Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Irish Myth or Fact Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Irish Myth or Fact Cards is a free printable card set for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10). Children read statements about St Patrick and circle MYTH or FACT on each card. Then they write a tricky card of their own, with a secret answer and a reason. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch task 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, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet a set of cards, each with one statement about the life and legend of St Patrick. They read each card, think about whether it is a myth or a fact, and circle their choice. Then they write a tricky card of their own, and add a secret answer and a reason in a box to fold over. There are boxes for drawing or notes.
- A. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. MYTH or FACT?
- B. Patrick was born in Britain, not in Ireland. MYTH or FACT?
- C. Patrick was a king of Ireland. MYTH or FACT?
- F. Ireland has no snakes living wild there naturally. MYTH or FACT?
- G. Patrick lived about 500 years ago, in Tudor times. MYTH or FACT?
- H. St Patrick's Day is on 1 March. MYTH or FACT?
- My tricky card: write a myth or a fact
- Secret answer and the reason (fold this over)
How to write a good tricky card
Pick something you can check
Choose a statement that could be proved true or false. An opinion such as "he was the best" cannot be checked, so it makes a poor card.
Make it sound believable
A good tricky card should make a friend stop and think. Do not make it silly. Use clear words and keep it to one sentence.
Decide the answer first
Know whether your card is a myth or a fact before you write it. Then write the statement so it is clearly one or the other.
Write the reason
In the secret box, say how you know. A reason such as "a book says so" is a start. A better reason says what kind of evidence it is.
Myth, legend and evidence
A legend is a story that people have told for many years. It may start with a real person or event, but each retelling can add new details. A myth is a belief or story that is not true, even if many people repeat it. Famous figures from long ago often gather both kinds of story around them, which makes them a good subject for sorting true from untrue.
Historians ask one question again and again: how do we know? They look at sources such as written records, objects and places, and they ask how reliable each one is. This sheet gives children a first taste of that thinking. St Patrick is remembered and celebrated by many people in Ireland and around the world, so children often meet stories about him before they meet the evidence.
Quick facts about history and evidence
- A legend is a traditional story about the past that may mix true details with invented ones.
- Historians use sources such as written records and objects to learn about the past.
- A source made at the time being studied is called a primary source.
- St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
- The shamrock is a well known symbol of Ireland.
Skills and curriculum link
- Sorting myth from fact
- Using evidence
- Giving reasons
- Writing a tricky statement
- Careful reading
Ideas to help you talk about the cards
- Ask how we knowAfter each choice, ask "What makes you think that?" A reason matters more than a lucky guess.
- Watch for strong wordsWords such as all, only, never and no are worth a second look. They are a clue to stop and check, not a rule.
- Separate the story from the personA person can be real while some stories about them are legend. Help children hold both ideas at once.
- Keep the answers backLet children decide and explain before you check page 2. A wrong guess with a good reason is still good thinking.
Key words
- MythA story or belief that is not true, even if many people repeat it.
- FactSomething that can be shown to be true.
- LegendA traditional story about a person or event from the past. It may mix truth with things people added later.
- EvidenceInformation that helps show whether something is true.
- HistorianA person who studies the past.
- SourceSomething that gives us information about the past, such as a written record or an object.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read each card aloud. Ask your child to say what they think before they circle anything.
- Circle MYTH or FACT on each card. Ask, "How do you know?" or "What would you want to check?"
- Check the answers together on page 2. Talk about any card that surprised your child.
- Write a tricky card of your own. Fill in the secret answer and reason, then fold the box over and try it on someone else.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Work in pairs and read the cards aloud. Offer sentence starters such as "I think this is a fact because..." or "I am not sure, so I would check...". Do a few cards first and come back to the rest another day.
To stretch confident children
Write a second tricky card. Add one sentence explaining how a historian could check it, for example by looking at a written record or an object. Swap with a friend and see if they can find the evidence.
Make it a game
Swap sheets with a partner. Each player guesses whether the other's tricky card is a myth or a fact. A correct guess scores a point, and the writer must give their reason. Play a few rounds and add up the points.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child picks MYTH just because a statement sounds surprising.
Try thisExplain that surprising does not mean untrue. Ask what evidence would show it is true or false.
Watch forA child chooses by whether they like the story.
Try thisSay that liking a story is different from it being true. Ask, "Is this a story people tell, or something we can check?"
Watch forA child writes a tricky card that is an opinion, such as "Patrick was the kindest person ever."
Try thisAsk whether anyone could prove it. Help them rewrite it as a statement that can be checked.
Talk about it
- Why do you think people tell legends about famous people?
- How could we find out whether a story is true?
- Is a story still worth telling if it is a myth?
- Which card made you change your mind, and why?
- What makes a good source of evidence?
- Which words on a card made you stop and think?
Take it off the page
Legend or fact detectives
Choose a well known story from your family or area. Decide which parts you could check and which parts might be legend. Write two lists.
Draw a legend
Pick a legend you know and draw a picture of it. Under the picture, write one sentence saying what is a story and what a historian might look for.
Family myth or fact
Ask a grown up to tell you two things about their childhood, one true and one made up. Guess which is which, then ask how you could check.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first few cards, then let them lead. Ask for reasons, not only answers. If they are unsure, say "I do not know either, how could we find out?" That is real history thinking.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It supports the Key Stage 2 history strand on how knowledge of the past is built from sources. The tricky card task gives a quick check of reasoning. Page 2 has answers and support ideas.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider history plan alongside books, maps and talk. Children can write tricky cards for brothers and sisters, or redo the sheet a few weeks later to see what they remember. It is free to print again.
Where this fits in history learning
Before this sheet, children learn that history is about real people and events, and that some things we hear about the past are stories. They practise ordering events and asking simple questions about old objects and pictures.
After it, children can compare two sources about the same event, ask which is more reliable, and write short explanations of how we know what we know. The idea of asking for evidence also helps in science, reading and everyday life.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Irish Myth or Fact Cards for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with a grown up reading the cards aloud, and older children can use the stretch task.
- What will children practise?
Children practise telling legend from historical evidence and writing a clear statement of their own. The subject area is the life of St Patrick. They also practise giving a reason for each choice.
- Do the answers explain themselves?
Page 2 gives the answers for the grown up. Children are also asked to write their own secret answer and reason on page 1, so they practise explaining as well as choosing.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Work in pairs and read the cards aloud. Offer sentence starters such as "I think this is a fact because...". Try a few cards at a time and come back to the rest on another day.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Printing in black and white on plain A4 paper works well.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.