Grace and Courtesy: Telephone or Video Call Manners

The phone or video call is a modern grace-and-courtesy exchange. Unlike face-to-face, tone of voice carries the whole impression. The template — identify, listen, respond, close — gives the child a social scaffold.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Practical Life
• Learning area: Grace & Courtesy
• Level: Ages 5-6

Objectives

• Answer a phone or video call politely
• Identify oneself and the household
• Take a clear message if the called person is unavailable
• End the call courteously

Materials

• Toy or real phone (disconnected or set aside for practice)
• Paper and pencil for messages

Instructions

1. Gather the group. 2. Say: 'I'll show you how we answer a call.' 3. Pretend to hear the phone ring or a call come in. 4. Answer: 'Hello, this is Sofia speaking.' 5. Listen to the caller. 6. If for someone else: 'One moment please, I'll see if they're available.' 7. If not available: 'May I take a message?' 8. Write the message carefully. 9. End: 'Thank you for calling. Goodbye.'

Educator tip

Practice in pairs. Introduce emergency calls as a separate lesson — do not confuse routine calls with urgent ones.

Assessment

Note clarity of voice, politeness, accuracy of message-taking.

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