PBIS Memory Cards – Playground Edition

Positive Behavior Expectations Matching Game

Make recess expectations more engaging with PBIS Memory Cards: Playground Edition! This interactive matching game helps students recognize common playground behavior challenges and connect each one with an appropriate corrective action, replacement behavior, or responsible next step.

Students encounter realistic situations such as pushing while waiting for swings, excluding classmates from games, climbing up the front of a slide, arguing over game calls, refusing to share equipment, teasing classmates, cutting in line, and using playground equipment unsafely. 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 – Playground Edition card backs
• Realistic playground and recess behavior scenarios
• Corrective and replacement-behavior cards
• Expectations focused on safety, inclusion, sportsmanship, responsibility, and respectful play
• Print-ready cards that can be cut apart and reused

Students do more than identify an unexpected behavior. They match each situation with a response that helps them repair the problem and practice the expected playground behavior.

Corrective actions include waiting patiently for a turn, inviting classmates into games, using slides correctly, taking a short reset before returning to play, following game rules, sharing equipment, and using encouraging words with peers. PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations… PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations…

Skills & Expectations Reinforced

Students practice expectations related to:

• Waiting patiently for playground equipment
• Keeping hands and feet to themselves
• Including others in games
• Following agreed-upon game rules
• Showing good sportsmanship
• Sharing balls and equipment
• Using playground structures safely
• Staying within assigned play areas
• Following teacher signals
• Using appropriate outdoor voice levels
• Respecting safety cones and boundaries
• Keeping exits and pathways clear
• Playing safely around buildings and windows
• Caring for recess equipment
• Cleaning up after recess
• Using respectful language during disagreements
• Responding appropriately when a game does not go their way

The set addresses realistic recess challenges such as unsafe slide use, wandering into another grade's area, tugging on classmates during tag, blocking tunnels, screaming excessively, using equipment incorrectly, hiding when recess ends, playing in off-limits areas, throwing rocks or woodchips, and jumping from moving swings. 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 instruction.

Students make the connection:

Unexpected Playground Behavior → Positive Replacement Behavior

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

Was this behavior Safe, Respectful, or Responsible?
How might this choice affect other students?
What could the student do differently next time?
How can students solve disagreements during games?
What does good sportsmanship look and sound like?

The corrective cards reinforce practical replacement behaviors such as passing the ball to teammates, offering positive comments about another player's effort, replacing safety markers, sliding feet-first, apologizing after unsafe tag, moving games away from buildings, and returning equipment to the proper storage area. PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations… PBIS Memory - PBIS Expectations…

Perfect For

Use these cards during:

• PBIS instruction
• Back-to-school expectation lessons
• Recess procedure practice
• Playground safety lessons
• Morning meetings
• SEL lessons
• Small-group behavior instruction
• Counseling groups
• Classroom centers
• Partner activities
• Behavior intervention groups
• Conflict-resolution lessons
• Sportsmanship instruction
• 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 playground 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, conflict-resolution practice, recess preparation, small-group intervention, or whole-class PBIS review.

Build Better Recess Habits

Recess gives students an important opportunity to play, socialize, solve problems, and practice independence. Clear expectations help make sure that playground time remains fun and safe for everyone.

PBIS Memory Cards: Playground Edition gives students an engaging way to practice those expectations while reinforcing inclusion, cooperation, sportsmanship, safe equipment use, and responsible decision-making.

Help students put Safe, Respectful, and Responsible behavior into action every time they head outside to play!