Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Idiom Illustration Guess: Free Printable Game for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Idiom Illustration Guess is a free printable game for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10). Players take turns to draw the literal picture of an idiom, and the others guess the phrase. Then they work out what it really means. It is for 3 to 6 players, takes about 20 minutes, and needs only pencils and paper.
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 activity. Keep page 2 for the grown up: it has notes, help, a stretch idea and the answers. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet includes cards to cut out and use. Each card carries an idiom, such as Raining cats and dogs, A piece of cake or Once in a blue moon. Players take turns to draw. The drawing shows the words as they literally sound, which is often silly. Everyone else guesses the phrase. Players then say what it really means. There is a point for guessing the phrase and a point for the real meaning.
- Raining cats and dogs
- A piece of cake
- Spill the beans
- Under the weather
- Break the ice
- Let the cat out of the bag
- Hit the sack
- Cost an arm and a leg
- Butterflies in your stomach
- Once in a blue moon
- Pull your socks up
- Barking up the wrong tree
Why draw an idiom?
An idiom is a phrase whose meaning is different from the meaning of the words taken one by one. If you read the words exactly, they make a strange picture. If you know the idiom, you understand the message straight away. English has a great many idioms, and we use them in speech, stories and everyday chat without noticing.
Drawing the literal picture makes the gap between the two meanings easy to see. A child who has drawn something odd can then explain why it is not what the speaker meant. That is a useful step in reading. It teaches children to stop and ask whether a phrase should be taken word for word or understood in a different way.
Fun facts about idioms
- Many languages have idioms, not only English.
- An idiom usually cannot be understood just by knowing each word on its own.
- People learning English often find idioms tricky for that reason.
- Idioms are a type of figurative language, which means the words stand for an idea.
- The literal picture of an idiom is often so funny that it helps people remember the phrase.
Skills and curriculum link
- Understanding idioms
- Vocabulary
- Speaking and listening
- Literal and figurative meaning
- Drawing to explain an idea
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 5 |
What children will be able to do
- I can say what an idiom means.
- I can draw the literal picture of an idiom.
- I can tell the real meaning from the picture.
Ideas that help with idioms
- Literal meaningThis is what the words say when you take them exactly as they are. It is the meaning you would draw.
- Figurative meaningThis is the idea the speaker really wants to share. It is different from the literal picture.
- Clues from the situationThink about when someone might say the phrase. The setting often points to the real meaning.
- Using it in a sentenceIf you can put the idiom into a sentence that makes sense, you probably understand it.
Key words
- IdiomA phrase with a meaning that is different from the words taken one by one.
- LiteralExactly what the words say, with no hidden meaning.
- FigurativeUsing words to stand for an idea, not their exact meaning.
- PhraseA small group of words that go together.
- MeaningWhat a word or phrase tells you or the idea it stands for.
- GuessTo say what you think the answer is, using clues.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the players. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers, for the grown up.
- Cut out the cards and read the rules aloud together, so everyone plays the same game.
- Take turns to draw. The drawer shows the literal picture of the phrase on their card. The other players guess.
- Score a point for guessing the phrase and a point for saying the real meaning. Check against page 2.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Say what the idiom means before drawing. Then think of one simple object or scene from the words to draw. Stick figures are fine. Play a practice round together first, so children see how a silly picture can still lead to the phrase.
To stretch confident children
Think of your own idiom and draw it. Swap drawings with a friend and see if they can guess the phrase and explain the meaning. Then each write a sentence that uses the idiom in a sensible way.
Make it a game
Score a point for guessing the phrase and a point for the real meaning. Play a few rounds so everyone draws at least once. The player with the most points at the end is the winner. Keep each round quick.
Talk about it
- What does this idiom really mean?
- Why does the picture look so funny?
- Can you use this idiom in a sentence?
- Which idiom was the hardest to draw, and why?
- Have you heard anyone say one of these phrases before? Where?
- Can you think of an idiom that is not on the cards?
Take it off the page
Idiom comic strip
Fold a sheet of paper into four. Draw a short comic that shows an idiom in real use, with a speech bubble in each box.
Silly or sensible
Say an idiom aloud. Everyone acts out the literal version, then the real meaning. Talk about how the two are different.
Idiom collection
Over a week, listen for idioms at home, in books or in class. Write each one on a slip of paper and keep them in a jar.
Who it is for
Parents
Play the first round alongside your child, then let them lead. Short bursts work best. Praise clear explanations of the real meaning as much as good drawings. Ask them to use an idiom in a sentence of their own.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out the cards. Mixed groups work well, because page 2 gives support and stretch ideas.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider English plan. It pairs well with reading aloud, story writing and everyday talk. You can use it again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this, children meet figurative language in stories and poems, and learn that some words and phrases do not mean exactly what they say. This game builds on that by asking them to show both meanings, the literal one and the real one.
Later, this supports work in the Years 5 and 6 reading objectives, where children discuss how writers use language, including figurative language, and what effect it has on the reader. The same skill helps their own writing. They can choose an idiom on purpose and check it suits the reader.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What does this idiom really mean?
- Why does the picture look so funny?
- Can you use this idiom in a sentence?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Idiom Illustration Guess for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with help, and older children can use the stretch idea on page 2 to make it harder.
- What will children practise?
Children learn the meaning of idioms by drawing the literal picture. They also build vocabulary and practise speaking, by guessing phrases and explaining what each one really means.
- How many players do I need?
The game is for 3 to 6 players. You need pencils and paper. Players take turns to draw, and everyone else guesses. A parent, teacher or tutor can join in as one of the players.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 20 minutes. Keep rounds short. Two quick games are better than one long one. You can always come back to the sheet on another day.
- What if it feels too hard?
Say what the idiom means before drawing. Then pick one simple scene from the words and draw that. Page 2 has more help for children who find it hard.
- Is it free and screen free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. It is a screen free activity that needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour to their drawings with pencils if they like, but it is not needed to play.
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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.