Help elementary students learn about school bus expectations with this Expected and Unexpected Bus Behavior resource! This social-emotional learning activity set includes an editable social story, a game, and additional teaching activities to support conversations about behavior and safety on the school bus.

Riding the school bus involves navigating routines, shared spaces, peer interactions, and safety expectations. Some students benefit from explicit instruction, visual supports, and opportunities to practice what different behaviors might look like before they encounter challenging situations.

Use this resource to introduce bus expectations, revisit them when students need additional support, and help children understand the reasons behind safe and respectful choices.

📦 What's Included:

🚌 Editable School Bus Behavior Social Story

• Social story focused on expected and unexpected school bus behavior.
• Editable format for adapting the story to student needs.
• Opportunities to introduce and review school bus expectations.
• A visual teaching tool for discussing bus routines and behavior.

🎲 Expected vs. Unexpected Bus Behavior Game

• Game focused on identifying expected and unexpected behavior on the school bus.
• Opportunities to discuss different choices and their impact.
• Interactive practice for reinforcing bus expectations.

💬 Additional Bus Behavior Teaching Activities

• Supporting activities for teaching expected school bus behavior.
• Opportunities to reinforce the concepts introduced in the social story and game.

🎒 Quick Details: Elementary Students | 🚌 Editable social story | 🎲 Expected vs. unexpected behavior game | 💬 Additional teaching activities | 🧠 School bus safety + social skills

🛍️ Bundle & Save:

Want this at a discount with more activities for explicitly teaching behavior expectations? Check out:

🌟 Expected Behavior Growing Bundle

• Includes this bus behavior resource alongside additional school expectations activities (assembly, bathroom, recess, indoor recess, friendship, hallway, lunchroom, problem-solving, and more.)
• Features editable social stories, games, sorting activities, and worksheets.
• Helps students explore expected and unexpected behavior in different school settings.
• Useful for back-to-school instruction, classroom lessons, and ongoing social skills support.

🎯 Skills Addressed:

✔️ Understanding school bus expectations

✔️ Identifying expected and unexpected behaviors

✔️ Recognizing safe and unsafe choices

✔️ Building awareness of shared spaces

✔️ Practicing respectful peer interactions

✔️ Understanding how behavior affects others

✔️ Developing self-awareness and decision-making skills

💡 Ways to Use It:

• Read the editable social story with a student before introducing or reviewing school bus expectations.
• Use the game during individual counseling or small-group sessions to discuss expected and unexpected behaviors.
• Review school bus routines before the beginning of the school year or following an extended break.
• Incorporate the resource into a targeted support plan for students who need additional instruction about bus expectations.
• Use the activities to encourage students to explain why certain behaviors support safety.
• Adapt the social story to reflect a student's communication needs and school transportation routines.
• Revisit the activities after challenging bus experiences to practice alternative responses without shaming students.

👩‍🏫 Who It's For:

Perfect for school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, special education teachers, classroom teachers, behavior specialists, and other school professionals working with elementary students.

This resource is especially helpful for students who benefit from explicit teaching, visual supports, predictable routines, and opportunities to practice school bus expectations.

🖨️ Format & Download:

✔️ Editable school bus behavior social story.

✔️ Expected vs. unexpected behavior game.

✔️ Additional school bus behavior teaching activities.

📌 Important Notes:

• School bus expectations should be taught clearly, consistently, and with attention to each student's developmental, sensory, communication, and disability-related needs.
• Students may need accommodations or additional adult support to meet transportation expectations. The goal is to build understanding and support safety, rather than simply label students or their behavior.
• The editable social story can be adapted to reflect individual student needs and local school transportation expectations.
• This is a digital download. No physical product will be shipped. Due to the digital nature of this resource, all sales are final and refunds are not available.