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K1 Lesson 02: Greetings & Hello Routine

Grade: K1 (Ages 3-4) Time: 30 minutes Hello Β· Hi Β· How are you? Β· Goodbye Β· Hello Train Β· /h/ Phonics

Material Checklist β€” Full Lesson

Learning Objectives

Warm-up: Meeting Up & Warming Up (10 mins)

Purpose: Establish psychological safety in the predictable circle, then energize the group while linking back to Lesson 01 commands before greeting work begins.

Step 1 Β· Meeting Up (β‰ˆ5 min)

Purpose: Psychological safety, predictable arrival, "we are in the same safe circle."

Teacher Β· Arrival & circle welcome

"Good morning, friends! Welcome back. Find your spot. Sit on your dot β€” criss-cross applesauce."
"Look at me." (hold Look card) "Listen." (hold Listen card) "We are in the same safe circle. Same circle, same friends, same teacher."
"Today we learn hello words. Hello! Hi! How are you? Goodbye! Are you ready?"

Teacher Β· Door greeting script

"Hello, [name]! I am so happy you came today."
"You may wave or say Hello β€” both are perfect. Find your blue dot."
"[Name] is here β€” let's count friends in the circle. One, two, three…"

Teacher Β· Feeling check preview

"Before hello words β€” feelings! How do you feel today?"
"I feel happy β€” thumbs up! Sleepy? Head on hands. Excited? Arms up!"
"All feelings are OK in our circle. Ready for hello words?"

Teacher Β· Hello word preview

"Look at these cards β€” Hello! Hi! Goodbye! Bye!"
"Hello is a big wave. Hi is a small wave. Goodbye is wave away."
"Today we use all four words. Listen first β€” then your turn to speak."
Handling Mistakes:

If a child says a silly word instead of Hello (e.g., "Pizza!"), smile and redirect: "Pizza is yummy β€” but today our word is Hello. Watch my mouth β€” Hello!"

If a child runs into the circle without sitting, pause the group: "Walking feet to your dot. I will wait." Point to Sit card silently β€” do not chase.

If a child hides behind a parent at the door, kneel to eye level: "You can wave from here. Hello, brave friend." Never pull a child into the circle.

Management Cue: Eyes on me in 3, 2, 1 β€” hold up three fingers, then point to your eyes. Wait until all eyes meet yours before the next sentence.
Management Cue: If a child wanders off their spot, point silently to the Sit card and pat the floor beside you. Do not call out their name loudly β€” invite with a gesture first.
Management Cue: Show the Listen pause card if two or more children talk over you β€” hold it at chest height for 3 full seconds before speaking again.
  1. Children enter and walk to circle spots. Teacher greets each child at the door: "Hello, [name]!" β€” accept wave or verbal hello.
  2. Once all seated, hold Look and Listen cards. Model quiet hands. 3-second wait for whole-group attention.
  3. Preview today's words: show Hello and Goodbye cards briefly β€” "Today these words get bigger. We will use them a lot!"
  4. Quick feeling check with puppet: "[Puppet name] feels happy today β€” thumbs up! How do you feel?" Accept wave or one word.

Step 2 Β· Warming Up (β‰ˆ5 min)

Purpose: Energy + brief review link to Lesson 01 (Look Β· Listen Β· Sit).

Teacher Β· Command review drill

"Yesterday we learned three magic words. Who remembers? Look… Listen… Sit!"
"Look!" (students point eyes at teacher) "Perfect looking!"
"Listen!" (hands on ears) "Shhh… I hear wonderful listening."
"Sit!" (hands quiet in lap) "Beautiful sitting."

Teacher Β· Hello wave warm-up

"Now β€” hello practice! Wave left hand. Wave right hand. Wave both hands β€” big wave!"
"Hello! Hello! Hello!" (teacher waves on each hello)
"Your turn β€” wave and say Hello! One, two, three β€” Hello!"
"Turn to your neighbor β€” small wave β€” Hi! Eyes back on me."

Teacher Β· How are you? pair drill

"Turn to your neighbor β€” wave β€” Hi!"
"Ask: How are you? Your neighbor says: I'm happy!"
"Switch β€” other friend asks β€” How are you? I'm sleepy β€” head on hands!"
"Eyes on me β€” wonderful greeting!"

