Duke's School Helper Hunt: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception

Duke's School Helper Hunt is a free printable Understanding the World worksheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children find eight helpers at school, draw them, and tell a grown up what each one does. There is a checklist to tick and boxes for drawing or notes. It needs only a pencil and no screen.

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. Page 2 has notes, help, a stretch idea and answers. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

Children hunt for eight school helpers and tick each one off a checklist. They draw each helper in a box, or add a few notes. The helpers are the cook, the caretaker, the office staff, the lollipop person, a lunchtime helper, a cleaner, a teaching assistant and the headteacher. Then Duke says some jobs that are wrong. Children listen carefully, shout No, Duke! and say what the helper really does.

• Draw the cook and the caretaker.
• Draw the office staff and the lollipop person.
• Draw a lunchtime helper and a cleaner.
• Draw a teaching assistant and the headteacher.
• Duke says the cook mends the roof. Say: No, Duke!
• Duke says the lollipop person cooks lunch. Say: No, Duke!
• Duke says the caretaker answers the phone. Say: No, Duke!

Ideas for the school walk

Why talk about school helpers?

Skills and curriculum link

• Noticing school helpers
• Drawing from observation
• Talking about jobs
• Listening carefully
• Speaking in sentences

Ideas to help your child

• Use the word helperCall each person a helper and talk about how they help the school run. This gives children a simple way to think about why every job matters.
• Let them correct youChildren love being the expert. Say a muddled job on purpose now and then and let your child set you straight. Thank them for the good thinking.
• Describe before namingAsk, "What can you see them wearing or carrying?" Looking closely first helps children remember each helper and gives them words to use.
• Link to homeAsk who helps your family at home or in your street. Talking about helpers your child already knows makes the school ones easier to understand.

Key words

• HelperA person who does a job that makes things work for other people.
• JobThe work a person does, usually every day.
• StaffThe grown ups who work at a school.
• ObserveTo look closely and notice things.
• DescribeTo say what something or someone is like.
• MuddledMixed up. When something is muddled, it is not right.

How to use it

1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
2. Walk round school together if you can, and meet each helper. If not, use photos or talk about the people your child knows.
3. Let your child draw each helper in a box. Read all the words aloud, because this sheet is for sharing.
4. Ask your child to tell you one thing each helper does. Then listen to what Duke says and shout No, Duke! when he gets it wrong.
5. Check your talk against the notes and answers on page 2. Come back to the sheet another day, as repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

Talk about it

• Who did you see on our walk today? What were they doing?
• Which helper did you draw first? Why did you choose them?
• How do you think the school would feel if one helper was away?
• Which helper do you see most often? What do you say to them?
• What would you say to thank one of the helpers?
• If you were Duke, what mixed up job would you say? Can I put you right?

Take it off the page

Who it is for

Where this fits in learning

Before this sheet, children learn to name the people in their family and the people they meet each day. They talk about their own experiences and listen to others. Some may have met a few school helpers on their first days and know them by sight.

After it, children can talk about other people in their community and the jobs they do. Over time they learn how places and communities work and how people depend on each other. Drawing carefully and speaking in sentences also supports early writing and talk.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Duke's School Helper Hunt for?

It is written for Reception, ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger children can join in with a grown up, and older children can try the stretch idea on page 2.

What will children practise?

Children practise noticing the grown ups who work at their school and talking about what each person does. They also draw from observation and listen carefully. It sits within Understanding the World.

How do I use it?

Print both pages and give page 1 to your child. Walk round school together if you can, meet each helper and draw them. Your child then tells you one thing each helper does. A grown up reads all the words aloud.

What if it feels too hard?

Let your child point or say one word for each helper. Draw one helper at a time and take breaks. Come back another day. Praise looking and talking, not only correct answers.

Is it free to print?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class, and black and white printing works well on plain A4 paper.

Can teachers use it in class?

Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task, homework or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed groups.

How long does it take?

There is no set time. Children can do one helper at a time or the whole sheet in one go. Stop when your child's interest fades and come back to it another day.