Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Christmas Story Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Christmas Story Cards is a free printable card set for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children cut out the cards and use them to put the traditional Christmas story in order, then retell it in their own words. It needs only paper, scissors and a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch task 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 cut out the story cards and use them to retell the traditional Christmas story. Each card holds one moment from the story. The grown up tells the story first. Then the child puts the cards in order, from the beginning to the end, saying what happens as they go. Finally they retell the story in their own words, using the cards to help them remember.
- Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem
- They find a stable
- Baby Jesus is born
- Shepherds see a bright star
- The shepherds visit the baby
- Wise men bring gifts
What children do with the cards
Listen
An adult tells the traditional story aloud, slowly and clearly, before any cards are touched. Children hear the whole story first.
Cut out and sort
Children cut out the cards, or an adult does it for younger children. They spread the cards out and look at them.
Put in order
Children place the cards in the order the story happens. They can move cards around until it feels right.
Retell
Children tell the story to a grown up or a friend, pointing to each card as they speak.
Why retell the Christmas story?
Christians celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus, and the story is told every year in homes, churches and schools. Many Year 1 children take part in a nativity play, so the story is often familiar before they reach this sheet. Others may be hearing it for the first time. Both groups can use these cards to learn the story and talk about it.
Retelling is a strong way to learn any story. To retell, a child has to remember what happens, put events in the right order and find their own words. Cards make this easier because children can hold, move and check each part. In RE, retelling also helps children understand a story that matters to many people.
Christmas facts for children
- Christmas Day is on 25 December.
- Christians celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus.
- The story of the first Christmas is told in the Bible.
- Many schools and churches put on a nativity play at Christmas.
- The word nativity means birth.
Skills and curriculum link
- Retelling a story
- Speaking in sentences
- Sequencing events
- Listening carefully
- Beginning, middle and end
What children will be able to do
- I can put the Christmas story cards in order.
- I can retell the story in my own words.
- I can say what happens at the beginning, middle and end.
Ideas to help children retell
- Tell it firstChildren retell best after hearing a story told clearly. Use a calm voice and pause between parts so each part stands apart.
- Beginning, middle and endEvery story has a start, a middle and a finish. Talking about these three parts helps children keep the order in mind.
- Linking wordsWords such as first, next, then and finally help children join parts of a story together when they speak.
- Use the cards as promptsPointing to a card helps a child remember what to say. Over time, many children need the cards less and less.
Key words
- RetellTell a story again in your own words.
- SequenceThe order that things happen in.
- BeginningThe start of a story.
- MiddleThe part of a story between the start and the finish.
- EndThe last part of a story.
- NativityThe story of the birth of Jesus.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Tell the traditional story aloud first. Go slowly and let your child listen without any cards.
- Cut out the cards together. Then ask your child to put them in order and say what happens on each one.
- Check the order against page 2. Ask, "How did you know that comes next?" The thinking matters as much as the order.
- Come back to the cards another day and ask your child to retell the story to someone new. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Use three cards at a time. Tell the story again, slowly, and let your child place each card as you reach that part. When those feel secure, add more cards a few at a time. Let them say each part aloud before they move on.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to write a sentence for each card. Encourage a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end. Then they can read their sentences aloud in order, like a short book they have made themselves.
Make it a game
Act the story out with simple props, such as a scarf, a cardboard box and a soft toy. Lay the cards in order on the floor. Take turns to stand by a card and act out that part while the others join in.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child puts the cards in a mixed up order because they do not yet remember the story.
Try thisTell the story again, pausing after each part. Ask which card matches what you just said.
Watch forA child gets the order right but cannot say why.
Try thisAsk, "What happened just before this?" Teach the words first, next, then and finally to explain the order.
Watch forA child retells the story in very short answers, such as one word for each card.
Try thisAsk who, where and what questions. Invite them to say a whole sentence for each card.
Talk about it
- Can you tell me the story before we look at the cards?
- What happens first, and what happens next?
- Which part is your favourite, and why?
- How do you think the people in the story felt?
- How would you tell this story to a friend?
- Have you seen or been in a nativity play?
Take it off the page
Draw the story
Fold a sheet of paper into sections. Draw one part of the story in each section, then use the drawings to retell it.
Story bag
Fill a bag with a few simple props. Take out one at a time and tell the part of the story it reminds you of.
Bedtime retell
At the end of the day, ask your child to tell the story to a soft toy, a sibling or a grown up. Listen without correcting too much.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and tell the story before using the cards. Keep it relaxed. Let your child lead the retelling, and praise effort and thinking, not only the right order.
Teachers
Use it as a starter or plenary in an RE lesson on the Christmas story, as a table activity or as an early finisher task. It needs only printing and scissors. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair the cards with a picture book of the story, a nativity play at home or a visit to a local church event. Reuse the cards for brothers and sisters, or come back to them later in the term.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before this, children learn to listen to stories, talk about what happens and use simple words such as first and next. Retelling familiar stories at home or in nursery gives them a good start. Joining in with songs and a nativity play also builds confidence with the Christmas story.
After this, children can retell other stories from religion and from everyday life, and write simple sentences about them. In Year 2 they begin to explain why stories and festivals matter to people. RE in maintained schools in England follows a locally agreed syllabus, so exact topics can vary from school to school.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What happens first in the story, and what happens next?
- Who are the people in the story?
- How would you tell this story to a friend?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Christmas Story Cards for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. It can also suit Reception children with adult support, and Year 2 children who want to practise retelling in more detail.
- What will children practise?
They practise retelling the traditional Christmas story in order. They also practise listening, speaking in sentences and talking about what happens at the beginning, middle and end of a story.
- How do I use the cards?
Tell the traditional story first. Then ask your child to put the cards in order and retell the story in their own words. Check the order against the answers on page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Use three cards at a time. Tell the story again slowly and let your child place each card as you reach that part. Add more cards a few at a time once they feel confident.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class, and come back to it whenever you like.
- Do children need scissors?
Yes, the cards are cut out. An adult can do the cutting for younger children, or children can cut them out as a fine motor task with supervision. Black and white printing on plain A4 paper works well.
- Is it a screen free activity for home and class?
Yes. It needs only paper, scissors and a pencil. Teachers can use it as a starter or plenary, and home educators can use it alone or as part of a wider RE plan.
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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.