Presentation

  1. 1

    Gather a small group seated in a circle. Hold the plate of crackers.

  2. 2

    Walk to one child, hold the plate out at their chest height, and say: 'Would you like a cracker?'

  3. 3

    Show accepting: the partner takes one cracker and says, 'Yes, please. Thank you.' You answer: 'You're welcome.'

  4. 4

    Show declining: offer to the next person, who says, 'No, thank you.' Answer: 'All right,' and move on without asking again.

  5. 5

    Point out that both answers are polite and that the person offering accepts either one.

  6. 6

    Hand the plate to a child and invite them to offer to the next person.

  7. 7

    Continue around the circle until each child has offered, accepted, or declined.

Extensions, easiest to hardest

  1. Offer help to a classmate: "May I help you roll your mat?"
  2. Accept or decline an invitation to work together
  3. Offer snack to the class during snack preparation

Control of error

The partner's response shows whether the offer was understood; a grabbed item or no reply means the steps were missed.

Ready to move on when the child…

  • Offers an object with words and waits for an answer
  • Says "No, thank you" to decline, without a push or frown
  • Accepts a refusal without repeating the offer

Try “pink tower”, “tummy”, “diaper”, “grace and courtesy”, or “October”.