Teacher Β· Transition chant

"Look β€” Look! Listen β€” Listen! Sit β€” Sit! Hello time β€” here we go!"
"Choo-choo sound β€” get ready β€” Hello Train is coming!"
Handling Mistakes:

If a child performs the wrong command (jumps on "Sit"), model again without scolding: "Watch my body β€” Sit looks like this. Copy me."

If a child shouts a random name during pair wave ("Robot!"), redirect: "We wave to friends. Say Hi to the person beside you."

If energy spikes too high, switch to whisper hello: "Tiny hello β€” hhhhh β€” Hello." Reset volume before continuing.

Management Cue: If one child calls out, pause and point to the Listen card. Say nothing for 3 seconds. Resume only when the room is quiet.
Management Cue: Split the group if energy is too high: "This side waves β€” Hello! That side waves β€” Hello!" Alternate sides to keep volume manageable.
Management Cue: After pair wave, use "Eyes on me 3-2-1" before returning to whole-group instruction β€” predictable reset prevents drift.
  1. Quick command drill: Look β†’ Listen β†’ Sit β†’ Look (mix order, 4 rounds).
  2. Whole-group wave: teacher counts 1-2-3, everyone waves and says Hello together Γ— 3.
  3. Pair wave: turn to the person beside you, wave, say "Hi!" β€” 10 seconds only, then eyes back on teacher.
  4. Transition line: "You know Look, Listen, Sit. Now we ride the Hello Train!"

Main Activity: Hello Train & /h/ Phonics (15 mins)

Teacher Note: Opening Up builds social greeting fluency; Cheering Up locks /h/ through visual cards and whole-body TPR. Review Look Β· Listen Β· Sit at every transition.

Step 3 Β· Opening Up (β‰ˆ8 min)

Purpose: MAIN theme activity β€” Hello Train with soft ball pass, greetings by name, and "How are you?"

Teacher Β· Hello Train setup

"This is the Hello Train! Choo-choo! The ball is the train. When you hold the ball, you are the driver."
"Driver says: Hello, [friend's name]! Then pass the ball β€” soft and slow."
"Friend catches and says: Hi! or Hello! Then the friend asks: How are you?"
"Driver answers: I'm happy! (thumbs up) or I'm sleepy! (hands on cheek). Then pass to the next friend."

Teacher Β· Model round

"Watch me first. Hello, Minho!" (pass ball to co-teacher or puppet)
(Puppet) "Hi! How are you?"
"I'm happy! Thumbs up!" (pass to child) "Your turn, Sora!"
"If you forget the words, wave β€” that is a hello too."

Teacher Β· Round 2 feeling faces

"Round two β€” feelings! How are you? I'm excited!" (arms up)
"I'm sleepy!" (head on hands) "I'm sad?" (gentle face) "All feelings are OK in our circle."
"Hello Train β€” full circle! Choo-choo!"

Teacher Β· Round three fast train

"Round three β€” fast train! Only Hello, [name]! β€” then pass!"
"Choo-choo β€” Hello, Jisu! Hello, Minho! Hello, Sora!"
"Train into the station β€” ball in the basket β€” finished!"

Teacher Β· Train praise close

"Every friend got a hello today β€” I heard Hello, [name]! I heard Hi!"
"Shy friends waved β€” waves are hellos too. The Hello Train was perfect."
Handling Mistakes:

If a child throws the ball, stop the train calmly: "Soft hands only. Roll like this." Model a slow roll before restarting β€” no scolding.

If a child says "I'm pizza!" to How are you?, laugh briefly then redirect: "Funny! Today we say I'm happy, sleepy, sad, or excited. Pick one β€” I'm happy!"

If a child passes without greeting, pause the ball: "The train stops until we hear Hello, [name]. Try again β€” I will help." Prompt the name if needed.

If a child freezes, offer the puppet: "[Puppet name] says Hello to you first. Whisper to the puppet β€” I will listen." Never skip a child.

