Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Elf Notes From the Workshop: Free Printable Card Set for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Elf Notes From the Workshop is a free printable card set for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). It has ten calm notes from a friendly elf. Children read each short, kind message aloud, work out any tricky words and talk about what the note means. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
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
Page 1 is a set of small cards from the elf. Each card carries one short, friendly message, such as a greeting, a reminder to be kind or a word of praise. Children cut them out and read one at a time. They point to each word, sound out the tricky ones and say in their own words what the elf is asking. A grown-up can leave one card out each morning as a small surprise.
- Good morning! I hope you slept well.
- Please say thank you today.
- I saw you share your toys. Well done!
- Try a new food today.
- Can you tidy your room for me?
- Give someone a big smile.
- Please be kind to your brothers and sisters.
- Read a story before bed.
- I love your drawings!
- Have a lovely day. See you soon!
Ways to share the notes
Morning surprise
Leave one card where your child will find it, such as next to a toothbrush, on a lunch box or by a bowl of cereal. Let them read it aloud before the day begins.
Elf envelope
Keep the cards in an envelope or small tin. Your child picks one without looking and reads it to the family.
Classroom post
Pop a card on each table or on the register tray. Children read the note to a partner before the lesson starts.
Bedtime note
Choose a calm card for the end of the day. Read it together, then talk about one kind thing that happened.
Why short kind notes help early readers
In Year 1, children are learning to read words by saying each sound and blending the sounds together. They are also getting to know common words by sight. A short note is a good size for this. It is small enough to finish, and the reward is a clear message from someone. That gives a real reason to read, which is more fun than reading a list of words.
Kind notes also give you a gentle way to talk about manners and feelings. Saying thank you, sharing, trying something new and giving a smile are all named in simple words. The elf does not tell children off. The tone stays warm and calm, so children can read the message, think about it and talk about it without pressure.
Skills and curriculum link
- Reading aloud
- Word reading
- Sounding out words
- Understanding short messages
- Talking about kindness
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 a short note aloud.
- I can sound out words I do not know.
- I can say what the note means.
How to help your child read the notes
- Point and readLet your child touch each word with a finger as they read. This keeps their eyes on the page and helps them match the spoken word to the written one.
- Sound it outIf a word is tricky, say each sound slowly, then blend the sounds together. Do not tell them the word straight away. Give them time first.
- Read it againOnce a word is worked out, read the whole note again so it flows. A second read makes the meaning clearer and builds confidence.
- Talk about itAsk what the elf wants and how the note might feel to the person who finds it. Understanding a message is as important as reading the words.
Key words
- NoteA short written message for someone to read.
- CardA small piece of stiff paper with writing or a picture on it.
- MessageWords that tell someone something.
- Sound outSay each sound in a word, then blend them together to say the whole word.
- ReplyAn answer that you give back to someone after they have written or spoken to you.
- KindCaring about other people and showing it in what you say and do.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for the grown-up.
- Cut out the cards. Adults can do the cutting for younger children.
- Leave one card for your child to find each morning, or let them pick one from an envelope.
- Ask your child to read the note aloud and point to each word. Help with sounding out only when needed.
- Talk about what the note means. Come back another day and read a new card. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read the note aloud together and point to each word. Then read it again, with your child saying it with you. For a tricky word, say each sound slowly, then blend the sounds. Try just one card a day until reading feels easy.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to write a reply to the elf. They can say thank you, answer the note or tell the elf about their day. Help with spelling only when they ask. Read the reply aloud together, then put it out for the elf to find.
Make it a game
Read the notes in a silly voice. Try a squeaky elf, a slow sleepy elf or a whisper. Take turns, and let the other person guess the voice. Read every word clearly first, so the message still makes sense.
Talk about it
- Which note did you like best, and why?
- Which word was tricky, and how did you read it?
- How do you think the person would feel if they found this note?
- Who could you give a kind note to this week?
- What would you write if you were the elf?
- Can you think of a kind thing you could do today?
Take it off the page
Elf post box
Cover a shoe box or tissue box in plain paper and cut a slot in the lid. Children post their replies to the elf. Adults should cut the slot.
Kind act drawings
Draw a picture of a kind thing you have seen or done. Write one short sentence underneath and read it aloud to someone.
Draw the workshop
Draw what you think the elf's workshop looks like. Label two or three things, then explain your picture to a grown-up.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first card, then let them lead. Leave one card at a time so it feels like a treat. Praise careful reading and kind ideas, not only quick reading.
Teachers
Use the cards as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a calm table activity. They suit paired reading and need no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
Home educators
Pair the cards with picture books and everyday talk. One card a day fits easily into a morning or bedtime routine. The set can be printed again for brothers and sisters, or for a repeat read a few weeks later.
Where this fits in your child's reading
Before this, children usually learn letter sounds and begin to blend them to read simple words. They also meet some common words that are hard to sound out. These notes give them a chance to use those early skills on a real message, not only on word lists.
After this, children can move on to reading longer sentences and short stories with more confidence. They will also begin writing their own sentences, such as a reply to the elf. Later in Key Stage 1, they read more fluently and talk about what they have read in more detail.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What was your favourite note, and why?
- Which word was tricky, and how did you read it?
- Who would you give a kind note to?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Elf Notes From the Workshop for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Slightly younger children who are starting to read simple words may enjoy it with help, and Year 2 children can use the stretch idea.
- What will children practise?
They practise reading short, kind messages aloud. That means word reading, sounding out tricky words and understanding what a note means. The talk prompts also give children a chance to speak about kindness in their own words.
- How do I use it?
Cut out the cards and leave one for your child to find each morning. Ask them to read it aloud and point to each word. Then talk about what the elf is asking and come back to a new card another day.
- What if it feels too hard?
Read the note aloud together and point to each word. Read it again with your child joining in. Use just one card at a time, and sound out tricky words slowly instead of telling your child the word.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for use at home and in the classroom. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or to read the cards a second time later on.
- How long does it take?
That is up to you. Children can read one card at a time or several in one sitting. Short, relaxed reading works best, so stop when your child has had enough and come back to it another day.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour themselves if they like, though the notes can be read and used just as well without it.
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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.