Teaching Behavior Expectations With Card Games!

Use this sorting activity in your classroom at the beginning of the year and after long breaks to remind students how to behave in ways that are respectful, honest, responsible, and safe.

The resource includes:

• definitions of above-the-line, below-the-line, and bottom-line behaviors
• above-the-line behavior cards
• below the line behavior cards
• bottom-line behavior cards
• editable cards (to add additional behaviors if you wish)

Ways to Use These Sorting Cards in the Classroom

Center Activity to Reinforce Classroom Expectations

Place the 3 sorting headers in the center of the playing area. Students slit the deck equally between them. Students take turns placing one of the cards in their hands under the appropriate header. As they lay down their card, have them explain why they believe the card falls under that category. The game ends when all of the cards have been placed under the correct category.

Whole-Class Back-To-School Activity

Draw 3 circles on the board and place each category header inside of a circle. Randomly call on a student to come and draw a card from the deck. Have them read the card out loud to the class, place the card in the corresponding circle, and explain why they think the card belongs there. The rest of the class will give a thumbs up or down as to whether they agree with the decision.

Small-Group Lesson

Use in a small group as part of a social skills lesson.

🖨️ Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

This resource is available as a printable PDF and as an editable Google Slides resource file. To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button and select your preferred resource type.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources to Teach Beginning-of-Year Behavior Expectations

Don’t stop there! Make sure you check out these amazing resources to help you remind your students of appropriate behaviors at the beginning of the school year.

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