Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
A to L Alphabet Scavenger Hunt: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
A to L Alphabet Scavenger Hunt is a free printable English sheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Please note that despite the title, the sheet covers the letters A to J. K and L are not on it. Children hunt around the house or garden for an everyday object that starts with each letter, then tick it off the checklist.
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. It is two A4 pages. Page 1 is for the child. Page 2 is for the grown up, with notes, help and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children look for an object for each letter from A to J. They say the letter sound, search the room or garden, and tick the checklist when they find a match. The focus is on the first sound of a word, not the spelling. It is best done as a shared walk with a grown up, so there is plenty of looking, listening and talking.
- A: apple
- B: book
- C: cup
- D: door
- E: egg
- F: fork
- G: grass
- H: hat
- I: ink or ice
- J: jumper
How to build a good hunt
Start with the sound
Say the letter sound before you set off. Use the short, clean sound the letter makes in a word, not the letter name. Keep the sound quiet and crisp.
Look slowly
Walk one room at a time. Stop, point and name things aloud. Saying the word helps a child hear its first sound.
Say it, then check
When your child picks an object, ask them to say the word slowly and listen to the start. Then check it against the notes on page 2.
Tick and talk
Tick the checklist together. Ask why they chose that object. Their reasoning tells you more than the tick does.
Why first sounds matter in Reception
Before children can read and write words, they need to hear the sounds inside them. The first sound is the easiest to hear. When a child can say that a word begins with a particular sound, they are building the link between spoken words and letters. That link is the heart of early phonics.
A hunt works well because it puts letters into the real world. A letter on a page can feel abstract. An object a child can hold gives the sound a meaning. Moving around, spotting things and choosing for themselves also keeps four and five year olds interested for longer than a seated task.
Choose objects that are safe for a child to pick up. Adults handle anything sharp, hot or breakable, and keep medicines and cleaning products out of the hunt. Stay with your child in the garden.
Fun facts about letters
- The English alphabet has 26 letters.
- Five letters are called vowels: a, e, i, o and u.
- Every letter has a name and a sound. They are not always the same.
- The word alphabet comes from alpha and beta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.
Skills and curriculum link
- Letter sounds
- First sound of a word
- Looking carefully
- Listening
- Speaking in words and phrases
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Literacy | Word Reading | Reception |
What children will be able to do
- I can match a letter to the first sound of an object.
- I can find things that start with A to J.
- I can say the sound a letter makes.
Ideas that help with letter sounds
- Sound, not nameChildren learn to read using the sound a letter makes. Try to say it in a short, crisp way, for example the hissing sound for s, with no extra vowel on the end.
- Say the whole word slowlyStretch a word out and listen to the start. Saying it slowly makes the first sound easier to hear.
- Sound and spelling can differSome words start with a sound that a different letter might make. At this age, listen for the sound first. Spelling comes later.
- More than one answerMany objects can match a letter. A different choice is fine if the first sound is right. Ask your child to explain it.
Key words
- LetterA shape we write. Each letter stands for a sound or sounds.
- SoundWhat you hear when you say a letter or a word.
- First soundThe sound at the very start of a word.
- AlphabetAll the letters in order, from A onwards.
- ObjectA thing you can see and touch.
- ChecklistA list you tick off as you go.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- Look at the checklist together. Say the first letter and its sound out loud.
- Walk around the house or garden. Let your child choose an object for each letter.
- Say each word slowly and listen to its first sound. Tick it off, and check page 2 if you need to.
- Come back another day and hunt again. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Say the letter sound out loud together before you look. Work on one letter at a time and stop when your child needs a break. Point to things in the room and say their names slowly so they can hear the first sound.
To stretch confident children
Find a second object for each letter. Or say each word and clap its beats. Then try saying a word aloud and asking your child to tell you its first sound before they look for the letter.
Make it a game
Set a timer and see how many letters you can tick in the time. Or hide a few objects around the room and let your child hunt for the ones that match a letter you call out. Swap roles.
Talk about it
- What sound does this word start with?
- Can you find something that starts with the letter b?
- Which letter was the hardest to find an object for?
- Can you think of another word that starts with the same sound?
- Where else in the house could we look?
- Which object did you like finding best?
Take it off the page
Letter treasure bag
Put a few small, safe objects in a bag. Pull one out, say its name slowly and tell a grown up its first sound.
Sound walk
Walk to the park or shops. Pick a sound and spot as many things as you can that start with it.
Alphabet drawing
Fold a piece of paper. Draw a picture for any letter and say its first sound. Add one more each day.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first hunt and let them lead. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. Praise effort and careful listening, not only correct answers. If they get tired, stop and finish another day.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary or an early finisher task. It suits a short phonics session or an indoor and outdoor continuous provision area. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups. Check the curriculum link against your own plan.
Home educators
The sheet fits easily into a day of everyday talk and play. Pair it with favourite picture books. You can reuse it with brothers and sisters, or repeat it a few weeks later. Hunt for the later letters of the alphabet on another day.
Where this fits in learning to read
Before a hunt like this, children enjoy rhymes, songs and sharing stories. They learn to listen to sounds around them and to notice that words are made of sounds. Playing with spoken words comes before matching sounds to written letters.
After this, children move on to blending sounds together to read short words and breaking words into sounds to spell them. The Mini Minds Hub has more English printables for Early Years Foundation Stage if you would like to carry on.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What sound does this object start with?
- Can you find something that starts with the letter b?
- Which letter was the hardest to find an object for?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- Does the sheet cover A to L or A to J?
It covers A to J. The title says A to L, but K and L are not on the sheet. Children find an object for each letter from A to J. You can hunt for the later letters on another day.
- What age is it for?
It is written for Reception, ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. It is designed to be shared with a grown up, so younger or older children can join in with support.
- What will my child practise?
Children match letters to the first sound of everyday objects. They practise letter sounds, careful looking and listening. They also talk about what they find, which builds vocabulary and confidence.
- Do we need any equipment?
No. You need the printed sheet and a pencil, and you can look in the house or garden. A timer is useful if you want to turn the hunt into a game, but it is not needed.
- How long does it take?
About 15 minutes for most children, though it can take 10 to 20. Short bursts work best at this age. You can do a few letters at a time and finish another day.
- What if my child picks a different object from page 2?
That is fine if the first sound is right. Many objects match each letter. Ask your child to say the word slowly and tell you the sound it starts with. Use the notes on page 2 as a guide.
- Is it free and screen free?
Yes to both. It is free to print for home and classroom use. It is a screen free activity that needs only paper and a pencil, and prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper.
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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.