Free Following Directions Speech Therapy Activity for Teens and Adults

Sometimes the hardest part of speech therapy isn’t knowing what to work on.

It’s finding something useful five minutes before the session starts.

An SLP may know that a patient needs to work on following directions, listening, attention, reading, or visual scanning—but creating a new activity takes time.

And digging through files looking for the right worksheet takes time too.

That’s why I created this free Following Directions speech therapy activity for older students and adults.

It is simple, practical, and ready to use.

One Freebie. So Many Ways to Use It.

This is one of those activities you can print once and use in several different ways.

The page shows a restaurant scene with a clock, calendar, menu board, plants, a light switch, a drum, and a couple sitting at a table.

The directions ask the patient to do things such as set the clock to 5:10, circle the drum, write “big salad” on the menu board, add leaves to a plant, write today’s date, and find other items in the picture.

That means you can work on more than simply following directions.

Use it to target auditory comprehension, reading comprehension, attention, visual scanning, memory, and cognitive-communication skills.

And you don't have to prepare a different activity for every goal.

Use It Written or Verbal

Want to work on reading comprehension?

Let the patient read each direction and complete it independently.

Want to work on auditory comprehension?

Keep the directions out of sight and read them aloud.

Want to add memory?

Read the direction, wait a few seconds, and then have the patient complete it.

Want to work on expressive language?

Switch roles. Have the patient give you a direction to complete on the picture.

One worksheet. Several therapy targets. Less prep for the SLP.

Make It Easier or Make It Harder

The same page can change as your patient’s skills change.

Make it easier: Read one direction at a time. Repeat it if needed. Let the patient look at the written direction while completing it.

Make it harder: Give the direction verbally without showing the words. Add a short delay before the patient responds. Or combine two directions together.

For example:

“Circle the drum, then draw an X on the light switch.”

You can also ask the patient to repeat the direction before completing it.

This lets you adjust the challenge without searching for another activity.

Take It Beyond Following Directions

The restaurant picture also gives you an easy way to move into more functional communication.

After completing the directions, use the picture to start a conversation.

Ask questions such as:

• What would you order at this restaurant?

• How would you ask the server for something you need?

• What time does the clock show?

• What might you write on a calendar?

• What do you think the couple is talking about?

• What would you do if the restaurant brought the wrong order?

What Other Educators Are Saying

“I found this resource to be incredibly well-organized and easy to use in my classroom. The activities are engaging and perfectly aligned with standards. My students enjoyed the hands-on approach, and I appreciated the clear instructions and helpful visuals. It saved me a lot of prep time and made my lessons more effective. Highly recommend for any teacher looking to enhance their literacy/math lessons!”

Ready to Use It in Your Next Session?

Sometimes the best therapy material is the one you can open, print, and use right away.

Download the FREE Following Directions Activity and add it to your therapy toolbox.

Use it with older students and adults for following directions, comprehension, attention, visual scanning, and more.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS ACTIVITY

Love Having Therapy Materials Ready When You Need Them?

Imagine having a growing library of adult speech therapy resources at your fingertips.

No more digging through file drawers, searching online between patients, or spending your evenings creating worksheets.

That's why I created the Adult Speech Therapy Membership.

Designed for busy SLPs who work with older students and adults, the membership gives you access to practical, adult-appropriate resources you can use in your therapy sessions.

You'll find materials for skills such as memory, attention, language, cognition, visual scanning, and more.

And with over 30 years of experience working with adults, I understand how important it is to have materials that are both useful and easy to prepare.

Less time searching. More time treating.

Print it. Use it. Get on with the rest of your day.

EXPLORE THE ADULT SPEECH THERAPY MEMBERSHIP

Kristina Pfennig, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Unleashed