Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Fathers Day Treasure Hunt: Free Printable Game for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Fathers Day Treasure Hunt is a free printable game for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children read clue cards, work out each place and follow the trail to a hidden gift. It takes about 15 minutes, needs only paper and a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help, 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, use page 1 for the game and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet is a set of clue cards to cut out and hide around your home. Each clue tells the player where to look next, for example where the shoes or the coats are kept. The last card leads to the gift and a Happy Fathers Day message. Children read each clue, think about the places in their own home and walk to the right spot. One or two children play, with a grown-up.
- Clue 1: Look where we keep the shoes.
- Clue 2: Look where we wash our hands.
- Clue 3: Look where we sit to watch TV.
- Clue 4: Look where we keep the coats.
- Clue 5: Look where we eat dinner.
- Clue 6: Look where we sleep.
- Clue 7: Look where the books are kept.
- Clue 8: Look where we keep our toys.
- Clue 9: The gift is in the last place. Happy Fathers Day!
How to set up the hunt
Check the places
Read each clue and decide which place in your home it points to. Change any clue that does not match your home, so every card makes sense.
Cut out the cards
A grown-up cuts out the cards and puts them in order. Keep the order written down so you can check the trail later.
Hide the cards
Place each card in the spot that the clue before it describes. The first card is handed to the child. The gift goes in the final place.
Do a quick walk round
Follow the trail once yourself. This makes sure no card is missing and that nothing is hidden anywhere unsafe or hard to reach.
Why a treasure hunt works for reading
Fathers Day in the UK falls on the third Sunday in June. Families often mark it with cards and small gifts. A treasure hunt turns handing over a gift into a game. The child gets a job to do, and the surprise at the end gives them a good reason to read carefully and keep going.
Every clue in a hunt is a short piece of text with a purpose. The child must read it, understand it and then act on it. That is reading comprehension in a practical form. Children also use what they already know about their home to work out the meaning, which is a good first step towards thinking beyond the words on the page.
Skills and curriculum link
- Reading clues
- Following steps
- Problem solving
- Listening and talking
- Using what you know about home
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: comprehension | Year 2 |
What children will be able to do
- I can read each clue carefully.
- I can follow instructions to find the next place.
- I can explain how a clue helped me.
Ideas for helping your child
- Read aloud firstLet your child read each clue aloud. If a word is tricky, sound it out together. Then ask what the clue is asking them to do.
- Picture the placeBefore they move, ask your child to picture the place in their head. Then ask them to say where they think they should go.
- Check the clue againIf they go to the wrong spot, read the clue together once more. Ask which word helps them most, rather than telling them where to go.
- Let them be the hostSwap roles for a second round. Your child hides the cards and you follow the clues. Hiding them needs the same careful reading.
Key words
- ClueA hint that helps you find or work something out.
- InstructionWords that tell you what to do.
- Treasure huntA game where you follow clues one after another to find something hidden.
- OrderThe way things come one after another. The cards must be found in the right order.
- HideTo put something where it cannot be seen easily.
- GiftA present given to someone to show you care.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the game. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
- A grown-up cuts out the cards, changes any places to match your home, and hides them in order. Hand the first card to your child.
- Ask your child to read each clue aloud and decide where to go. Talk about each choice before they move.
- When the trail ends, hand over the gift or let your child give it. Check the route against the notes and answers on page 2.
- Play again another day. Swap roles, or change the hiding places. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read each clue together and point to the places. Ask your child to say the place out loud before they set off. Start with a short trail if the full game feels like a lot, and add more cards once they feel confident.
To stretch confident children
Let your child write their own clues in rhyme. They can make a new trail for another family member. Ask them to test it by reading each clue aloud and checking that it points to only one place.
Make it a game
Time the hunt and try to beat your best time. Reset the cards, hide them again and play a second round. Have the child record each time on paper and compare them at the end.
Talk about it
- Which word in the clue helped you most?
- How did you know where to go next?
- What place in our home would you choose for a new clue?
- Is there another way to say that clue?
- What would make a clue too easy or too tricky?
- How do you think the person who gets the gift will feel?
Take it off the page
Make a Fathers Day card
Fold a piece of paper and decorate it. Write a short message inside in your best handwriting and give it with the gift.
Draw a map of home
Draw a simple plan of your home. Mark the places from the clues and draw a line to show the route the hunt took.
Clue writing with a family member
Take turns to say a clue aloud for an everyday object in the room. The other person guesses what it is.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first round, then let them lead. Fifteen minutes is plenty. Keep the mood light, and treat a wrong turn as part of the game. Save the gift for the final place.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, a table activity or a task for early finishers. It supports reading comprehension at Year 2 level. Adapt the places to your classroom or school so the clues make sense, and check the route before pupils start.
Home educators
Pair the game with a trip to the library or a talk about family. Use it again for brothers and sisters, or write new clues to match a different day. It needs no screen and very little preparation.
Where this fits in your child's learning
In Year 1, children learn to read short sentences and follow simple instructions. They also start to talk about what a text means. A treasure hunt builds on this by asking them to read a short line and then do something with it.
Later in Key Stage 1 and beyond, children read longer instructions and clues with more than one step. They also write their own instructions and short texts. Making up a trail of clues is a playful way to practise that kind of writing.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What did the clue tell you to do?
- How did you work out where to go next?
- Can you write a clue of your own?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Fathers Day Treasure Hunt for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can play with a grown-up reading the clues. Older children can write their own clues and hide the cards for someone else.
- What will children practise?
Children read clues, follow instructions and work out where to go next. They also talk about their choices, which builds listening and speaking as well as reading. It is a playful way to practise comprehension.
- How long does the game take?
It takes about 15 minutes. You need a little extra time before the game to cut out the cards and hide them. A second round, with the roles swapped, makes the activity last a little longer.
- Do I need to change the clues?
Yes, if the places do not match your home. The clues point to everyday places, so change any card that does not suit your layout. Check the order again so that each card leads to the next.
- Who hides the cards and the gift?
A grown-up does. Cut out the cards, hide them in order and place the gift in the final spot. Later, an older child can take a turn at hiding them, with an adult checking the places first.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. Black and white printing on plain A4 paper works well. You only need scissors for the cards, and a pencil if children want to write.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It supports reading comprehension at Year 2 level. Change the places to suit your classroom, and check the route before pupils begin.
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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.