Description

Starting school can bring many emotions for children. New environments, unfamiliar routines, and meeting new people can feel exciting but also overwhelming. This Going to School Social Story and Companion Activity Pack helps children understand what to expect during a school day while building confidence and reducing anxiety about school routines. In this story, siblings Ava and Eli prepare for their school day and learn about classroom routines, listening to teachers, working with classmates, and following directions.

The story gently explains that school is a place where children learn, make friends, and practice new skills.

Through simple language and supportive visuals, children learn that:

• teachers help students learn
• classmates can become friends
• routines help school days run smoothly
• asking for help is always okay

This resource was created by a former special educator and autism parent and is designed for students who benefit from predictable language, visual supports, and structured preparation for new experiences.

What’s Included Social Story

A step-by-step social narrative that explains what happens during a typical school day.

Students learn about:

• getting ready for school
• arriving at school
• listening to the teacher
• participating in classroom activities
• working with classmates
• asking for help
• feeling proud of learning new things

The story models positive school behaviors while helping students understand classroom expectations.

Companion Activity Pack

The companion activities reinforce school routines and emotional preparation.

Activities include:

• Parent and teacher guide
• Reflection worksheet about school
• Identifying school helpers and classroom roles
• Classroom expectations discussion page
• School routine activities
• Maze activity
• Word search
• Coloring pages
• Reflection page for sharing feelings about school
• School Star award certificate

These activities help children build confidence, understanding, and comfort with school routines.

Skills Addressed

This resource supports development of:

• school readiness
• following directions
• classroom routines
• social skills
• listening skills
• emotional confidence
• independence
• classroom expectations

IEP Goals This Resource May Support Social Skills Goals

Student will demonstrate understanding of classroom expectations and routines.

Life Skills Goals

Student will identify steps involved in attending school.

Communication Goals

Student will answer comprehension questions about school routines.

Emotional Regulation Goals

Student will identify feelings related to new experiences.

Independence Goals

Student will demonstrate increased comfort with school routines.

Who This Resource Is For

Perfect for:

• Autism classrooms
• Special education classrooms
• Kindergarten readiness lessons
• Back-to-school preparation
• Social skills instruction
• Speech therapy sessions
• Occupational therapy sessions
• Parents preparing children for school

Especially helpful for students who:

• feel anxious about school
• benefit from visual supports and structured explanations
• need help understanding school routines

File Details

This resource is a digital download.

Included files combined:

• Printable Going to School Social Story PDF
• Printable Companion Activity Pack PDF

Teachers often use these pages for:

• back-to-school lessons
• life skills instruction
• social skills groups
• calm corners
• home preparation before the first day of school

Copyright

Adventures of Ava & Eli series © AvaHasAutism
All rights reserved.

This resource includes symbols from Boardmaker® Picture Communication Symbols (PCS)
Boardmaker PCS © Tobii Dynavox, LLC. Used with permission.