Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Christmas Alphabet Order: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Christmas Alphabet Order is a free printable English worksheet for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Children look at the first letter of each Christmas word and write each set of words in ABC order on the line. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea and the answers.
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, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet rows of Christmas words, such as holly, candle, reindeer and wreath. Each row is a set of words in a jumbled order. Children look at the first letter of every word, decide which letter comes earliest in the alphabet, and write the words in ABC order. There are numbered questions with a line to write on, so handwriting gets practice too.
- snow bell star
- tree gift elf
- holly candle angel
- sleigh robin mince pie
- present card reindeer
- snowman jingle wreath
A worked example
Put these words in ABC order: mouse, apple, kite.
This example uses different words from the sheet. It shows two ways children can work.
Method 1: use an alphabet strip- Write the first letter of each word: m, a, k.
- Point to each letter on the alphabet strip. The letter nearest the start of the strip comes first.
- a is first. k comes next. m comes last.
- Write the words in that order on the line.
- Say the alphabet slowly: a, b, c and so on.
- Stop when you reach a letter that starts one of the words.
- a is the first one you reach, so apple goes first. Keep going to reach k, then m.
- Write the words in the order you reached them.
What this sheet builds
Knowing the alphabet
Children say the letters in order and think about which comes earlier and which comes later. That is the heart of alphabetical order.
Looking at first letters
Children learn to pick out the first letter of a word and ignore the rest for now. It is a small step that makes dictionaries and lists much easier later.
Careful handwriting
Each answer is written by hand on a line. Children practise forming letters clearly and keeping words on the line.
Sticking at a task
Working through a set of rows builds focus. Children can check their own thinking by saying the alphabet again.
Why practise alphabet order?
Alphabetical order is a way of sorting words so they are easy to find. Dictionaries use it. So do indexes, class registers and contact lists. Children who can order words by their first letter are learning a tool they will use for years. It also makes them say the alphabet in order and think about where each letter sits.
Christmas words are a good fit for this skill. Children hear and see them at home, in shops and at school at this time of year, so the words feel friendly. A familiar theme lets children put their effort into the ordering, not into working out what a word means.
Alphabet and Christmas facts
- The English alphabet has 26 letters.
- The word alphabet comes from alpha and beta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.
- Dictionaries list words in alphabetical order, so you can find a word quickly.
- Christmas Day is on 25 December.
- Names on a contact list on a phone are often in alphabetical order.
Skills and curriculum link
- Alphabet order
- First letters
- Handwriting
- Letter names
- Careful looking
What children will be able to do
- I can say the letters of the alphabet in order.
- I can look at the first letter of each word.
- I can put words in alphabetical order.
Ideas to help at home
- Sing it firstSing or say the alphabet together before you start. Doing it slowly helps children hold the order in their heads.
- Use an alphabet stripWrite the letters in a row on a strip of paper. Children can point to each first letter and see which comes earlier.
- Write the first lettersAsk your child to jot down just the first letters of a row. Ordering single letters is easier than ordering whole words.
- Cross off as you goOnce a word is written on the line, tick or cross it off the jumbled row. This stops children missing a word out or using it twice.
Key words
- AlphabetAll the letters we use to write, in their special order from a to z.
- Alphabetical orderPutting words in the order of the alphabet. It is also called ABC order.
- First letterThe letter a word begins with. We look at this letter to order words.
- BeforeEarlier in the alphabet. The letter b comes before the letter d.
- AfterLater in the alphabet. The letter d comes after the letter b.
- LetterA single mark we write, such as a, b or c. Letters make words.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Say the alphabet together, slowly. Point to each letter on an alphabet strip if you have one.
- Read the first row aloud. Ask your child to point to the first letter of each word.
- Let them decide the order and write the words on the line. Talk about each choice as they go.
- Check against page 2 together. Come back to the sheet another day, because repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give your child an alphabet strip to point to. Start with the first three rows only and leave the rest for another day. Ask them to write the first letter of each word on a scrap of paper, then order those letters before writing the words.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to find a word for every letter of the alphabet, then write a few in ABC order. Or try words that start with the same letter, such as cat, cow and cup. Look at the second letter to decide.
Make it a game
Write each word on a scrap of paper. Mix up one row on the floor, then race the clock to put the words in ABC order. Check with page 2, then try a different row and see if you can beat your time.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child writes the words in the same order they are printed.
Try thisAsk them to say the alphabet and point to the first letter of each word. Then ask, "Which letter comes first in the alphabet?"
Watch forA child lines words up by length, with short words first.
Try thisExplain that only the first letter matters. Write the first letters in a row on scrap paper and put those in order before writing the words.
Watch forA child loses their place when saying the alphabet.
Try thisUse an alphabet strip. Say the letters slowly and touch each one with a finger. Start again from a if they get lost.
Talk about it
- Which letter of the alphabet is your favourite, and why?
- How did you decide which word came first?
- What do you do if you cannot remember which letter comes earlier?
- Can you say the alphabet and point to the first letter of one word?
- Where might you see words in alphabetical order, at home or at school?
- Can you think of a Christmas word that starts with a letter near the end of the alphabet?
Take it off the page
Alphabet line
Write each letter on a separate scrap of paper. Mix them up, then lay them out in order along the floor or a table. Say each letter as you place it.
Name order
Write the names of family members or friends on scraps of paper. Put them in ABC order by first letter. Talk about what to do if two names begin with the same letter.
Christmas word hunt
Look around the house or in a Christmas book for words you can read. Write down a few and put them in ABC order.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first row, then let them lead. Keep sessions short and relaxed. If they get stuck, go back to saying the alphabet together and praise their thinking as well as their answers.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the answers make quick marking easy.
Home educators
Pair it with an alphabet book, a read aloud or a game of putting family names in order. Because it is free and printable, you can use it again for brothers and sisters, or return to it a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this, children learn the names and order of the letters, often through songs, rhymes and picture books. They also practise hearing the first sound in a word and linking it to a letter.
After this, children can look at the second letter when two words share a first letter. Later they use alphabetical order to find words in dictionaries, glossaries and indexes, and to sort information in their own work.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- How did you decide which word came first?
- What do you do if two words start with the same letter?
- Can you say the alphabet and point to the first letter of one word?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Christmas Alphabet Order for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. It suits children who know most of the alphabet and are ready to compare first letters. Younger or older children can use it with the help and stretch ideas on page 2.
- What will children practise?
They practise putting words in alphabetical order by looking at the first letter. They also say the letters of the alphabet in order, and practise handwriting as they write each word on the line.
- Is it free to print?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for another go a few weeks later.
- What if it feels too hard?
Give your child an alphabet strip to point to, and start with the first three rows only. They can write the first letters on scrap paper and order those before writing the words. Leave the rest for another day.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support, stretch ideas and answers for mixed ability groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children read, think and write by hand, with no device needed.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for the notes and answers.
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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.