Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Half Term Activity Planner: Free Printable Planner for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Half Term Activity Planner is a free printable planner for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children plan their own week off, choosing a morning and an afternoon plan for each day. They aim for a mix of outings, making and rest. It takes about 10 minutes, needs only a pencil, and 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
Children fill in a table with a row for each day of the week off. For each day they write a morning plan and an afternoon plan, then tick the Done? box once it has happened. There are also lines for writing. The aim is a week with a mix of outings, making and rest. Children choose what they would enjoy and think about what fits into each part of the day.
- Day
- Morning plan
- Afternoon plan
- Done?
Ideas for a balanced week
Outings
Think about a park, a library, a walk, a swim or a visit to a friend or relative. Outings do not need to cost money. Talk about how you would get there and who would take you.
Making
Making can mean baking, drawing, building with bricks, sewing, or crafting from things at home. Pick something a child can start and finish in one morning or afternoon.
Rest
Each day needs one quiet activity. A book, a puzzle, a board game or listening to music all count. Rest helps children enjoy the busy parts more.
A plan for rain
Weather in England changes quickly. Choose one indoor back up for each outdoor plan, so a wet day does not spoil the week.
Why plan a week off?
Half term is a school break in the middle of a term. In England it usually lasts a week. Children often look forward to it, but a week with no routine can feel long. Some children end up bored, and some adults end up planning everything. A simple plan on paper gives the week a shape and lets everyone see what is coming.
Planning is a life skill. When children choose what to do, think about the time of day and weigh up what is possible, they practise making decisions. They also learn that a good plan has some give in it. Letting a child lead the planning gives them ownership, and they tend to look forward to the week more.
Skills and curriculum link
- Planning
- Choosing
- Organising
- Using a table
- Thinking ahead
- Writing short plans
What children will be able to do
- I can plan a week with outings, making and rest.
- I can choose activities I would enjoy.
- I can fit my plan into the days.
What a good plan needs
- ChoiceA good plan has things the child actually wants to do. Ask what they would look forward to, not what they think you want to hear.
- BalanceMix busy and calm days. A day with an outing in the morning may suit a quiet afternoon.
- TimeMorning and afternoon are two separate slots. Children think about what can fit in each one.
- FlexibilityPlans can change. Cross out, swap or move an idea to another day when needed.
Key words
- PlanA set of ideas about what you will do and when.
- MorningThe part of the day before lunch.
- AfternoonThe part of the day after lunch and before evening.
- OutingA trip out of the house, such as a walk, a visit or a day at the park.
- BalanceA good mix of different things, so no one thing takes over.
- Quiet timeA calm activity that gives you a rest, such as reading or a puzzle.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes.
- Talk about the week first. Which days are free? Are there any things that are already planned?
- Let your child fill in the table. Aim for outings, making and rest, with one quiet activity each day.
- Check the plan together using page 2. Ask, "Is it all possible?" Change anything that is not.
- Tick the Done? box as each plan happens. Look back at the end of the week and talk about what worked.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give your child three ideas for each part of the day and let them choose one. Fill in one day together as an example. If a whole week feels like a lot, plan just two or three days and add the rest later.
To stretch confident children
Add a rough time to each plan, such as 10 o'clock or after lunch. Then write what you need to bring or get ready for each one. Check that the plan still works if the weather turns wet.
Make it a game
Write a list of ideas on small slips of paper and put them in a hat. Each day, pick one for the morning and one for the afternoon. Swap one slip if it really cannot work, and tick it off when done.
Talk about it
- Which plan are you most looking forward to, and why?
- How did you decide what to put in the morning and what to put in the afternoon?
- Where is your quiet time each day?
- What could we do if it rains on your outing day?
- Is there anything you would like to try for the first time this week?
- Which plan could you do with a friend or someone in the family?
Take it off the page
Plan a picnic
Decide what food to take, what to carry it in and where to eat it. Write a short list. It is a small plan inside a bigger plan.
Make a family calendar
Draw a simple week on a large sheet of paper. Add everyone's plans in different colours, so the whole family can see the week at a glance.
Rainy day box
Fill a box with paper, pens, a book, a puzzle and a game. When the weather turns, there is something ready to go.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Ten minutes is usually plenty. Talk through what is possible, such as time, cost and weather, but let them make the choices. Keep the finished plan on the fridge.
Teachers
Use it in the last lesson before half term as a calm activity, or as a table task, early finisher or plenary. It needs no preparation. Children can share their plans with a partner and talk about how they chose.
Home educators
Print it at the start of a break, or before any week with a looser shape. It fits well alongside outdoor play, reading and baking. Siblings can each fill in their own copy and compare plans. Reprint for each holiday.
Where this fits
Before this, children in Years 2 and 3 are used to simple choices and short lists, such as what they would pack for a day out. Planning one day with a morning and an afternoon is a good first step towards a longer plan.
After this, children can plan for longer stretches and begin to think about time, cost and other people. A homework planner is a natural next step, because it asks them to organise tasks across the days of a week.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Why did you choose these activities?
- How did you make sure there was time to rest?
- What would you change if it rains?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Half Term Activity Planner for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9) in Key Stage 2. Children a little younger or older can use it too, with more or less help from a grown up.
- How long does it take?
About 10 minutes. The sheet suggests 10 minutes to plan. A child who likes to add detail or talk through each choice may take a little longer. Page 2 has ideas to make it shorter or longer.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add their own colour with pencils or pens if they would like to.
- What if my child cannot think of ideas?
Give them three ideas for each part of the day and let them choose. You can also talk about favourite things from past holidays. Once they have a few ideas, most children start to add their own.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for the next school holiday.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil. It works well as quiet time at the start of a break, and it helps children plan time away from screens as well.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
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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.