Picture Schedule Cards

Visual Schedule for Preschool

Preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten picture schedule cards.

How to Use a Picture Schedule

Daily Picture Schedule Cards

Having a picture schedule in a pocket chart is a must for all early childhood classrooms.

Preschool Picture Schedule

What is a Picture Schedule?

A daily schedule is displayed sequentially either in a pocket chart with a clothespin, or on a magnet or white board to indicate when transitions will occur.

The clothespin or magnet is moved to the next activity at the beginning of every transition to indicate what is happening next. Each activity is represented by a picture and the word on a card.

Picture Schedule Cards for Preschool

Why Use a Picture Schedule?

Using a pocket chart or board to display your picture schedule helps create smooth transitions by giving your little learners a visual reminder of what is happening or is going to happen next in class.

Printable Picture Schedule for Preschool and Pre-K
A picture schedule can help:

  • Ease separation anxiety by allowing children to see a visual representation of the day. When an anxious child begins to see the clip moving towards the bottom they know it is getting closer to the time when they will be reunited with their loved ones. How many times have you heard “I want to see my mommy!” on the first day of school? Or how about “When is lunch?” All of these problems are greatly diminished with the consistent use of a picture schedule.
  • Those students who have difficulty “finishing” a task and moving on to the next. The two to five minute gentle reminder paired with the physical movement of the clip and the song helps them with the transition process.

Editable Picture Schedule for Preschool and Pre-K

Establish a Consistent Routine with a Picture Schedule

A picture schedule can help your students learn the routines and procedures more quickly. When they are familiar with the routine you will save time on transitions and gain time for learning.

Just think, if you waste 5 minutes on average per transition and you have 8-12 transitions in a day (maybe more) that adds up quickly!

If you add up all the instructional minutes lost throughout the year you’ll be shocked. A picture schedule will help you add more learning into your day so you can help your students meet the standards.

Preschool Picture Schedule Cards

How to Use a Picture Schedule

First, hang the chart or cards in your large group area, at the student’s eye level.

Next, place the picture cards in the order in which they occur, first to last.

Then, reference the chart each and every time you transition from one activity to the next. Say something like “It’s almost time for Math; I’m going to move the clip down to Math in two minutes.” Sing a quick chant or song when it’s time to transition to re-direct the student’s attention.

Visual Schedule for Pre-K and Preschool

Picture Schedule Chant

The following chant is simple and does the trick:

Tune: Farmer in the Dell
It’s time for math now,
It’s time for math now.
Heigh-ho, did you know?
It’s time for math now.

Just change the name of the activity each time you sing it. Soon your students will start to sing along with you as they transition.

When your students become familiar with the routine you can select a student to be the “schedule helper.” The schedule helper is in charge of moving the clip when you begin to sing the transition song.

Editable Picture Schedule Cards
Creating your own picture cards doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming, I’ve done all the hard work for you! Check out these editable schedule cards with 5 different color borders.

Each packet contains 20 pages and includes 67 editable cards for creating your own schedule. Packets are offered in PDF with fillable form fields for easily adding your own text.

Cards for the following activities are included:

  • Lunch (2 versions)
  • Snack
  • Recess
  • Playground
  • Circle Time
  • Math
  • Literacy Stations
  • Math Centers
  • Math Stations
  • Letter Work
  • Math Workshop
  • Literacy Centers
  • Word Work
  • Centers
  • Art
  • Music
  • P.E.
  • Gym
  • Library
  • Computers
  • Technology
  • Reading Workshop
  • Writing Workshop
  • Worship
  • Bible
  • Chapel
  • Calendar
  • Science (3 versions)
  • Dismissal (2 versions)
  • Breakfast
  • Morning Meeting
  • Table Time
  • Language Arts
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Tooth Brushing
  • Arrival
  • Brain Break
  • Hand Washing
  • Bathroom (4 versions)
  • Reading Buddies
  • Free Choice
  • Movement
  • Social Studies
  • Small Group
  • Prayer
  • Yard
  • Rest Time
  • Nap Time
  • Guidance
  • Story Time
  • Mindfulness
  • Sign-In
  • Religion
  • Yoga
  • Goodbye
  • Greeting
  • Welcome

All schedule cards are in PDF format. Each packet offers boxes that you can easily type text into for customization. To type your own text, place your cursor in the appropriate box and click, then type your text and hit enter.

More Teaching Tips from Pre-K Pages

Classroom Rules
a picture of 3 different daily schedules printed on colorful paper and laying flat on a table with colorful markers
[Image: How to prevent kids from biting]
calendar time tips
multisensory activities
a colorful collage of 6 photos showing different fine motor activities
Cutting Practice Ideas for Preschool
Movement Songs for Preschoolers

13 thoughts on “Picture Schedule Cards”

  1. Hi Vanessa,
    I was wondering if I can print only the cards I need for my visual schedule, or do I have to print the entire page that the cards I need are on? Example page 9, can I only print P.E. without having to print music, gym and library….
    Thanks for the beautiful work you do, and make it easier for others out here.
    Aurora

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