Help students learn and practice expected indoor recess behavior with this engaging, editable social story, game, and activity set! These hands-on social-emotional learning resources help children explore what safe, respectful, and cooperative behavior can look like during indoor recess.

Indoor recess can be challenging for students because it often involves a change in routine, limited space, different activity choices, and more unstructured time with peers. Rather than waiting until difficulties arise, use these activities to introduce expectations, practice social skills, and help students feel more prepared for rainy or snowy days spent indoors.

This resource combines an editable social story, printable activities, an interactive board game, behavior sorting mats, picture cards, and discussion prompts. It's a practical addition to classroom SEL lessons, individual counseling, small groups, and back-to-school routines.

📦 What's Included:

📖 Editable Indoor Recess Social Story

• Social story introducing expected and unexpected indoor recess behaviors.
• Editable Google Slides version to adapt the content to your school's routines and expectations.
• Printable social story for individual or group instruction.
• Opportunities to discuss choices, classroom agreements, and respectful interactions during indoor recess.

🎲 Expected Behavior Board Game

• Printable board game for reviewing indoor recess behavior.
• Opportunities to discuss expected choices during games and shared activities.
• An interactive way to reinforce the concepts introduced in the social story.

🃏 Behavior Picture Cards & Discussion Prompts

• Picture cards illustrating behavior examples.
• Discussion prompts for exploring expected and unexpected behavior.
• Opportunities to consider how different choices may affect classmates.
• Visual supports for students who benefit from concrete examples.

🔄 Expected vs. Unexpected Behavior Sorting Mats

• Sorting mats for comparing expected and unexpected indoor recess behaviors.
• Picture cards to use with the sorting activities.
• Opportunities for students to explain their thinking and discuss alternative choices.

✏️ Worksheets, Maze & Drawing Activities

• Printable worksheets for reviewing indoor recess expectations.
• Maze activity to reinforce the concepts.
• Drawing activities that encourage students to reflect on behavior choices.
• Additional opportunities for independent practice and discussion.

🖨️ Color & Black-and-White Versions

• Color resources for visual instruction and games.
• Black-and-white versions for flexible printing.
• Options for classroom lessons, counseling groups, and individual activities.

🎒 Quick Details: Elementary school | 📖 Editable + printable social story | 🎲 Board game | 🃏 Picture cards + discussion prompts | 🔄 Behavior sorting mats | ✏️ Worksheets, maze + drawing activities | 🖨️ Color + B&W | 💻 Digital + print

🛍️ Bundle & Save:

Want a discount on these expected behavior activities? Check out:

🌟 Expected Behavior Growing Bundle

• This bundle includes nine resources for teaching expected and unexpected behavior in different school settings including indoor recess behavior, outdoor recess behavior, cafeteria behavior, bathroom behavior, assembly behavior, hallway behavior, bus behavior, conflict resolution and problem-solving, and healthy friendship skills.
• The growing bundle includes editable social stories, printable stories, board games, sorting activities, discussion prompts, worksheets, mazes, and drawing activities.

🎯 Skills Addressed:

✔️ Understanding expected and unexpected indoor recess behaviors

✔️ Following classroom agreements and routines

✔️ Practicing cooperation and respectful peer interactions

✔️ Making thoughtful choices during less structured activities

✔️ Recognizing how behavior can affect others

✔️ Building social awareness and problem-solving skills

✔️ Preparing for changes in the school-day routine

💡 Ways to Use It:

• Read the editable social story before the first indoor recess of the school year to introduce expectations.
• Review the story before rainy or snowy days when students will be staying inside.
• Play the board game during classroom SEL lessons or small-group counseling to practice making thoughtful choices.
• Use the picture cards and sorting mats to discuss expected and unexpected indoor recess behaviors.
• Invite students to suggest additional indoor recess agreements that support everyone's safety and participation.
• Use the worksheets, maze, and drawing activities to reinforce learning after a group discussion.
• Customize the editable social story to reflect your school's indoor recess procedures and available activities.

👩‍🏫 Who It's For:

Perfect for school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, special education teachers, classroom teachers, child therapists, and other professionals supporting students in elementary school.

This resource is especially helpful for educators who want to explicitly teach indoor recess expectations, prepare students for changes in routine, and support positive peer interactions during less structured parts of the school day.

🖨️ Format & Download:

✔️ Editable Google Slides social story.

✔️ Printable social story.

✔️ Expected behavior board game.

✔️ Picture cards and discussion prompts.

✔️ Expected vs. unexpected behavior sorting mats.

✔️ Printable worksheets, maze, and drawing activities.

✔️ Color and black-and-white resources.

This is a digital download with printable activities and an editable Google Slides component. No physical materials will be shipped.

📌 Important Notes:

This resource focuses specifically on expected and unexpected behaviors during indoor recess.

The editable social story allows you to adapt expectations to your own school environment. Classroom agreements, activity options, and routines may vary from school to school.

Expected behavior should be taught with consideration for students' developmental, sensory, communication, and disability-related needs. Students may demonstrate cooperation and participation in different ways.

The goal is to help students understand expectations, practice social skills, and feel prepared for indoor recess, rather than require every student to behave or participate identically.

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