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
I want ___ ___ ___
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.
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.
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.