Autism Learning, Life Skills & Fitness

Your Make & Take Toolkit (Autism-Friendly, Print-and-Use)

When a day feels messy, autistic learners often don’t need “more talking”… they need clear visuals, simple steps, and a finished point. This page is your grab-bag of make-and-take tools you can print, laminate, and reuse all year.

Below are work pacers, folders, schedule cards, conversation boards, sensory recipes etc.

These ideas are tried, tested, and quite useful on a daily basis.

1) Work Pacers (punch cards + sticker pacers)

These help with: “How much work?” “How long?” “When is break?”

  • Work Pacer Punchcards – Print on cardstock. Cut and fasten the card inside a student’s work pocket folder. This system works extremely well for students who do not manage their time well. This system also works for students who are prone to tantrums because they do not know how long they must work. The punch card is usually reinforcing for most students. If they can punch by themselves. Of course, you first must teach the concept of a “break”. This is not too difficult. Begin with 2 worksheets. As soon as the student has punched their card after each activity and has finished both activities, emphasise the words Break time or Take a break. Let the student choose their free time activity from a choice board or whatever system you use, right away. If you are consistent with this work system, the student will soon learn the concept. You can do the work on the left side of the pocket folder, and the student can finish the work on the right-hand side.
  • Punch-card token economy templates (printable “punch card” style). 
  • If you prefer “work systems” over rewards, this explains what a work system is and how it supports independence. 
  • Here’s a sticker pacer version for students who do not have the manual dexterity to punch. Alternatively, they can colour each circle after each activity is finished.

Themes and Ring Binders
Buy lots of binders, and whenever you come across a worksheet, activity, recipe, song or art idea that goes with that theme, put it in a designated binder. Never mind that the worksheet might not be at an appropriate level for your current students. The abilities of autistic students are so varied that chances are, you will one day have a student for whom it will be suitable. Another advantage of themes is that although within your class you may have a wide range of abilities, you can still have students working on the same topic.

Boxes
Like ring binders, storage boxes dedicated to certain themes are extremely useful. If you make decorations, communication overlays, flash cards, themed bingo or folder games, collect and store them with your binder in a box. Pop in books and puzzles that go with the theme. This may sound a little fussy, but when you have put together a few of these, it is very pleasant to be able to put your hands on all your materials easily, every year.

Make it work in real life:

  • Start tiny: 2 tasks → break.
  • Keep the “break” short and clear (2–5 minutes).
  • Use the same routine every time: Do → Mark → Finished → Break.

2) The classic TEACCH folder (left-to-right, finished on the right)

This is one of the best “make and take” systems ever because it’s simple and visual.

Quick setup:

  • Left pocket = “TO DO”
  • Right pocket = “FINISHED”
  • Add a small “Break” card on the desk.

3) First–Then boards (the fastest calm-down tool)

First–Then helps with transitions and “I don’t want to” moments.

  • Free First–Then board + how to use it. 
  • A clear First–Then tip sheet (great if staff/parents need simple instructions). 
  • Yes and No Board – Teach choice-making and increase communication skills with verbal and nonverbal children. Print multiple copies of the yes/no board. Attach to work surfaces, cafeteria tables, doors, etc. Teaching students to make choices and to respond to yes or no questions is difficult. Begin by teaching it hand over hand – e.g., “Do you want a cookie? Yes? ” (touching student hand to yes symbol), “or no? ” (touching student hand to no symbol). If the student indicates in some way that the answer is yes, touch the student’s hand to the yes symbol, say “yes”, and reinforce with the cookie or suitable reinforcer. If the student indicates the answer is no, touch the student’s hand to the no symbol, say “no”, and withhold the cookie. This technique can be used in any setting: “Do you want to go outside? “, “Do you want to stop? “, “Is this red? “, and so forth. “Yes and No” requires lots of practice in many settings, but it’s worth it. Reliable student response to yes and no questions is a milestone skill.
  • Response card and a brand-new Bumper sticker communication card. Print this visual prompt and nonverbal response card to increase student choices and responses while they participate in daily classroom activities.