Management Cue: Ball rules before Round 1: "Soft hands only. Roll or pass β€” no throwing. If the ball drops, we pick it up together β€” no running."
Management Cue: If more than two children talk during the train, hold the Listen pause card β€” "Train station quiet." Wait 3 seconds.
Management Cue: Name the child receiving the ball every time you prompt β€” "Pass to Jisu" β€” reduces anxiety for shy drivers.
  1. Teacher models full exchange with puppet (β‰ˆ1 min).
  2. Round 1: ball travels halfway around circle β€” teacher prompts names if needed.
  3. Round 2: full circle β€” add feeling faces: sleepy, excited, happy, sad.
  4. Round 3 (fast round): only "Hello, [name]!" + pass β€” use if Round 2 runs long.
  5. Return ball to basket. "Hello Train finished! Choo-choo β€” into the station!"

Step 4 Β· Cheering Up (β‰ˆ7 min)

Purpose: Phonics /h/ with visual cue cards + TPR, plus peer cheer activity.

Teacher Β· Introduce /h/ sound

"Hello starts with a breath sound. Listen… h-h-hello. Hhhhh. Like a gentle breath β€” warm air out."
"This is letter H. H says hhhhh. Watch my mouth β€” open, soft breath. No voice, just air. Hhhhh."
"Say it with me β€” hhhhh. Quiet breath. Good!"

Teacher Β· Trace letter H

"Watch β€” I trace H on the card. Up, across, down, down β€” hhhhh while I trace."
"Air trace with your finger β€” big H in the air β€” hhhhh!"
"Your finger β€” trace H on your knee β€” hhhhh β€” quiet hello breath."

Teacher Β· Visual cue + TPR

"H looks like a hand waving hello! Hand up β€” wave β€” hhhhh! Hello!"
"Stand up! Wave your hand big β€” hhhhh! Hello! Sit down β€” quiet hhhhh."
"Partner cheer: turn to your neighbor. You say hhhhh β€” they wave hello back. Switch!"
"Hold H card β€” everyone: hhhhh + wave! I heard hello breath!"

Teacher Β· Praise frames

"Wow! I heard hhhhh!"
"Beautiful hello breath!"
"Your wave matches your breath β€” perfect H!"
"High five for listening β€” hhhhh!"
Handling Mistakes:

If a child adds voice to /h/ (sounds like "huh"), model whisper breath: "No voice β€” just air. Watch β€” hhhhh." Hand on throat β€” "No buzz."

If a child shouts during partner cheer, reset: "Tiny hello breath β€” hhhhh." Whisper round before continuing.

If a child refuses to stand for TPR, offer seated wave: "You can wave from your spot β€” hhhhh! Perfect."

If a child makes silly sounds (motor noises), redirect: "That is a car! Our sound is hello breath β€” hhhhh."

Management Cue: Before standing TPR, say "Stand up in 3, 2, 1" and "Sit down in 3, 2, 1" every time β€” predictable transitions prevent chaos.
Management Cue: If /h/ becomes too loud (shouting), model a whisper: "Tiny breath β€” hhhhh. Like a little hello to a baby." Reset volume with whisper round.
Management Cue: Assign shoulder partners before partner cheer β€” "Turn to your neighbor" causes less chaos than "find a partner."
  1. Show H letter card + hand-wave picture card side by side.
  2. Model breath /h/ three times β€” trace H on card while breathing.
  3. Stand-up wave TPR Γ— 3 rounds: teacher leads β†’ half class β†’ whole class.
  4. Partner cheer: 30 seconds each side β€” /h/ breath + wave response.
  5. Quick check: hold H card β€” class breathes /h/ and waves without prompt.

Wrap-up: Calming Down (5 mins)

Purpose: Lower energy with breathing, affirm effort with named compliments, and close with the predictable Goodbye Song ritual.

Step 5 Β· Calming Down (β‰ˆ5 min)

Purpose: Breathing, compliment, goodbye song, dismissal.

Teacher Β· Breathing

"Hello time is finished. Hands on your tummy. Soft and still."
"Breathe in… 1, 2, 3. Breathe out… hhhhh, 1, 2, 3. Gentle hello breath out."
"Again. In… 1, 2, 3. Out… hhhhh. Slow and quiet."
"One more β€” sleepy hello breath. Hhhhh… finished."

Teacher Β· Compliment circle

"Who rode the Hello Train today? You did β€” brave hello!"
"Who made hhhhh sounds? Super hello breath!"
"I am proud of [name] for a brave hello. I am proud of [name] for kind passing."
"Everyone gets a sticker. Line up β€” quiet feet."

