Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Easter Bingo: Free Printable Game for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Easter Bingo is a free printable game for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). One player is the caller and reads words aloud. The other players listen and cross off the matching words on their card. It is for 2 or more players, takes about 10 minutes and needs only paper and a pencil.
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. Page 1 is the game for children. Page 2 is for the grown up, with notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play bingo with familiar Easter words. One player is the caller. The caller writes the words on slips of paper, draws one slip at a time and reads it aloud. Everyone else listens, finds the word on their card and crosses it off. The card is ready to cut and play. Decide before you start how a player wins, for example by crossing off a line of three. Children read, listen and wait for their turn, all in about 10 minutes.
- EGG
- CHICK
- BUNNY
- BASKET
- DAFFODIL
- LAMB
- SPRING
- HUNT
- BONNET
What children practise
Reading Easter words
Children look at the words on their card and match each one to the word they hear. They see the same letters again and again, which helps familiar words stick.
Listening
The game only works if players listen to every word the caller reads. Children learn to wait, tune in and respond at the right moment.
Taking turns
One child is the caller each round, and the others are players. Swapping roles teaches fairness and patience in a way children enjoy.
Reading aloud
The caller reads each word clearly so everyone can hear it. This is good practice in speaking slowly and saying the sounds in a word.
Why play Easter bingo?
Easter is a spring festival, and in the UK many families mark it with egg hunts, chocolate eggs and time together. The date changes from year to year, but in the UK it falls in spring. Children in Year 1 often meet Easter words at school through stories, songs and craft. Words such as egg, chick and lamb are short, familiar and easy to picture, which makes them a friendly place to start reading.
Bingo suits early readers because it joins listening and reading. The child hears a word, then looks for how it is written and matches it to their card. The caller has a job too, which is to read clearly and keep the game fair. Playing together means children hear words used aloud, see them in print and talk about them. Short rounds keep attention high, and the game can be played again with a new order.
Easter and spring facts
- Easter falls in spring in the UK, and its date changes every year.
- A lamb is a young sheep. Many lambs are born in spring.
- Chicks hatch from eggs.
- Many daffodils are yellow, and they often flower in spring.
- An Easter bonnet is a decorated hat. Making one is a popular Easter craft.
Skills and curriculum link
- Reading familiar words
- Listening
- Taking turns
- Matching letters
- Speaking clearly
Ideas to help you play
- Say it and show itSome children need to see a word as well as hear it. Hold up the slip after you read it so they can match the letters.
- Look at the first letterRemind children that the first letter is a good clue. Ask which words on their card begin with that letter.
- Read the card firstBefore the game starts, read the words on the card together. Hearing them once makes them easier to find.
- Praise careful listeningNotice when a child waits and listens before crossing off. Good listening is as important as quick reading.
Key words
- CallerThe player who reads the words aloud in a game of bingo.
- SlipA small piece of paper with one word written on it.
- Cross offDraw a line through a word to show you have found it.
- LineWords in a row on the card. You can play for a line of three.
- BonnetA hat that ties under the chin. Some people decorate one for Easter.
- DaffodilA flower with a trumpet shape in the middle. Many are yellow and they flower in spring.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Choose a caller. The caller writes the words on slips of paper and mixes them up.
- Read the words on the card together, so everyone knows what they are looking for.
- The caller draws one slip at a time and reads it aloud. Players cross off the word if they have it. Decide first whether you are playing for a line of three or a full card.
- Swap callers and play again. Use a different card order for the next round. Repeating a game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Let the caller show the word as well as say it, so the child can match the letters. Read the words on the card together before you start. Play with fewer words at first, then add more as the child feels sure.
To stretch confident children
Ask the player to spell each word aloud before crossing it off, or to use it in a sentence. Children who are confident can be the caller and check that every player has crossed off the right words.
Make it a game
Play again with a different card order, or play for a line of three. For a slower round, the caller reads a clue instead of the word, such as what a lamb says, and players work out which word it is.
Talk about it
- Which Easter word is your favourite, and why?
- Which words on your card start with the same letter?
- What can you see on the card that you might find outside in spring?
- How did you know which word the caller had read?
- Which word was hardest to find? What helped you?
- What would you put in an Easter basket?
Take it off the page
Paper egg hunt
An adult hides paper eggs around a room. Write one Easter word on each egg. The child finds the eggs, reads each word aloud and puts them in a basket.
Easter bonnet craft
Decorate a paper hat for spring. Add flowers, chicks or a bunny, then write a label with the words you used.
Spring walk
Go outside and look for signs of spring, such as flowers or new leaves. Talk about what you see and draw it when you get home.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first round, then let them lead. Take turns being the caller. Ten minutes is plenty. If your child finds a word hard, show them the slip as you read it aloud.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity in the run up to Easter. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. It supports word reading and spoken language, and the caller can show each word to support children who need it.
Home educators
Use it alongside Easter books, a craft or an outdoor spring walk. Print it again for brothers and sisters, so older children can be the caller. Play again a few weeks later to see which words now feel easy.
Where this fits
Before this game, children learn to hear the sounds in words and match them to letters. They also enjoy listening to stories and rhymes. This game builds on those skills by asking them to match a spoken word to a written one.
After this, children can read short sentences about Easter and spring. They can try writing the words from memory, or choose their own Easter words to make a new bingo card. Reading, writing and speaking all grow from this kind of short, playful practice.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Easter Bingo for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Older children can still enjoy it, especially as the caller. Younger children can play with a grown up who shows each word as they read it.
- What will children practise?
They practise reading familiar Easter words, listening carefully and taking turns. Players hear a word, find it on their card and cross it off. The caller practises reading words aloud clearly.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 10 minutes for a round. For a shorter game, play for a line of three. For a longer one, play again with a different card order or swap the caller.
- How many people can play?
Two or more can play. One player is the caller and the others cross off words on their cards. It works well for a parent and child, a group of friends or a small table in class.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. You do not need colour. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. You only need a pencil for crossing off.
- 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 writing the words on slips. Page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Is it suitable for home education?
Yes. Home educators and tutors can use it on its own or as part of a wider plan. It pairs well with Easter books, crafts and outdoor play. Print it again for brothers, sisters or revision.
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.