Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Human Network Game: Free Printable Game for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Human Network Game is a free printable computing game for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children act as computers in a class network and pass messages from a sender to a receiver. It needs 6 to 30 players, takes about 15 minutes and uses no extra items. 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, use page 1 for the game and keep page 2 for the grown-up. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play a message passing game in a class network. The sheet comes with cards to cut out and use. Each card holds a short message, such as a greeting, an instruction or a simple statement. Players act as computers. One child is the sender and one is the receiver, and the message passes along the network between them. The game is played in rounds, so children can try again and pass messages more clearly each time.
- Hello from the sender
- Send me a picture
- The cat is on the mat
- Please share the cake
- See you at lunch
- Red and blue make purple
- Open the door
- Save your work
- Click the green button
What is a computer network?
A computer network is a group of computers and other devices that are connected so they can share information. The connection might be a cable or a wireless signal. At school, computers often share a network so that pupils can save work, print and use the same programs.
Information on a network does not simply appear where it is needed. It has to be sent from one place and received at another, and it may pass through several devices on the way. Acting this out with people lets children see and hear that journey instead of only being told about it.
Network facts for curious children
- A network is a group of devices that are connected so they can share information.
- Some networks use cables and some use wireless signals, such as wifi.
- The internet is a very large system of networks that are connected together.
- A device that sends information is a sender. A device that gets it is a receiver.
- Many schools have their own network that links computers, printers and other devices.
Skills and curriculum link
- Computing
- Networks
- Teamwork
- Careful listening
- Clear speaking
- Following rules
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) | Computing | Networks | Year 4 |
What children will be able to do
- I can act as a computer in a network.
- I can pass a message from sender to receiver.
- I can explain how a network sends information.
Ideas to help the game run well
- Agree the rules firstRead the rules aloud together before the first round. Everyone then plays the same game and fewer arguments start.
- Keep your voice lowUse a quiet but clear voice so only the next player hears the message. Say each word slowly and neatly.
- Take turns in each roleLet children swap between sender, receiver and network player. Each role shows a different part of how messages travel.
- Talk after each roundSpend a minute asking what went well and what could be clearer. Short chats help children link the game to real computers.
Key words
- NetworkA group of computers or devices that are connected so they can share information.
- SenderThe person or device that sends a message.
- ReceiverThe person or device that gets a message.
- MessageInformation that is passed from one place to another.
- RouteThe path a message takes from the sender to the receiver.
- InternetA very large system of networks that are connected all around the world.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the game. Keep page 2, which has the notes for the grown-up.
- Cut out the cards and read the rules aloud together. Check that everyone knows whether they are a sender, a receiver or part of the network.
- Play a first round slowly. Talk about each choice so children understand how the message moves.
- Play more rounds. Keep each round short and swap roles so everyone has a turn at each job.
- Check the notes on page 2, then come back another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Use short messages and stand close together so every player can hear. Start with a small group before adding more players. Let children say the message quietly to themselves first. Play one slow practice round before you try to go quickly.
To stretch confident children
Add a second route so messages can take two paths. Ask children which path is quicker and why. Then ask what they could do if one path were busy or blocked. Let them suggest and test their own ideas.
Make it a game
Time each round and try to beat your best time. Keep the messages the same each time so the rounds are fair. Speed only counts if the message arrives correctly, so clear speaking matters as much as being quick.
Talk about it
- What does a computer in a network have to do?
- Why do messages need to be clear and the same all the way along?
- What job did you find hardest, sender, receiver or network player? Why?
- How did you check that the message was right?
- Where have you seen computers connected to each other at home or at school?
- What would you change to make the game faster?
Take it off the page
Message relay at home
Sit in a line with family or friends. Whisper a short sentence from one end to the other. Then say what the last person heard and compare it with the original.
Draw a network
Draw a simple map with a few computers, a printer and lines to show how they connect. Label a sender and a receiver and draw the route a message might take.
Hand signal messages
Make up a set of simple hand signals with a friend. Pass a signal message across the room with no speaking and see whether it arrives unchanged.
Who it is for
Parents
You do not need to know about computers. Read the rules, play the first round with your child and let them lead. If you have only a few players, take several roles each. Short sessions of about 15 minutes work well.
Teachers
Use it as a starter or plenary when teaching networks, or as a practical way to introduce the topic. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out the cards. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it for use alone or within a wider computing plan. It works well with brothers and sisters, a co-op group or a tutoring session. Link it to everyday examples of networks and repeat it later to check understanding.
Where this fits in computing
Before this game, children often practise following and writing clear instructions. Sequence Coding Cards is a good place to build that habit. Clear, ordered steps help when children later think about how information is sent.
After this game, children can try Fewest Steps Race, which is the same subject one year up. Safe Chatting Cards and Fake News Spotter also help children think about how they use the internet and the information they find there.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- How did the message travel from sender to receiver?
- What happened if one computer in the network was missing?
- How is our game like the internet?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Human Network Game for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9) in Key Stage 2. Older children can enjoy it too, especially with the stretch idea, and younger children can join in if the messages are kept short.
- How many players do I need?
You need 6 to 30 players. That suits a family gathering, a small group or a whole class. The game needs no extra items, so you can set it up quickly once you have printed and cut out the cards.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes. Short rounds work best, so two quick games usually beat one long one. You can play again another day to give children more practice in each role.
- What will children learn?
Children practise acting as computers in a network and passing a message from sender to receiver. They also build teamwork and careful listening, and begin to explain how information travels across a network.
- Does it need a computer or tablet?
No. It is a screen free game. You print the sheet, cut out the cards and play with people. This makes it a good way to talk about networks without needing any devices to be set up.
- What if it feels too hard for my child?
Use short messages and stand close together so everyone can hear. Play a slow practice round first and let children try each role. When they feel confident, you can make messages longer or play faster.
- Is it suitable for the classroom?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, a plenary or a practical activity within a unit on networks. It matches the Networks strand of the National Curriculum for England in computing at Year 4. Please check it against your own plan.
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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.