no one wants to see our food all over our faces.)

5. Try not to burp, but if you do, say excuse me Read slide with students. Talk about how some people might think burping is funny, BUT lots of people don’t. If you accidentally burp, say “excuse me” immediately.

6. Say “please” and “thank you” Read slide with students. Talk about how it is good manners to use these words when you’re asking someone to pass food to you, or when someone gives you something. This is a good time to practice these specific manners by providing a snack for the kids in your social skills group!

7. Eat your own food Read slide with students. Talk about how someone else’s food might look tempting, but it’s not good manners to take something off their tray/plate.

8. Don’t be rude about the food! Say “no thank you” instead Read slide with students. Talk about the girl in the picture. What is she doing that is rude? Talk about how it is good manners to politely refuse food that you don’t like by saying “no thank you” instead of sticking out your tongue. Also, talk about how sometimes kids get invited for dinner to their friends’ houses and that their friend’s parents might serve food that they don’t like. What should they do if this happens?

9. Clean up after yourself Read slide with students. Talk about how it’s important to throw away your things when you’re done eating. (i.e. safety reasons). Then talk about how it’s good manners to do so. (i.e. it’s gross to sit down at the table to eat your lunch and there’s left-over food and garbage already there. Point out how they always make sure the table is clean for you at a restaurant before seating you and your family.) Talk about how it’s good manners to carry your dishes to the sink at home.

Remember: Using good manners helps you to EAT RIGHT! Sit Chew with your mouth closed Don’t stuff Use napkin Say “excuse me” Say “please” and “thank you” Eat your own food Don’t be rude – say “no thank you” Clean up after yourself Read title with students and review the manners. This slide will become the take-home magnet card for the students.

So…what do YOU think? You are invited to eat dinner at your friend’s house. His mother passes around bowls of food and everyone takes some – but he has lots of people in his family and it’s taking a long time for all of the food to go around! You’re very hungry and want to start eating. What should you do? Read slide with students. Discuss how though it might be tempting to start to eat before everyone is served, it’s good manners to wait to eat until everyone has their food.