Courtesy

Children’s Class Exercise on Courtesy

Opening Quotes to study and share

“Courtesy is the prince of virtues.” -Baha’u’llah

“Courtesy is, in truth, a raiment which fitteth all men, whether young or old.” -Baha’u’llah

“Beware lest ye contend with anyone...” -Baha’u’llah

“Beware! Beware! Lest ye offend any heart!

Beware! Beware! Lest ye hurt any soul!

Beware! Beware! Lest ye deal unkindly toward any person!

Beware! Beware! Lest ye be the cause of hopelessness to any creature.” -Abdu’l-Baha

“And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with a fairer than it, or return it; surely God keeps a watchful count over everything.

-Muhammad

Listen to the following stories and pick the action that shows you understand the virtue of courtesy: (discuss)

  1. You go grocery shopping with mom and buy 5 bags of groceries, 2-24 packs of pop and 2 gallons of milk. When you arrive at home you

    1. run into the house because you are about to miss your favorite cartoon show.

    2. help your mom carry in the groceries.

  2. You are camping in a public campground with lots of people sleeping, or roasting marshmallows, or reading by a lantern, or generally enjoying the great out doors. You miss civilization and would rather listen to music. You

    1. put a CD into your boom box and crank it up to full volume so everyone will enjoy your favorite music.

    2. turn on your I pod and listen quietly to nature and your favorite music in the background.

    3. join in the fun and roast marshmallows with the others you are camping with.

  3. You are at the movies and your mom forgot to get you some popcorn and pop, but she did pay an admission fee to get you into a movie. You decide to

    1. watch and enjoy the movie without popcorn and be happy to be at a movie.

    2. whine loudly and repeatedly until you make sure she gets up and buys you your popcorn. After all, she did forget and who cares if it costs $6.50 for popcorn. You want some!

  4. You go to a Baha’i Holy day and as you enter, a lot of adults keep saying “Hi” to you. You are shy so you

    1. Say “hi” back, even though it is hard because you are shy, but you are happy they are friendly toward you.

    2. Look down at your feet as if you didn’t hear them and pretend you are admiring your new shoes.

Play Song: Say Hi (Red Grammer)

  1. You get to go to the mall with your dad to check out holiday festivities and get a pretzel and hot chocolate. It is cold outside and you are shivering. A man in a wheelchair is getting to the door at almost the same time as you. You

    1. hurry to the door and run through it fast so you beat him to the door.

    2. hurry to the door so you can hold it for him to help him through.

  1. You are at school and someone who is sort of a mean kid says nasty things to you and then all the kids with him laugh at you. You

    1. look him straight in the eye and say something twice as nasty back. After all you can be mean with the best of them and you want to show him you are as bad as him.

    2. ignore them and pray that God will show them how to be courteous.

    3. ignore them and tell your mom and dad what happened when you get home.

    4. Rush off crying because he hurt your feelings.