FREE Writing Activity for Back to School Rules

I have a new favorite back-to-school book…

Back-to-School Rules by Laurie Friedman

Percy has his own back-to-school rules and, if you follow them, you will surely make the grade!

Read and Discuss

I read this book to my first graders today. They loved it and it spurred a great discussion. We talked about why rules are often “don’t do this” and “don’t do that,” when in fact, they are much more effective when we say, “do this” and “do that.” After discussing some of Percy’s rules, we practiced turning his “dont’s” into “do-s.”

I then asked my kids to think of a “don’ts” they hear at school.

Don’t run in the halls.

Don’t throw your trash on the floor.

Don’t hit.

Don’t be mean.

We then turned these “don’ts” around and came up with:

Do walk in the halls.

Do throw your trash in the garbage.

Do use your hands for high fives and handshakes.

Do be kind.

FREE Writing Activity

Next, I asked my students to choose their favorite don’t and write in on the “don’t” side of the paper below. Then turn that don’t into a do and write it on the “do” side of the paper. Finally, I had them add an illustration to go with their don’t and do.

If you would like to do this activity with your students, simple click the image above to download.

Here are some samples of my student’s work:

Top: “Don’t be crazy. Do be calm.”

Middle: “Don’t be mean. Do be nice.”

Bottom: “Don’t play at [during] math. Do play when [during] free time.”

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Looking for other back-to-school books? Try these:

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