Visual Schedule Maker
Build your class's day from picture cards: drag them into order, add times, then show the schedule full screen on the board or as a simple "first, then" / "now and next" board. Check off each activity as you go, and print a schedule strip, cut-out cards or a now-and-next board.
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What is a visual schedule?
A visual schedule shows the order of the day as pictures with words. Children can see what is happening now, what comes next and when it is time to go home, which makes the day more predictable and transitions easier.
Visual schedules are used in pre-K, kindergarten and elementary classrooms, and they are a common support in special education, including for autistic students, students with speech and language needs and English learners. A personal "now and next" (or "first, then") board can help a student who finds a whole day too much to take in.
How to use a visual schedule well
- Post it at child height where everyone can see it, and go through it together at morning meeting.
- Refer to it at every transition. Point to the next card before you move on, and check off or remove finished cards.
- Show changes early. If an assembly moves or there is a visitor, change the schedule and talk about it ahead of time.
- Keep the words the same as the ones you use out loud, so the card and the direction match.
- Use "now and next" for individual students who need smaller steps, and agree it with your special education team and the child's family when it is part of an IEP or 504 plan.
Printing and laminating
- Schedule strip: the whole day in order, across a landscape page or down a portrait page for a desk or door.
- Cut-out cards: nine large cards per page to cut out, laminate and stick on with Velcro dots.
- Now and next board: a landscape board with two spaces for your laminated cards.
All picture cards on this page were drawn by Classfern and are free to print for your classroom.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a visual schedule?
Press a picture card, or drag it into "Your schedule", for each part of the day. Change the words if you need to, add times, and reorder cards with the arrows or by dragging. Then show it on the board or print it.
Can I show the visual schedule on the interactive whiteboard?
Yes. Press Show on board for the whole day or Now and next for two big cards. Press "Done, next" (or the right arrow key) after each activity and the schedule moves on.
What is a now and next board?
A simple board showing only the current activity and the one that follows (sometimes called a "first, then" board). It suits younger children and students who find a full schedule overwhelming.
Can I add my own activities?
Yes. Add the "My card" picture or any card, then type your own words in the label box, such as a small-group pull-out or a special event.