How to Make Folder Games
Print and paste the pictures in a file folder (letter or legal, depending on the size of the pictures). Laminate the folder. For the sturdiest results, paste the numbers or whatever to squares of foam board or heavy (box) cardboard and cover each piece with Contact paper. Get some hook and loop adhesive-backed Velcro to fasten little loop squares to the folder and corresponding matching hook squares to the Contact-covered pieces. This requires some time and effort, but these games will last year after year if constructed in this way.

Example:

FIRST worksheet → THEN bubbles (That’s it. Keep it simple.)

4) Visual schedules + schedule cards (so the day isn’t a surprise)

Schedules reduce anxiety because the person can see what’s next.

  • ARASAAC has heaps of free routine/schedule materials made with pictograms. 
  • Visual schedule research shows they can support on-task behaviour and transitions. 

About Schedule Cards
First, read the great book Activity Schedules for Children with Autism: Teaching Independent Behavior (Topics in Autism) by Lynn E. McClannahan and Patricia J. Krantz. Copy the cards below or use Boardmaker to make daily schedules. Use the pictures that best correlate to your own classroom materials. Use them to visually signal that it’s time to start an activity, aid student choice-making, and build independent schedule following. Laminate or slip into the sturdier kind of individual baseball card holders that you can buy, where kids purchase Pokémon and trading cards. Insert cards into a student’s schedule book using Velcro or into the schedule system you use in your class. Visual schedules really reduce student anxiety and help tremendously with transitions. Take photos of teachers whose classes are on the student’s schedule. Post these photos on the schedule so the student can learn their daily routine.

Make it durable:

  • Print small cards → put in trading card sleeves → add Velcro dots → swap as needed.

5) Activity choice boards (better “free time” and fewer arguments)

Choice boards help a learner communicate without guessing or bargaining.

Make your own:

  • Start with 3 choices only (too many choices can overwhelm).
  • Add a “break” choice and a “help” choice.

6) Visual timers (for waiting + transitions)

Timers make time visible. That helps with “how long left?” and reduces stress.

Simple rule:

Show the timer before you start, not when it’s time to stop.

7) File folder games (how to make them last)

Folder games are perfect for independent work and repetition.

Pro tip (durability):

Laminate the folder pieces, then add Velcro dots. It’ll last ages.

8) Theme binders + boxes (so you don’t lose everything)

Your old binder/box idea is gold. Here’s the upgraded version:

  • One binder per theme (Autumn, Christmas, Cooking, etc.)
  • One matching storage box: folder games + crafts + visuals + book list. If you run a theme again next year, you’re ready in minutes.

9) Work task boxes (big independence boost)

If you want students to work with less prompting, task systems are powerful.

10) Sensory “make and take” recipes (easy wins)

Coloured pasta (patterns, sorting, fine motor, sensory bins):

Long-lasting playdough:

Play-Doh Recipe – Make your own long-lasting dough! Colour it in seasonal colours and add essential oils or peppermint or vanilla essence to make for a rip-roaring multi-sensory experience.

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tbs. cooking oil
  • 2 tsps. cream of tartar
  • a few drops of food colouring

Cook the mixture in a pan over medium heat. Stir all the time to prevent sticking. When the mixture comes away from the sides of the pan, remove from heat. Knead and store in an airtight container or Ziplock bag. Keeps very well. Use Kool-Aid instead of food dye, as it stains less and smells nice.

A similar long-lasting playdough recipe using flour + salt + cream of tartar.

Action

Your “Make & Take Starter Kit” (print this list)

If you make only 6 things, make these:

  1. Left/Right work folder (TO DO / FINISHED) 
  2. First–Then board 
  3. Choice board (3 choices) 
  4. Simple visual schedule cards (ARASAAC routines) 
  5. Token/punch card (if motivation is an issue) 
  6. Visual timer routine (show timer → do task → finished)