Help students understand and practice expected recess behaviors with this engaging Fingerprint Friends social story, board game, and activity set! This resource provides visual, hands-on ways to introduce playground expectations, discuss social situations, and support positive peer interactions during recess.

Recess is often one of the least structured parts of the school day. Students may benefit from explicit instruction about sharing playground equipment, taking turns, joining games, respecting boundaries, and navigating disagreements. Rather than assuming children already know what is expected, this resource gives you tools to teach and practice those skills.

With a 20-page printable social story, editable Google Slides version, sorting cards, discussion prompts, a board game, and reinforcement worksheets, you can introduce expectations before recess and revisit them whenever students need additional support.

📦 What's Included:

📖 20-Page Recess Behavior Social Story

• 20-page printable social story about expected and unexpected recess behaviors.
• Fingerprint Friends illustrations to support understanding.
• Opportunities to discuss playground expectations and positive choices.
• Useful for introducing recess routines or reviewing expectations.

✏️ Editable Google Slides Social Story

• Editable version of the recess social story.
• Customize the story to reflect your school's recess agreements and expectations.
• Adapt language and examples to meet individual student needs.
• Google Slides access is required for editing.

🃏 19 Recess Behavior Picture Sorting Cards

• 19 illustrated picture cards featuring recess behavior choices.
• Visual examples for discussing expected and unexpected behaviors.
• Can be paired with the included sorting mats.
• Useful for individual instruction, partner activities, or small groups.

💬 9 Recess Discussion Prompt Cards

• Nine prompts for discussing recess situations and choices.
• Encourage students to consider different responses.
• Opportunities to practice problem-solving and social awareness.

🎲 Good Choices Recess Board Game

• Printable board game for reviewing recess behavior choices.
• Reinforces concepts introduced in the social story.
• Interactive opportunities to discuss playground situations.
• Useful for counseling groups and classroom SEL lessons.

↔️ Expected vs. Unexpected Behavior Sorting Mats

• Sorting mats for categorizing recess behavior choices.
• Pair with the 19 picture cards for hands-on practice.
• Visual supports for discussing playground expectations.

🌀 Recess Worksheets, Mazes & Drawing Activities

• Reinforcement worksheets focused on recess behaviors.
• Maze activity for reviewing expected choices.
• Drawing worksheets for exploring and illustrating recess expectations.
• Additional opportunities for students to demonstrate understanding.

🖨️ Color & Black-and-White Versions

• Color resources for visual instruction and group activities.
• Black-and-white options for flexible printing.

🎒 Quick Details: Elementary students | 📖 20-page social story | ✏️ Editable Google Slides | 🃏 19 sorting cards | 💬 9 discussion prompts | 🎲 Board game | ↔️ Sorting mats | 🌀 Worksheets + maze + drawing | 🖨️ Color + B&W

🛍️ Bundle & Save:

Want a discount on this and more expected behavior activities? Check out:

🌟 Expected Behavior Growing Bundle

• Includes nine separate Fingerprint Friends resources.
• Covers outdoor recess, indoor recess, classroom-related school routines, bus behavior, cafeteria behavior, bathroom behavior, assemblies, hallway behavior, conflict resolution, and healthy friendship skills.
• Includes editable social stories, printable stories, board games, picture sorting cards, discussion prompts, sorting mats, worksheets, mazes, and drawing activities.
• Offers consistent visual supports for teaching school-wide expectations.

🎯 Skills Addressed:

✔️ Understanding expected and unexpected recess behaviors

✔️ Learning playground routines and agreements

✔️ Taking turns and sharing equipment

✔️ Cooperation and positive peer interactions

✔️ Social problem-solving during recess

✔️ Recognizing how choices can affect others

✔️ Self-awareness and responsible decision-making

💡 Ways to Use It:

• Read the social story before recess to introduce playground expectations.
• Customize the editable Google Slides story to reflect your school's specific recess agreements.
• Use the 19 picture cards and sorting mats to discuss different recess behavior choices.
• Play the Good Choices board game during individual counseling or small-group SEL lessons.
• Use the nine discussion prompts to practice problem-solving before challenging recess situations arise.
• Incorporate the maze, worksheets, and drawing activities into classroom SEL lessons or follow-up counseling sessions.
• Revisit the story and visual supports after school breaks or when recess routines change.

👩‍🏫 Who It's For:

Perfect for school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, special education teachers, classroom teachers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and other educators supporting elementary students.

This resource is especially useful for professionals looking for visual, explicit, and engaging ways to teach playground expectations and social skills.

🖨️ Format & Download:

✔️ 20-page printable recess behavior social story.

✔️ Editable Google Slides social story.

✔️ Printable Good Choices board game.

✔️ 19 picture sorting cards.

✔️ 9 discussion prompt cards.

✔️ Expected and unexpected sorting mats.

✔️ Worksheets, maze, and drawing activities.

✔️ Color and black-and-white versions.

This is a digital download provided in PDF format. Google Slides access is required to use the editable social story component. No physical materials will be shipped.

📌 Important Notes:

Expected behaviors should be taught explicitly rather than assumed. Recess expectations can vary by school, environment, and student needs, so the editable social story can help you personalize instruction.

Students can participate through pointing, sorting, drawing, discussion, or other communication methods that work for them. The goal is to support understanding, safety, cooperation, and meaningful participation in recess.

This listing includes the individual Expected vs. Unexpected Recess Behavior resource, not the complete Expected Behavior Growing Bundle.