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Alphabet Dash Pencil Game: Free Printable Game for Year 2

  • ForYear 2
  • StageKey Stage 1
  • CostFree
  • FormatPrintable PDF
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Alphabet Dash Pencil Game is a free printable game for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Players think of words that start with a given letter and write them in a table before anyone else fills their boxes. It takes about 10 minutes, needs only a pencil each, and suits two to six players.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Page 1 is the game. Page 2 is for the grown-up and has notes, help ideas and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

The sheet is a table for children to fill in. The boxes cover four kinds of word: Animal, Food, Place and Name. A letter is chosen, and players race to think of a word for each box that starts with that letter. They say the word in their head, write it by hand and check the spelling. The first player to fill their boxes calls out.

  • Animal
  • Food
  • Place
  • Name

Why first letters and first sounds matter

The English alphabet has 26 letters, and each one has a name and at least one sound. Year 2 children already know them, but this game asks them to use that knowledge quickly. To think of a word that starts with a letter, a child hears the first sound in their head, searches the words they know and matches the sound to the right letter. That is harder than it sounds, and it is good practice.

Writing the word down adds another step. Children choose letters for each sound and think about how the word is spelt. Some words follow common patterns and some have to be learned by heart. Playing against others adds a little pressure, which is useful. It teaches children to have a go, then check their work calmly afterwards, which is exactly what Year 2 spelling work asks of them.

Fun facts about the alphabet

  • The English alphabet has 26 letters.
  • The letters a, e, i, o and u are called vowels. The other letters are consonants.
  • The word alphabet comes from alpha and beta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.
  • Dictionaries list words in alphabetical order, so the first letter helps you find a word fast.
  • Some letters can make more than one sound.

Skills and curriculum link

  • Vocabulary
  • Spelling
  • Speed
  • Letter sounds
  • Sorting words into groups
  • Taking turns

This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.

Framework Subject or area Strand Year
National Curriculum (England) English Writing: transcription (spelling) Year 2

What children will be able to do

  • I can think of words that start with a letter.
  • I can write the words down.
  • I can check my spelling.

Ideas that help with spelling

  • Say the first soundBefore writing, say the first sound of the word aloud. Check it matches the letter that was called.
  • Stretch the wordSay the word slowly and listen for each sound in turn. Write one letter or group of letters for each sound.
  • Use an alphabet stripKeep a strip of letters on the table. Children can look at the target letter and say its sound while they think.
  • Read it backAfter writing, read the word aloud and point under each letter. Does it sound like the word you meant?

Key words

  • LetterA written sign for a sound. Words are built from letters.
  • AlphabetAll the letters in order, from A to Z.
  • First letterThe letter a word begins with.
  • SoundWhat you hear when you say a letter or part of a word.
  • SpellingWriting the letters of a word in the right order.
  • CategoryA group of things that belong together, such as animals or foods.

How to use it

  1. Print both pages. Give each player a copy of page 1 and a pencil. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
  2. Read the rules aloud together so everyone plays the same game. Look at the headings in the table.
  3. Choose a letter and call it out. Everyone thinks of words that start with it and writes them in the boxes.
  4. When a player has filled their boxes, they call out. Everyone stops and checks the spelling together using page 2.
  5. Come back another day with a new letter. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

If it feels too hard

Let a helper say the letter sound out loud before the round starts. Children can then listen for that sound at the start of a word. Try one box at a time rather than racing, and talk through ideas together. Build up to a full race once the sound feels familiar.

To stretch confident children

Play with a one minute timer. An adult starts the timer and calls the letter. When time is up, pencils down. Players count how many boxes they filled with a correctly spelt word, then try to beat that score in the next round.

Make it a game

Choose a harder letter, such as W, and see who fills the most boxes. Play several rounds with a new letter each time. Give one point for each correctly spelt word and add up the scores at the end. Everyone checks each other's spelling.

Talk about it

  • How many words can you think of for this letter?
  • How did you spell that one?
  • Which word is the longest?
  • Which box was the hardest to fill? Why?
  • What sound does the word begin with? Say it slowly.
  • Can you think of a word that a friend might not think of?

Take it off the page

Alphabet walk

Choose a letter before you leave the house. On a walk, spot and say things that start with that letter. Change letters halfway. Keep to pavements and stay with your grown-up.

Make an alphabet strip

Cut a long strip of paper and write the letters in order, one per box. Children can decorate it and keep it beside them for future rounds of the game.

Category chat

At the table or in the car, pick a category and a letter. Take turns to say a word until someone is stuck. Then start again with a new letter.

Who it is for

Parents

Play the first round with your child and let them lead. Say the letter sound clearly. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. Praise good tries as well as correct spellings, then check together.

Teachers

Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table game. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Mixed ability groups can use the help and stretch ideas on page 2. It suits pairs or small groups.

Home educators

Pair it with a picture book and look for words that begin with the same letter. It works for brothers and sisters of different ages. Print it again for revision a few weeks later, with new letters each time.

Where this fits in

Before this, children in Year 1 learn letter sounds and how to build words from them. The Sound Button Stepping Stones sheet practises that earlier step. Children who find this game hard may enjoy going back to it first.

After this, children use their spelling in longer pieces of writing. They meet more spelling patterns and learn to check their own work. The Summer Reading Challenge Chart is a good next step for building a reading habit alongside their spelling.

Check it worked

Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.

  1. How many words can you think of for this letter?
  2. How did you spell that one?
  3. Which word is the longest?

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Alphabet Dash Pencil Game for?

It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in with a helper saying the letter sound. Older children can try harder letters or the one minute timer.

What will children practise?

They practise thinking of words that start with a given letter, writing them down and checking the spelling. The game also builds vocabulary and speed, and gives children a reason to listen for first sounds.

How many players can take part?

Two to six players can play, and each needs a pencil and a copy of the sheet. It also works for one child with a grown-up, who can take a turn too.

What if it feels too hard?

Let a helper say the letter sound out loud before each round. Try one box at a time instead of racing. Talk through ideas together, then build up to the full game once the sound feels familiar.

Is it free to print?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision, and you can use it as often as you like.

Do I need to print in colour?

No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children and page 2 is for the grown-up.

How long does it take?

A round usually takes about 10 minutes. You can make it shorter with a one minute timer, or longer by playing several rounds with different letters. Short bursts work better than long sessions.

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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.

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