Free PECS Sentence Strip Template
A reusable sentence strip your child builds requests on: a fixed starter like I want, then blank slots for the picture cards that finish the sentence.
- Free printable PDF
- Editable in browser
A sentence strip is the next step after single PECS cards. Your child starts with a fixed opener like I want, then adds a picture card to complete the request, so the I want starter plus the apple card becomes a whole sentence handed to you at once. It turns one-word exchanges into short, clear requests.
This template prints in two parts. The first is a reusable strip base: the starter followed by blank slots you laminate and keep. The second is a matching tray of picture cards cut to the exact slot size, so every card your child picks drops neatly onto a slot and lines up with the hook-and-loop marker.
Set the strip up somewhere your child can reach it, model a full sentence a few times a day, and hand over what they ask for the moment the strip comes together. Keep a small stack of cards nearby so the sentence can change with whatever your child wants.
Printable picture cards, sentence strips, and a communication book to start and grow picture exchange.
When to use this template
Best once your child uses single cards reliably and is ready to combine a starter with a picture to make a longer request.
How to customize this template
- Swap the starter to match how your child asks, whether that is I want, I see, or your own wording.
- Match a slot card to a photo of the real object, like their own cup or a favorite snack, so the request is unmistakable.
- Start with one slot and add a second once your child strings two pictures together with ease.
A board to put these cards on
Cards need somewhere to live. The free Choice Board Maker prints a blank Velcro board with slots at the same 1.5, 2, and 3 inch sizes these cards cut to, so a card from this set drops straight into a slot. Use it when you want your child to pick from a small set of options rather than bring you one card.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a PECS sentence strip?
- It is a strip that holds a fixed sentence starter, like I want, next to one or more blank slots. Your child adds a picture card to each slot to build a request, then hands you the whole strip so you can read the full sentence at once.
- How is a sentence strip different from single PECS cards?
- Single cards let a child hand over one picture at a time. A sentence strip lets them combine a starter with a picture to make a longer, clearer request, which is usually the step families take after single cards become reliable.
- Is this sentence strip template free to print?
- Yes. Download the print-ready PDF with no email required, or open it in the free editor to change the starter, set the number of slots, pick a card size, and swap in your own photos before you print.
Related templates
Core Request Cards
The first eight PECS cards most children need: want, more, help, break, stop, all done, yes, and no.
Daily Routine PECS Cards
Cards for everyday steps your child can follow and request: wake up, brush teeth, and wash hands.
Communication Book Template
A printable multi-page PECS book: a cover plus a page of picture cards for each category your child needs, from food to feelings.
I Feel Sentence Strip
An I feel strip base plus a tray of emotion cards, so your child can build a sentence like I feel angry one card at a time.
I Want More Sentence Strip
An I want more strip base plus a tray of food and drink cards, so your child can ask for more milk, more apple, or more water.
I See Sentence Strip
An I see strip base plus a tray of play cards, so your child can comment on what they notice, like I see a ball or I see a book.