Personal Space Task Box: Social Skills and Greetings, High School

This personal space task box teaches "too close" versus "just right" and the right greeting, with "ask first" built in.

Why I made this: Standing too close, touching without asking, or hugging the wrong person can cost a student a friendship or a job, even when they mean well. And every student needs to know they can ask for space and say no. This box teaches space with pictures first, then real situations, then greetings at home, at school, and at work, with "ask first" built in.

What’s included (20 pages):

• Level A ●: 12 picture cards to sort "too close" or "just right"

• Level B ■: 24 situation cards to sort "too close" or "just right" at school, in the community, and at work

• Level C ▲: 24 choice cards about greetings, asking first, and asking for space

• A two part sorting mat and a "Greetings: who gets what?" page

• 3 practice pages, one for each level

• Answer key for every card

• Data sheet and a 10 session accuracy graph

• A try it for real page with an adult check

• Ideas for practicing at home and around school, and blank cards

How I use it: We measure an arm’s length with tape on the floor, then students work on their level in the task box. I use the greetings page at the door each morning and take data on the data sheet and the adult check.

Who it is for: Special education teachers in structured, self contained, and life skills classrooms, resource rooms, counselors, and paras, for students in grades 5 to 8 and older students who need the same skills.

What you download: Personal Space Task Box Social Emotional.pdf (20 pages, US Letter, print ready).

How this is different: This is a structured task box with levels and data. No live product teaches personal space or greetings, and no text is shared.

Part of the Social Emotional Task Box series.

Made by Jeremy D. Gooch, special education teacher and transition coordinator. Drafting and layout had AI assistance; every page was checked by me.