Learning how to greet others is one of the most important foundational conversation skills students can build. Whether saying hello at the start of the day or entering a group activity, a confident and respectful greeting sets the tone for the interaction. Yet many students aren’t sure how to greet someone appropriately—or they skip the greeting altogether.

Related resources:

• social skills activities
• social skills lessons
• social skills interventions

This lesson is designed to help. Using a short, engaging video and interactive activity, students learn the three essential steps for greeting peers: looking at the person, using a friendly tone, and saying an appropriate phrase. With guided modeling, practice, and peer feedback, students build the confidence to use greetings across a variety of social situations.

In this post, you’ll find:

• A breakdown of what the video teaches
• A complete lesson plan with practice and discussion
• Tips for reinforcing greetings across the school day

Why Greeting Skills Matter

For many students, greetings may seem small—but they carry big social meaning. Greeting someone shows interest, respect, and social awareness. When students don’t greet peers or adults, it can create confusion or lead to misunderstandings. On the other hand, when a greeting feels forced, awkward, or overly casual, it can make both parties feel unsure how to continue.

Students who struggle with greetings may:

• Look away or say nothing when approached
• Use overly familiar or impersonal greetings
• Greet only adults or only friends, missing peer interactions
• Struggle with the physical and vocal coordination of eye contact, tone, and speech

By teaching greetings as a structured, repeatable skill, educators help students create smoother social interactions, enter group settings with more confidence, and build a foundation for future conversation skills.

Greeting a Peer Video Modeling Lesson

The Greeting a Peer video breaks down greeting behavior into three simple steps:

1. Look at the person
2. Use a friendly voice
3. Say a greeting like “Hi,” “Hello,” or “Good morning”

These steps are modeled by peer-aged students in realistic classroom and school settings. The language is clear and age-appropriate, and the pacing allows students to pause and reflect after each modeled interaction.

How to introduce the video in class:

• Before watching, ask: “Why do we greet people? How does it feel when someone says hello to you?”
• Let students watch the video all the way through once, then go back and pause after each step. Use the pause points to discuss:
• What the student did well
• How they used their voice
• What their body language showed

Reinforce that a good greeting is short, friendly, and makes the other person feel seen.

Lesson Plan: Greeting Others with Confidence

Grade Level: Elementary

Duration: 30–40 minutes

Materials Needed:

• Greeting a Peer video
• Greeting Others Matching Worksheet
• Whiteboard or poster paper for brainstorming
• Optional: cue cards or visuals for each step

Step 1: Introduction (5 minutes)

Begin by discussing why greetings matter: “When we greet someone, we let them know we see them and care about talking to them. It’s a small way to show respect and kindness.”

Ask:

• “What are some greetings you’ve heard at school?”
• “Has anyone ever made your day better just by saying hi?”
• “What makes a greeting feel friendly?”

Record responses on the board to reference during the lesson.

Step 2: Watch and Discuss the Video (5–7 minutes)

Play the Greeting a Peer video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWP3oQVI-ZM 

Pause after each modeled step to reinforce what students observe:

• What did the student do with their body?
• What did their voice sound like?
• What greeting phrase did they choose?

Encourage students to act out each step while watching:

• Make eye contact with a partner
• Practice using a friendly tone
• Say “Hi,” “Hello,” or “It’s good to see you”

Repeat or replay the video if students need more time to process or mimic each behavior.

Step 3: Matching Worksheet (10 minutes)

Distribute the Greeting Others Matching Worksheet. In partners or small groups, students match greeting phrases to appropriate situations.

For example:

• Saying “Good morning” when arriving at school
• Saying “Hi” when seeing a friend in the hallway
• Saying “Hello” to a classmate at the beginning of a group project

Walk around and listen for conversations where students explain their choices. Prompt with questions like:

• “What made you pick that greeting?”
• “Would that phrase work with a teacher too?”
• “Is that greeting friendly but not too silly?”

Step 4: Role-Playing and Peer Practice (10 minutes)

Form a large circle. One student at a time walks into the center and greets a classmate. The goal is to use:

• Eye contact
• A friendly voice
• An appropriate greeting

After each turn, the class gives positive feedback:

• “What did they do well?”
• “Was their greeting clear and friendly?”
• “Would you want to talk to them after hearing that greeting?”

Encourage each student to try greeting someone they don’t usually talk to. This helps generalize the skill beyond their familiar peer group.

Step 5: Wrap-Up Discussion (5–7 minutes)

Ask students:

• “How did it feel to greet someone today?”
• “Which step was hardest to remember?”
• “Why do you think greetings are important in school?”

As a group, create a list of settings where greetings can be practiced: arrival time, lunch, recess, dismissal, group projects, etc. Post the list in the classroom as a reminder.

Extending Greeting Skills Across the School Day

Greeting skills improve through repetition and reinforcement. Once students learn the three steps, look for moments throughout the day to help them apply it in context:

• At arrival: Greet students at the door and ask them to greet you or a peer
• Before transitions: Remind students to greet group partners before starting an activity
• In the hallway or lunch line: Prompt students to practice one of the poster phrases
• During classroom jobs or peer support roles: Add a greeting requirement when helping others

You can also create a class challenge or visual tracker: “Let’s see how many friendly greetings we can use before lunch!”

For students who benefit from more structure, provide sentence frames and visual aids. You might include pictures of common greetings and emotion cards to practice matching tone and facial expression.