Teacher Β· Goodbye routine

"Stand up slowly. Stretch β€” big wave hello goodbye!"
"Goodbye Song time. Wave your hands."
"Goodbye, goodbye, see you again. Goodbye, goodbye, see you again."
"Goodbye [name], goodbye [name], goodbye everyone β€” see you again!"
"High five at the door. Bye bye! See you next time!"
Handling Mistakes:

If a child gets silly during breathing (fake snoring), smile and reset: "Sleepy breath is quiet β€” watch me. In… out… hhhhh."

If a child runs to the door during Goodbye Song, pause music: "Walking feet. We line up together β€” you are my helper today."

If a child refuses a sticker, do not force: "You did great work. Sticker waits here if you want it later."

Management Cue: Compliment 2–3 children by name each lesson β€” rotate daily so every child hears their name within the first two weeks.
Management Cue: Dismiss in table order or color groups β€” never "everyone run to the door." Assign line leader weekly for predictable exit.
Management Cue: Pair goodbye with a consistent exit ritual (high-five, stamp, or line leader) so Lesson 03 starts faster.
  1. Two breath cycles with /h/ exhale (β‰ˆ1 min).
  2. Compliment circle: 2–3 specific praises + stickers (β‰ˆ1 min).
  3. Goodbye Song with individual name verse (β‰ˆ2 min).
  4. Line up, high-five exit ritual (β‰ˆ1 min).

Appendix β€” Master Lists

Print-ready reference for teachers and directors. Attach download URLs when assets are ready.

A. Master Material List (30-min Lesson)

  • Command flashcards: Look, Listen, Sit (Γ—1 set)
  • Greeting cards: Hello, Hi, Goodbye, Bye (Γ—4)
  • Feeling face cards: happy, sleepy, sad, excited (Γ—4)
  • Soft ball for Hello Train (Γ—1)
  • Hello puppet or soft toy (Γ—1)
  • Phonics cards: H letter + hand-wave picture (Γ—2)
  • Hello Song + Goodbye Song audio
  • Listen pause card (Γ—1)
  • Circle seating markers (dots or squares)
  • Sticker sheet (1 per child)
  • Name tags or photo cards (optional)
πŸ“Ž Master material checklist PDF β€” link coming soon

B. Master Word & Card List

  • hello β€” wave icon + word
  • hi β€” small wave + word
  • goodbye β€” wave away icon + word
  • bye β€” casual wave + word
  • how are you? β€” question mark + faces
  • I'm happy β€” thumbs up + words
  • H / h β€” uppercase + lowercase letter cards
  • hhhhh β€” breath sound prompt (mouth diagram)
  • look Β· listen Β· sit β€” review cards from Lesson 01
πŸ“Ž Printable flashcard pack (Lesson 02) β€” link coming soon

C. Key Teacher Phrases (Script Bank)

  • "We are in the same safe circle."
  • "Hello, [name]! Find your spot."
  • "Look Β· Listen Β· Sit β€” magic words from yesterday."
  • "This is the Hello Train! Choo-choo!"
  • "Hello, [name]! How are you?"
  • "I'm happy! Thumbs up!"
  • "H says hhhhh β€” like a gentle breath."
  • "Hand up β€” wave β€” hhhhh! Hello!"
  • "Soft hands only β€” no throwing."
  • "Goodbye, goodbye, see you again!"
πŸ“Ž Greeting routine poster (A3) β€” link coming soon

D. Timing Guide & Home Connection

  • 0:00–5:00 Warm-up Step 1 β€” Meeting Up: arrival, safe circle, preview
  • 5:00–10:00 Warm-up Step 2 β€” Warming Up: Look/Listen/Sit review + hello wave
  • 10:00–18:00 Main Step 3 β€” Opening Up: Hello Train (3 rounds)
  • 18:00–25:00 Main Step 4 β€” Cheering Up: /h/ phonics + partner cheer
  • 25:00–30:00 Wrap-up Step 5 β€” Calming Down: breath, compliment, Goodbye Song
  • Home: "Practice Hello and Goodbye with a wave at the door."
  • Home: "Make the hhhhh breath together β€” hand wave hello!"
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