ACTIVITY: Manners meter
(Roleplay Rating Game and Practicing Tool)
Use for Family Home Evening, Primary Sharing Time,
Young Women or Youth, Activity Days*
Subject: Good Manners and courtesy
Objective: Learn about and practice good manners and courtesy.
Print, color, and cut out the Manners meter Game and Practicing Tool and situation cards. Cut out the window on the front so situation—e.g., “On the Telephone”—can show through as you turn the wheel. Place the wheel behind and the arrow in the center-front of meter, securing parts with a brad.
• Manners Meter Rating Game:
1. Tell players, “Manners is a guide to getting along with other people.” Review the manners motto in #4 below.
2. Divide players into groups of two or three and assign situation cards, dividing up cards. Give teams 20 minutes to rehearse. For each card they should act out a “good manner” or a “bad manner” to dramatize the situation on the card. Exaggerate these to get a very bad or a very good rating on each as follows.
3. When the actors come out they announce the situation, e.g., “At church.” Then the audience turns their wheel to that situation on their meter. Then the actors put on their performance.
4. The audience must judge the manner according to this manners motto: “Politeness is to do and say the kindest thing in the kindest way.” The audience judges the skit when it is over by saying “good manner” or “bad manner,” then turns the arrow on their meter from 6-10 if it is a “good manner” or 1-4 if it is a “bad manner.”
5. Talk about manners and why they are important.
• Manners Meter Practicing Tool: Turn the meter each day to indicate where you need to practice better manners. Draw a card for that manner and practice it that day. At the end of the day turn the arrow to indicate how well you did (1 is the lowest and 10 is the highest).
THOUGHT TREATS: (Charming Manners – Eatable Charm Bracelet). Supply five or more gummy or hard Lifesaver candies and string licorice for youth to make a Charming Manners Charm Bracelet. Thread the candies onto the licorice and tie. Thought: Talk about each charm treat as a manner they wish to develop in the coming week. As they practice the manner they can eat the charm.
OTHER USES FOR THE ABOVE ACTIVITY:
*ACTIVITY DAYS (Girls ages 8-11 to achieve specific goals): See Practice Good Manners and Courtesy – Activity Days, Serving Others – Goal 6 (includes invitation shown)
