First–then board
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“First tidy up, then play.” A first–then board says the plan in two pictures, so a child who can't yet hold a long instruction in English — or in any language — still knows what is happening now and what comes next. Pick the two cards, put the board up on the screen and tick the first one off when it's done. It is a small visual support that helps the whole class with transitions, and means a great deal to children who find change hard.
- Age
- Ages 3–11
- Format
- Online tool
First work, then play.
The picture cards
Every card reads as part of one short sentence — “First work, then play.” — so the board can be said out loud as well as seen.
Tasks and routines
- tidy up
- wash hands
- toilet
- coats on
- line up
- sit down
- listen
- work
- write
- read
- lunch
- quiet time
Things to look forward to
- play
- outside
- snack
- story
- sing
- dance
- draw
- blocks
- puzzle
- music
- rest
- sticker
- home
- Keep the “then” something the child really wants, and keep the “first” short enough to finish.
- Say the board as you point to it, every time, in the same words.
- Once the first card is done, tick it off together — that moment is the whole point.
How teachers use it
- Transitions: “First coats on, then outside” on the screen while the class gets ready, so you don't have to say it ten times.
- One child, one plan: a child who needs it gets a board of their own — first the worksheet, then the blocks.
- Language practice: children read the board aloud — “First write, then draw” — and then make boards for a partner.
Questions teachers ask
Who is a first–then board for?
Any young class at transition times, and especially children who need to see the plan rather than hear it: the youngest learners, children still new to English, and children with autism or ADHD who find changes hard. It is a visual support many early-years and special-education teachers already use.
Can I use it with a timer?
Yes. Under the board are shortcuts to the classroom timer set to 2, 5 or 10 minutes: start it for the “first” part, and when it rings, tick the card off and move on to the “then”. The board stays as you left it when you come back.
Can I print the board?
Yes. “Print board and cards” opens two A4 pages: the first–then board, with your two cards on it or left blank, and the full set of picture cards to cut out. Laminate them and stick the cards on with Velcro dots, and the paper board lasts all year.
All of them on one screen
Need the timer, the name picker and the quiet meter at the same time? The Classroom Screen puts every widget on one full-screen dashboard.
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