Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Computing Careers Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Year 6
- ForYear 6
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Computing Careers Cards is a free printable card set for Year 6 (ages 10 to 11). Children cut out ten cards, each showing a different tech job, then match and sort them. They read what each job does and talk about which one might suit them. It takes about 15 minutes, needs only paper, scissors and a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help, a stretch idea and 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 ten cards. Each card names a job in technology, such as software developer, games designer, data analyst or animator, and says what the person does. Children read each card carefully, match and sort them into three piles, then check with the grown-up. The talk matters as much as the sorting. Children say which jobs sound interesting and why.
- Software developer: writes the code that makes apps work
- Web designer: plans how a website looks
- Games designer: invents the rules and levels of a game
- Data analyst: looks at numbers to find patterns
- Network engineer: keeps computers connected
- Cyber security expert: protects information from hackers
- Robotics engineer: builds and programs robots
- App tester: hunts for mistakes before an app is shared
- Animator: makes pictures move on screen
- Computing teacher: helps others learn to code
Why talk about computing careers in Year 6?
Year 6 is the last year of primary school. Children are starting to think about what they enjoy and what they are good at. Computing is a good subject for this because the jobs are so varied. Some involve building things, some involve design, some involve solving problems and some involve helping other people learn. Seeing that range helps children realise that tech is not one type of job.
Many children think a job in computing means sitting alone and typing code. The cards show that tech work has many parts. People work in teams, check each other's work, explain ideas and use imagination. Talking about jobs also gives children a reason to use words such as data, network and code in a real setting, which helps those words stick.
Did you know?
- Computers follow instructions. People write those instructions, and they are called programs.
- Tech jobs exist in many places, including schools, hospitals, shops, banks and games studios.
- Most tech work is done in teams, so talking and listening are important skills.
- Many people who work with computers also need to be creative, because they design things for others to use.
- Computers need people to look after them, so there are jobs for people who keep systems working well.
Skills and curriculum link
- Reading for meaning
- Matching and sorting
- Careers awareness
- Computing vocabulary
- Speaking and listening
- Giving reasons
What children will be able to do
- I can name some jobs in technology.
- I can say what each job does.
- I can talk about which job might suit me.
Ideas to help children think about jobs
- Start with what they enjoyAsk what your child likes doing, such as drawing, solving puzzles, building or helping others. Then look for a job that fits that interest.
- Look at the verbsEach job involves doing something. Ask your child to find the action words on a card and say them in their own words.
- Link to things they knowAsk where they have seen the work of a tech job, such as a game they like, a school website or a robot toy.
- Compare two jobsPick two cards and ask how the jobs are the same and how they are different. This builds careful thinking.
Key words
- CareerThe kind of work a person does for many years.
- CodeInstructions written in a special language so a computer knows what to do.
- DataFacts and numbers that have been collected so they can be looked at.
- NetworkComputers and devices linked together so they can share things.
- DesignPlanning how something will look or work before it is made.
- SkillSomething a person has learned to do well.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Cut out the cards together. Read each one aloud and talk about what the job involves.
- Play with one or two players. Sort the cards into three piles. It takes about 15 minutes.
- Check against the answers on page 2. Ask your child to explain their choices, not just say them.
- Come back another day and sort the cards again. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read the cards together and talk about one job at a time. Put the card down and ask, "What would this person do all day?" Let your child answer in their own words before you sort. Start with the jobs they find easiest.
To stretch confident children
Pick one job and write three things a person in it does each day. Then say which skills the person would need. Share your ideas with a friend and see whether they would add anything.
Make it a game
Pick a card and act out the job without speaking. The others guess which one it is. Take turns. Players can use simple actions, such as typing, drawing or fixing something. Swap roles after each round.
Talk about it
- Which job on the cards would you most like to try? Why?
- Which job do you think is the hardest? What makes it hard?
- Do any of these jobs work together? How might they help each other?
- Which skills from school would help in a tech job?
- Can you think of a tech job that is not on the cards?
- What would you want to make or fix if you had one of these jobs?
Take it off the page
Job poster
Choose one job. Draw a poster that shows what the person does, what tools they use and why the job matters. Add a short slogan.
Interview a grown-up
Ask a family member how they use technology at work. Write down two things they say and share them with the family.
Design a new job
Invent a tech job that does not exist yet. Name it, draw it and explain what the person would do.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Ask them to explain each choice. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. Share what you do for work too, as children enjoy hearing about real jobs.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It links to computing and works well alongside discussion about careers. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider computing plan. It pairs well with books about technology and trips to see how things work. You can reuse the cards for brothers and sisters, or sort them again a few weeks later.
Where this fits
Before Year 6, children meet the idea that computers follow instructions and that people give those instructions. They also learn to use technology safely and to explore what different devices do. This card set builds on that by showing the people behind the technology.
After this, Year 6 children move on to Key Stage 3 in secondary school. There they build on what they know with more programming and a wider look at how computers and networks work. Talking about jobs now gives them a picture of why those skills matter.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What does this job involve day to day?
- Which skills would you need for it?
- Which job would you like to try, and why?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Computing Careers Cards for?
It is written for Year 6 (ages 10 to 11), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with help from a grown-up, and older children can use it as a discussion starter.
- What will children practise?
Children learn what different jobs in technology do and talk about which might suit them. They practise reading carefully, matching and sorting, using computing words and giving reasons for their choices.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and cut out the cards. One or two players sort them into three piles. It takes about 15 minutes. Check against page 2 and talk about each choice together.
- What if it feels too hard?
Read the cards together and talk about one job at a time. Ask what the person might do all day. Take a break and come back to it. Short, calm sessions work well.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a later revisit, and you only need paper, scissors and a pencil.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, scissors and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. It still teaches computing ideas without a device.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour if they like, but they do not need to.
More like this
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.