Off to Primary School
FoundationKnow the school places and people, respect your teachers, be polite and ask for help — a happy Primary One student.
- Know the classroom, playground, toilets and fire escape routes to feel safe at school.
- The principal, teachers, clerk, janitors and social worker all help us.
- In a fire drill, line up and follow the teacher along the escape route to the playground.
文體小知識：說明文把一件事講得清清楚楚。這一篇帶你認識學校的地方和人物，教你做個有禮貌的小一新生。
§Text Passage
1Off to primary school! We are Primary One students now, and the school is much bigger than kindergarten: a wide playground, a quiet library, a big hall and computer rooms. Every classroom has a board, desks and lockers. Knowing the school places well makes us feel safe and happy.
2Every place has its use: lessons in the classroom, sports on the playground, lunch in the canteen, and the toilets when we need them. Signs in the corridors and stairways show the fire escape routes. In a fire drill, follow the signs, line up and walk to the playground with your teacher. Remember the exits, and you will not panic.
3Many people help us every day. The principal runs the whole school; teachers teach us knowledge and kindness; the clerk handles papers in the school office and helps our parents; janitors clean the campus and fix desks and chairs; the school social worker cares about our feelings — talk to her when you have worries.
4We must respect teachers and elders and treat everyone politely. Greet the principal and teachers in the morning, and thank the janitor who moves a desk for you. Polite words warm the hearts of our teachers and make us loved by all. Let's be polite Primary One students together!
1Summary 重點摘要
Know the school places and people, respect your teachers, be polite and ask for help — a happy Primary One student.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The room where we have lessons, with a board, desks and chairs.
The open ground where we play and do sports.
The route for escaping in a fire; follow the signs to a safe meeting place.
The teacher who runs and leads the whole school.
The person at school who cares for pupils; you can share your worries with her.
The staff member in the school office who handles papers and phone calls.
The staff who clean the school and fix desks and chairs.
Polite words and actions, such as saying Good morning and Thank you.
To honour teachers and elders by greeting them and listening to them.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Know the school environmentThe primary school is much bigger than kindergarten, with many new places to learn about: classrooms, the playground, the library, the hall, the canteen and the toilets. In the first days of school your teacher will take you around the campus. Listen and remember: which floor your classroom is on, where the toilets are along the corridor, and where the drinking fountain stands. Once you know these places, you will not get lost at recess or dismissal and you will feel secure — you can even draw a simple school map for your parents at home.
- Step 2: Remember the floors and fire escape routesLearn the floors well: the ground floor usually has the hall and the school office, and your classroom may be on the second or third floor. Every floor shows class signs such as Class 1 Shun, so you know at once if you have taken a wrong turn. Green signs on the corridors and stairs show the fire escape routes with arrows pointing to the exits. In a fire drill, stop what you are doing, line up quietly and follow your teacher along the route to the playground — no pushing, no shouting. Remember the exits and you will stay calm if anything happens.
- Step 3: Know the people in schoolThe school is like one big family where everyone has a role. The principal leads the whole school, sets the rules and cares for every pupil. Teachers give lessons every day and mark our homework. The clerk answers the phone and handles papers in the office, helping our parents with procedures. Janitors come early to clean the campus, carry books and repair broken desks and chairs. The school social worker cares about our feelings; pupils with worries or troubles can always go and talk to her. Knowing them helps you find the right person when you need help.
- Step 4: Respect teachers with good mannersBeing polite is how we show respect. When you arrive at school, greet the principal and the teachers, and say goodbye to your teacher when you leave. Raise your hand before speaking in class and listen carefully to what teachers say. When a janitor moves a desk for you, or the clerk helps Mummy hand in a form, say Thank you or Sorry to trouble you. Keep polite words on your lips every day; the teachers feel warmed and you become a lovely, well-mannered child whom everyone is happy to meet.
- Step 5: Take care of school facilitiesThe school facilities are for everyone, so we must look after them. Return books to their shelf after reading; keep the toilets clean by flushing and washing your hands; queue for the playground equipment and handle it gently. If you see a broken desk or a cracked window, tell a teacher or a janitor at once and never touch it yourself. The janitors work hard every day to keep the school clean, so putting rubbish in the bin is the best thank-you we can give them — and our campus stays tidy and comfortable for all.
- Step 6: Ask school people for helpWhen you meet a difficulty at school, find the right person to help. If you feel unwell, tell a teacher, who will take you to the medical room to rest. If you are lost or cannot find your classroom, ask a teacher in the corridor or go to the office and ask the clerk. If you feel sad or are being bullied, talk to your class teacher or the school social worker. If a chair is broken or the floor is wet, tell a janitor. Remember: asking for help never troubles others — the adults in school are always glad to help us.
5Worked example Example
Example: At recess, Lok-Lok runs along the corridor and knocks over a janitor carrying a bucket of water; water spills everywhere. What should Lok-Lok do?
- Running in the corridor is dangerous — you may knock others over or fall yourself; it is wrong.
- Care for the person first: say at once, I'm sorry, Uncle, are you hurt? and help him stand up.
- Pick up the bucket, and tell a teacher nearby about the spilled water so it can be cleaned and no one slips.
- From now on, walk slowly and keep to the right in the corridor, and greet the janitors with a smile.
- Answer: Lok-Lok should apologise to the janitor at once, ask if he is hurt, help him up and pick up the bucket; he should also tell a teacher about the spilled water so it can be mopped up. Walk slowly in corridors and stay polite to teachers and janitors alike.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What should we do in a fire drill?
Q2Who runs the whole school?
Q3Who can you talk to when you feel sad?
Q4What do you say to the principal in the morning?
Q5What do you say when a janitor moves a desk for you?
8Recap Recap
- Know the classroom, playground, toilets and fire escape routes to feel safe at school.
- The principal, teachers, clerk, janitors and social worker all help us.
- In a fire drill, line up and follow the teacher along the escape route to the playground.
- Greet your teachers and say thank you when helped.
- Ask for help when in trouble — the adults in school are glad to help.