Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Christmas Thank You Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Christmas Thank You Cards is a free printable card set for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children cut out each card and fill in the gaps with a name, a gift and a feeling to say thank you. It needs only paper, a pencil and scissors. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.
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
Each card is a short thank you note with gaps to fill. The card reads: Dear ________ Thank you for the ________. I love it! From ________. Children fill in the gaps with a name, a gift and a feeling, so the note makes sense and sounds kind. Then they cut out the card, and fold or stick it to a plain card to give to someone. The writing is short, so children can focus on choosing words and forming them carefully.
- Dear ________ Thank you for the ________. I love it! From ________
From gaps to a finished card
Cut out
Cut out each card along its edge. Young children may need a grown-up to help with the scissors, or to cut the cards out before the activity starts.
Fill in the gaps
Fill in the gaps with a name, a gift and a feeling. Say the whole sentence aloud first, so the words you choose fit the gaps.
Read it back
Read the finished card aloud. Does it make sense? Does it sound kind? Change a word if it does not.
Fold or stick
Fold the card, or stick it to a plain card, so it is ready to give. Hand it over and say thank you in person too.
Why write thank you cards?
Saying thank you is one of the first kinds of writing that has a real reader. A child writes a note, and someone receives it and feels happy. That gives the writing a clear purpose. Christmas is a natural time for it, because many children in England receive gifts, cards or kind gestures from family and friends, and a card is a lovely way to answer them.
A thank you note is a good first piece of writing for Year 1. It is short, it follows a pattern, and it has a greeting at the start and a name at the end. Gaps take away the worry of a blank page. Children can concentrate on choosing the right word, spelling it carefully and thinking about how the reader will feel.
Fun facts about thank you cards
- Christmas Day is on 25 December.
- Many families in the UK send and receive cards at Christmas.
- A letter or note often starts with Dear and ends with the writer's name.
- A thank you note shows someone that you noticed what they did for you.
- People often like a handwritten card because it is made just for them.
Skills and curriculum link
- Writing
- Kind words
- Filling in gaps
- Choosing the right word
- Reading back your work
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: composition | Year 1 |
What children will be able to do
- I can write a short thank you note.
- I can fill in missing words so it makes sense.
- I can say why saying thank you matters.
Ideas for helping your child
- Talk firstAsk who they would like to thank before they write. Talking about a real person makes the words easier to find.
- Say the sentenceRead each card aloud together, saying the gaps as "something". Then let your child choose the word that fits.
- Sound it outEncourage your child to say each word slowly and write the sounds they hear. Praise the effort, then help with tricky spellings.
- Read it backAsk your child to read the finished card as if they were the person receiving it. This helps them spot missing words.
Key words
- Thank youWords we say or write to show we are grateful.
- GiftSomething that someone gives to you.
- GapA space where a word is missing.
- GreetingThe first words of a note, such as Dear.
- FeelingHow you feel inside, such as happy or excited.
- CardA folded piece of paper with a message inside.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Read a card aloud together. Talk about who it could be for and what the gift might be.
- Let your child fill in the gaps with a name, a gift and a feeling. Say each choice out loud before writing it.
- Read the finished card back together. Ask, "Does it make sense? How will they feel?"
- Cut out the cards, then fold or stick each one to a plain card to give it. Come back another day to write more.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Say the sentence aloud first. Let your child write only the key word in each gap. Sit beside them for the first card and say the word slowly together. Once they feel confident, ask them to try the next card alone.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to write their own thank you note on the back of a card, with one extra sentence. They might say what they like about the gift or when they will use it. Then read it aloud together.
Make it a game
Pick a card at random and act out reading it to the person it is for. Use a kind voice and a big smile. The listener can say thank you back. Take turns being the reader and the listener.
Talk about it
- Who would you like to say thank you to, and why?
- What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?
- How do you feel when someone says thank you to you?
- Which word could you use to show how you feel about a gift?
- Why is it nice to get a card with your name on it?
- What would you like to write to someone who lives far away?
Take it off the page
Decorate the card
Draw a Christmas picture on the front of a plain card, such as a tree, a star or a snowy scene. Then stick your finished note inside.
Thank you post
Make a small box for the family. Children can pop in notes saying thank you for kind things, then read them out together.
Role play
Pretend to open a gift and say thank you in a clear, polite voice. Swap roles, then write the thank you note afterwards.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first card, then let them lead. Talk about who the card is for before they write. Praise their kind words as well as their neat writing. Keep it relaxed and fun.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity in the run up to Christmas. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider English plan. It pairs well with stories, drawing and real cards for real people. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or to practise again a few weeks later.
Where this fits in
Before this, children learn to say a sentence aloud, then write it down one word at a time. They practise forming letters, leaving spaces between words and using what they know about sounds to spell. Filling in gaps is a gentle step towards writing whole sentences.
After this, children write short notes and messages of their own, using capital letters and full stops. They begin to add extra detail, such as why they liked a gift. Later in Key Stage 1 they plan and write longer pieces, and read them back to check they make sense.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Who would you like to thank, and for what?
- How did you choose the missing words?
- How do you think the person will feel when they read it?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Christmas Thank You Cards for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Younger children may enjoy it with plenty of help, and older children can use the stretch idea to write more of their own.
- What will children practise?
Children write a short, polite thank you note by filling in the missing words. They practise choosing a word that fits, writing it carefully and reading the note back to check it makes sense.
- How do I use it?
Cut out the cards. Children fill in the gaps with a name, a gift and a feeling. Then fold or stick each card to a plain card to give it. Work through the first card together, then let them try alone.
- What if it feels too hard?
Say the sentence aloud first. Let your child write only the key word in each gap. Sit with them for the first card, and say each word slowly. Come back another day to try again.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group, and use it whenever you like.
- 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 help and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour themselves with pencils or crayons when they decorate the finished card.
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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.