Every Learner by UpOnly Learning

Free First-Then board and visual schedule cards

A printable First-Then board, a token strip and visual schedule cards for everyday activities. Every card shows the English, Spanish and Portuguese word.

First-Then Board & Visual Schedule Cards

A First-Then board with a token strip, visual schedule cards with original icons and photo-slot cards, a “finished” pocket, a change card and a one-page adult guide.

English, Spanish and Portuguese on every card

Download free (PDF)Black and white (PDF)

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What is in the file

  • A First-Then board with “First / Primero / Primeiro” and “Then / Después / Depois” printed on it
  • A token strip with an “I am working for” spot
  • Visual schedule cards with simple original icons, blank cards, and photo-slot cards for your own photos
  • A 2-step starter strip, a “finished” pocket and a change card
  • A one-page guide for adults in English, Spanish and Portuguese
  • Color pages and ink-saver (black-and-white) pages. There is no answer key, because the board is open-ended.

How to start

The full walk-through is in How to use a First-Then board.

  1. Put one short task in “First” and something the child enjoys in “Then”.
  2. Say as few words as possible, and give the “Then” activity every time “First” is done[1].
  3. Change the “Then” picture when it stops being a favourite[2].
  4. When two steps go well, move on to the schedule cards.

Research behind the approach

  • Visual supports are on the autism evidence-based-practice list summarized by UNC's Frank Porter Graham Institute. They are described as concrete cues paired with, or used in place of, a spoken cue, with evidence from early intervention to young adults[3]. That list was drawn from research published from 1990 to 2017[4].
  • Vanderbilt's TRIAD program describes a First-Then board as a visual support showing a two-step work-reward sequence[2]. The idea goes back to Premack (1959), who proposed that a more frequent, preferred response can reinforce a less frequent one[5].
  • A token economy is a form of positive reinforcement on the same list[6]. A 2022 review of token economies in K–5 settings found them widely used, with mixed results depending on the classroom type[7].
  • Research on visual supports supports using picture-based cues alongside spoken directions[3]. We make no promise about behaviour.

Questions

What is a First-Then board?

A visual support that shows two steps: something to do first, then something the child enjoys. Vanderbilt's TRIAD program describes it as a two-step work-reward sequence[2].

How do I use one?

Put a short task in “First” and a favourite activity in “Then”. Use as few words as possible, and always give the “Then” activity once “First” is done[1]. The “Then” picture should be something the child enjoys, and favourites may need changing often[2].

Photos or icons?

Use whichever the child understands best. Autism practice guidance suggests choosing the form of picture based on the individual learner[3]. The file has icon cards and photo-slot cards.

What if the schedule doesn't work?

Schedules usually need to be taught, not just printed. One university technical-assistance centre notes that visual schedules by themselves are not as effective as they could be[8]. Start with two steps, follow through every time[1], and talk with your child's teacher or a behaviour professional if problems continue.

What is the token strip for?

A token system is a form of positive reinforcement: the child earns tokens toward a chosen reward[6]. Research on token systems in K–5 classrooms reports wide use and mixed results in some settings[7].

Is it in Spanish and Portuguese?

Yes. Every card shows English, Spanish and Portuguese together, so one set works for the whole family.

Is this only for autistic children?

No. Visual supports are used with many learners, and the autism evidence covers early childhood through young adulthood[3]. We describe the board by what it does, not by diagnosis.

Keep reading

Written by the UpOnly Learning team. Sources checked 26 Oct 2026; page updated 27 Oct 2026.

References

  1. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD. First Then Tip Sheet. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  2. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD / Tennessee Dept. of Education. Quick Tips for Teaching First-Then Board (2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  3. UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (AFIRM). Visual Supports Brief Packet (Sam & AFIRM Team, 2024, Updated). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  4. UNC School of Education. Team led by Kara Hume finds five new evidence-based practices for children and youth with autism (Jan 27, 2021). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  5. Psychological Review (via Illinois State Univ. course file). Premack, D. (1959). Toward empirical behavior laws: I. Positive reinforcement. Psychological Review, 66(4), 219-233. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  6. UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (AFIRM). Reinforcement Brief Packet (Sam & AFIRM Team, 2024, Updated). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  7. Behavior Modification (SAGE), via Penn State Pure. Kim, Fienup, Oh & Wang (2022). Systematic review and meta-analysis of token economy practices in K-5 educational settings, 2000 to 2019. Behavior Modification 46(6), 1460-1487. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  8. Old Dominion University Training & Technical Assistance Center (TTAC). Check your schedule: why your visual schedule may not be working in your classroom. Checked 26 Oct 2026.

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