A Change of Plan
Four stories about changes at schoolSocial Stories · Ages 19+ · Reading level: Year 4
Jack: Rain in the garden
Jack enjoys gardening at school. On Tuesday morning, he puts his gloves in his bag. “Today we’re planting beans,” he says. He is looking forward to working outside.
Rain pours down before the session starts.
Helen, his teacher, says, “We can’t work in the garden today. It’s too wet.”
Jack puts his gloves on the table.
“I wanted to plant the beans,” he says.
“I know you were looking forward to it,” Helen says.
“Today we can sort seeds indoors.”
Jack asks, “What will we do first?”
Helen shows him the seed packets and explains the task.
“Can I have a few minutes before I start?” Jack asks.
“Yes,” says Helen. She shows him where he can sit.
After a short break, Jack joins the table.
He still wishes he could plant outside, but he knows the new plan.
Lucy: Art at a different time
Lucy usually has art after the morning break. She carries her sketchbook to the art room. Today, the door is shut. Her teacher, Mark, is waiting in the corridor.
“The room needs cleaning,” Mark explains.
“Art will be after lunch today.”
Lucy frowns. “But art is usually now.”
She is unsure what she should do next.
Mark shows Lucy the updated timetable.
“First we have reading. Then lunch. After lunch, we have art.”
Lucy points to the art picture.
“Can I keep my sketchbook with me?” she asks.
“Yes,” says Mark.
After lunch, Lucy goes to the art room with her sketchbook.
The room is ready.
She begins her landscape painting.
Art happened later than usual. Looking at the timetable helped Lucy know when to return.
Tom: A different teacher
Tom walks into his classroom on Wednesday. His usual teacher, Mr Brown, is not there. A different teacher is beside the desk. Tom stops at the door. “Where is Mr Brown?” he asks.
“Mr Brown is away today,” she says.
“My name is Rose. I’m teaching your class.”
Tom holds his notebook.
“I haven’t worked with you before,” he says.
He feels unsure about the morning.
“Can you show me what we’re doing?” Tom asks.
Rose points to the timetable.
“We have our usual reading session first. I’ll explain the worksheet.”
Tom asks if she can show him the first question. She sits beside him.
Tom reads the first question with Rose.
Then he starts the next one.
Later, he asks her to explain a word.
Rose is new to him, but he can still ask questions and get help.
Grace: The library visit
Grace has brought a bag for the library books. Her class plans to visit the library this morning. She hopes to borrow a book about trains. She waits near the school entrance with her teacher, Alice.
Alice gets a message. The library is closed for repairs.
“We can’t visit today,” she tells the class.
Grace looks at her empty bag.
“I wanted to choose my book,” she says.
She feels disappointed.
“When can we go?” Grace asks.
“I don’t know the new date yet,” Alice says.
“I’ll tell you when the library confirms it.”
Grace asks Alice to write a note about the change. They put it beside the timetable.
Today, the class uses the school reading room instead.
Grace finds a travel book on the shelf.
It is not the book she planned to borrow, but she chooses to look at it.
No new date has been set yet. Grace knows who she can ask for an update.