Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Common Exception Word Snap: Free Printable Game for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Common Exception Word Snap is a free printable game for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children cut out word cards and play snap with tricky words. Players: 2. Play time: 10 minutes. It needs no screen, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, 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 cut out the word cards along the dashed lines and play snap with a partner. Each turn, a player turns over a card and reads the word aloud. When two cards match, the first player to call snap wins the pile. The words are tricky ones that Year 1 children meet often in books. You can also play face up first, so children match words they can see.
- said
- was
- they
- were
- some
- come
What are common exception words?
Common exception words are words where the spelling does not follow the phonics a child has learned so far. Children often cannot sound them out in the usual way, so they need to see them many times. Many of them appear in almost every book, which is why they come up so often in Year 1. Quick, confident reading of these words helps children read whole sentences smoothly.
Snap suits this kind of learning well. The child has to look closely at each word, read it and compare it with the one before. Repeating this in short rounds builds quick recognition without drilling. The game also gives a reason to look carefully, because a missed match means the other player calls snap first. Keep rounds short and cheerful, and praise careful looking as much as fast calling.
Skills and curriculum link
- Word reading
- Quick word recognition
- Spelling awareness
- Visual matching
- 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 | Reading: word reading | Year 1 |
What children will be able to do
- I can read tricky Year 1 words quickly.
- I can spot a matching word and call snap.
- I can take turns and play fairly.
Helping your child with tricky words
- Look at the whole wordAsk your child to look at each word slowly before reading it. Notice how long it is, what letters it starts with and what letters it ends with.
- Find the tricky partMany tricky words have one part that does not sound the way you expect. Point to that part and say it together, then read the whole word again.
- Say it, then use itA word sticks better when it has a meaning. After reading a word, say a short sentence with it and ask your child to say one too.
- Little and oftenFive or ten minutes of playing a few times a week works better than one long session. Familiar words become quick words with repeated, relaxed practice.
Key words
- Common exception wordA word where some of the spelling does not follow the usual sounds children have learned.
- Tricky wordA word that is hard to sound out, so we learn to recognise it by sight.
- SnapThe word you call when two cards turn up that match.
- MatchTwo things that are exactly the same.
- PairTwo cards that go together because they show the same word.
- LetterOne of the marks we use to write a word, such as a or s.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers. A grown-up can do the cutting for younger children.
- Cut along the dashed lines to make the cards. Players: 2. Play time: 10 minutes.
- Read each word together once, so both players know what they are looking for. Talk about any word that feels tricky.
- Play snap. Take turns to turn over a card and read it aloud. If two cards in a row match, the first player to call snap wins the pile.
- Check the notes on page 2, then come back another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Play pairs face up first. Lay the cards out where the child can see every word, then ask them to find two that match and read each one aloud. When this feels easy, move to turning cards over one at a time.
To stretch confident children
The winner must spell the word out loud, or use it in a short sentence. For a bigger challenge, ask the winner to do both. Players can also make their own cards for new words and add them to the game.
Make it a game
Add your own tricky words on blank card for a longer game. Write each new word twice so it has a partner. Mix the new cards in with the printed ones and play snap again with the bigger pile.
Talk about it
- Which tricky words did you find easy to read?
- Which part of the word is tricky?
- Can you use one of the words in a sentence?
- Which word would you like to practise again?
- Can you spot any of these words in your favourite book?
- How could we make the game harder or easier next time?
Take it off the page
Word hunt
Pick a story book and look for the words from your cards. Point to each one when you spot it and read the whole sentence aloud.
Chalk words
Write a tricky word in big letters with chalk outside. Trace over it with a finger, say it, then wipe it away and try writing it from memory.
Sentence stories
Take turns to say a sentence using a word from the game. Build a silly story one sentence at a time, and listen for the word each time.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first game, then let them lead. Ten minutes is plenty. Praise careful looking and reading, not only fast calling of snap. If they get stuck, play pairs face up first.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Pair children of similar confidence, or place a more secure reader with one who needs support.
Home educators
Print it once and use it again for brothers and sisters or for a quick recap weeks later. It sits well beside reading together, and it gives a short break from writing tasks. Add your own cards as your child learns new words.
Where this fits in your child's reading
Before this, children learn letter sounds and how to blend them to read simple words. They also begin to meet words that do not follow those sounds in the usual way. Games like snap give a gentle first look at these words before children are expected to read them with ease.
After this, children keep building a bank of words they can read at a glance, and they begin to spell them more securely. In Year 2 they meet more spelling patterns and longer words. Quick recognition now makes that later reading and writing smoother.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which tricky words did you find easy to read?
- Which part of the word is tricky?
- Can you use one of the words in a sentence?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Common Exception Word Snap for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. It also works as a recap for older children who still find some tricky words hard to read quickly.
- How long does a game take?
Play time: 10 minutes. The game is for 2 players. You can stop after a few rounds, or play again for longer. Short rounds work better than one long game with young children.
- What will children practise?
They practise reading and recognising tricky Year 1 words quickly. They also look closely at spelling, match words that are the same and take turns. The game supports word reading in the National Curriculum for England.
- What if it feels too hard?
Play pairs face up first. Lay the cards out so the child can see every word and match what they see. When they feel confident, turn the cards over and play snap in the usual way.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or to play again a few weeks later.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can colour in the cards if they like, but the game works without it.
- 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 cutting, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
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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.