PBIS Memory Cards – On the Bus Edition

Positive Behavior Expectations Matching Game

Help students practice safe and responsible bus behavior with PBIS Memory Cards: On the Bus Edition! This engaging matching game helps students recognize common behavior challenges that occur while boarding, riding, and exiting the school bus and connect each one with an appropriate corrective action, replacement behavior, or responsible next step.

Students encounter realistic situations such as putting body parts outside the bus window, being disrespectful to the driver, crossing before receiving the driver's signal, pushing while boarding, changing seats while the bus is moving, blocking the aisle, and using unkind words or gestures toward others. PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations… PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations…

What’s Included

This resource includes:

• 60 PBIS Memory Cards
• 30 matching behavior/action pairs
• Coordinating PBIS Memory – On the Bus Edition card backs
• Realistic school-bus behavior scenarios
• Corrective and replacement-behavior cards
• Expectations covering bus stops, boarding, riding, railroad crossings, and exiting
• Print-ready cards that can be cut apart and reused

Students do more than identify an unsafe or unexpected behavior. They match each situation with an action that helps them correct the problem and practice the expected bus behavior.

Corrective actions include keeping all body parts inside the bus, apologizing to the driver, waiting for the driver's hand signal before crossing, cleaning up food or spills, returning to the end of the boarding line, and waiting for the bus to stop completely before changing seats. PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations… PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations… PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations…

Skills & Expectations Reinforced

Students practice expectations related to:

• Boarding the bus calmly and safely
• Remaining seated while the bus is moving
• Keeping body parts inside the bus
• Following the driver's directions immediately
• Using respectful language with the driver and peers
• Keeping hands and feet to themselves
• Keeping aisles and exits clear
• Using appropriate voice levels
• Waiting safely at the bus stop
• Crossing only when directed by the driver
• Staying out of the driver's blind spots
• Maintaining silence at railroad crossings
• Using electronics appropriately
• Respecting bus property and equipment
• Keeping the bus clean
• Sharing seats appropriately
• Avoiding distractions that interfere with the driver's concentration

The set addresses common situations such as walking behind the bus, drawing on seats or walls, using loud electronics, refusing to share a seat, throwing objects, distracting the driver with questions, tampering with emergency equipment, leaving trash behind, standing while the bus is moving, and running toward an approaching bus. PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations… PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations… PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations…

More Than a Traditional Memory Game

This resource combines the familiar fun of a matching game with meaningful PBIS and school-bus safety instruction.

Students make the connection:

Unexpected Bus Behavior → Safe & Responsible Replacement Behavior

When students find a matching pair, extend the learning with questions such as:

What makes this behavior unsafe?
How could this choice distract the bus driver?
Was the behavior Safe, Respectful, or Responsible?
What should the student do differently next time?
Why are bus expectations especially important while the vehicle is moving?

Corrective cards reinforce practical replacement behaviors such as storing bags under the seat or on a lap, practicing silence at railroad crossings, making room for another student, listening for the next direction, arriving at the bus stop early, waiting to ask non-emergency questions, and checking the seating area for belongings and trash before leaving. PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations… PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations… PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations…

Perfect For

Use these cards during:

• PBIS instruction
• Back-to-school expectation lessons
• Bus safety lessons
• Transportation expectation review
• Morning meetings
• SEL lessons
• Small-group behavior instruction
• Counseling groups
• Classroom centers
• Partner activities
• Behavior intervention groups
• Field trip preparation
• Schoolwide expectation refreshers
• Behavior reteaching after school breaks

Easy to Prepare & Play

Simply print, cut, shuffle, and play!

For additional durability, print the cards on cardstock and laminate them for repeated use throughout the school year.

For traditional memory play, place the cards face down. Students turn over two cards at a time and try to match a bus behavior scenario with its corresponding corrective-action card. When a correct match is found, the student keeps the pair.

The cards can also be used for sorting activities, role-play, discussion prompts, partner challenges, bus-safety instruction, small-group intervention, or whole-class PBIS review.

Build Safer Bus Habits

Safe school transportation depends on students understanding that their choices affect not only themselves and their classmates, but also the driver's ability to focus on the road.

PBIS Memory Cards: On the Bus Edition gives students an engaging way to practice those expectations while reinforcing safe movement, respectful communication, responsibility for belongings, and appropriate behavior at bus stops and crossings.

Help students carry Safe, Respectful, and Responsible behavior with them from the bus stop to school—and all the way home!