Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Letter Hunt Scavenger Sheet: Free Printable Game for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageKey Stage 3
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Letter Hunt Scavenger Sheet is a free printable game for children aged 2 to 4 in Early Years. A grown-up reads out each line, and the child hunts for an object that starts with the matching sound. It takes about 15 minutes, needs only a pencil and some everyday objects, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas and a stretch idea.
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 go on a hunt around the home or classroom. A grown-up reads each line aloud, and the child finds an object that starts with the sound for that letter. There is a checklist on the sheet, so children can tick off each find as they go. The game works for one child or a small group. Everything is done by looking, listening and talking.
- b for ball or book
- c for cup
- d for door
- f for fork
- h for hat
- m for mug
- p for pen
- s for sock
- t for teddy
- b for bed
- l for lamp
- s for spoon
Set up your hunt
Pick your hunting ground
Start with one room or one corner of the classroom. A small space keeps the hunt short and stops young children feeling lost.
Do a quick look first
Before you start, check that the objects you need are easy to reach. Move anything fragile or high up out of the way.
Bring a basket
Let your child carry a basket or tray. They can put each find inside, then tip them out at the end and say each word again.
Take turns
Swap roles. The child reads or checks for a go, and the grown-up hunts. Children enjoy being the one who knows the answer.
Why start with the first sound?
Before children read words, they learn to listen to them. Hearing the first sound in a word is an early step in phonics. A word such as sun begins with an s sound, and children gradually learn that a written letter stands for a sound. Letter names and letter sounds are different, so many Early Years settings teach the sound first.
A hunt makes this physical. Children hear a sound, look around, pick up an object and say its name. Real objects give the sound a meaning. Moving about also suits children aged 2 to 4, who learn well through play. If a younger child mainly enjoys finding things, that is fine. Looking and listening come first.
A grown-up should hand over any kitchen items, such as a fork, and children should not fetch things from kitchen drawers. Leave anything hot alone. Keep small objects away from children under three, as they can be a choking risk.
Skills and curriculum link
- Letter sounds
- Listening
- Looking
- Early word reading
- Speaking and vocabulary
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Literacy | Word Reading | Ages 3 to 4 |
What children will be able to do
- I can hear the first sound in a word.
- I can find the letter that matches it.
- I can find things that start with that sound.
Ideas to help your child hunt
- Sound, not nameA letter has a name and a sound. For this game, say the sound a letter makes. It is the sound that helps children match a word to a letter.
- Say the word slowlyStretch the start of a word, like mmm for a word that begins with m. Slow, clear speech makes the first sound easier to hear.
- Use real objectsHolding an object and saying its name helps young children remember the word. Let them touch, carry and name each find.
- Praise the tryingYoung children often pick something that does not match. Say the word together, listen for the first sound and have another look. Keep it light.
Key words
- LetterA shape we write. Each letter stands for a sound, or more than one.
- SoundWhat you hear when you say part of a word out loud.
- First soundThe sound at the very start of a word.
- MatchTwo things that go together, like a sound and its letter.
- HuntLooking around to find something.
- ChecklistA list where you tick each thing when you have found it.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- Read the first line aloud and say the sound slowly. Ask your child to look around for something that starts with it.
- Let your child bring the object back, or point to it. Say the word together and listen for the first sound.
- Tick it off on the checklist. Carry on for about 15 minutes, and stop while it is still fun.
- Come back another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Do four letters at a time and stop for a rest. Say the sound, not the letter name. Show your child the object first, then ask them to find another one. Sit alongside them and keep the hunt close, in one room.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to think of their own object for each letter, rather than choosing the one you suggest. Can they find something in a different room? Can they think of a second word that starts with the same sound?
Make it a game
Time yourselves with a sand timer, or sing a tidy up song while you hunt and stop when the song ends. Count how many ticks you have made, then try again another day and see if you can beat it.
Talk about it
- What sound does this word start with?
- Can you find something that starts with the same sound?
- Which letter makes that sound?
- Can you say that word really slowly?
- What else in this room starts with that sound?
- Which find was your favourite, and what sound does it start with?
Take it off the page
Sound bag
Put a few small, safe objects in a bag. Your child pulls one out, says its name and tells you the first sound.
Sound sorting
Draw two big circles on paper. Sort toys by their first sound into the circles. Say each toy's name as you place it.
I spy with sounds
Play I spy using the sound, not the letter name. Say, I spy with my little eye something that starts with this sound, and let your child guess.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Say sounds, not letter names. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. Stop if your child loses interest and try again another day.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed groups, and children can hunt in pairs or small groups around the classroom.
Home educators
Add it to a wider plan alongside books, songs and outdoor play. The hunt works well for brothers and sisters of different ages. Older children can read the lines out and check, while younger ones find the objects.
Where this fits
Before this game, children enjoy listening games, rhymes, songs and sharing books. They learn to notice sounds around them and to talk about the words they hear. These skills make hearing a first sound much easier.
After this, children usually move on to matching more letters to sounds, hearing sounds at the end of words, and blending sounds together to read simple words. Hunting for letters in the garden or in a book is a good next step.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What sound does this word start with?
- Can you find something that starts with the same sound?
- Which letter makes that sound?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Letter Hunt Scavenger Sheet for?
It is written for children aged 2 to 4 in Early Years. Younger children can simply enjoy finding objects with a grown-up. Older children can say the first sound and match it to a letter.
- What will children practise?
They practise hearing the first sound in a word and matching it to a letter. They also practise looking, listening and speaking. The hunt gives each sound a real object to go with it.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and give page 1 to your child. Read each line aloud, and your child finds an object. Tick it off on the checklist. It takes about 15 minutes. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- What if it feels too hard?
Do four letters at a time. Say the sound, not the letter name. Show your child an object and say its first sound clearly. Keep the hunt in one room and stop when your child has had enough.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group, and come back to it on another day.
- Is it a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, a pencil and objects you already have around you. It suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays, and it gets children moving and talking rather than watching.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can colour in or add their own marks if they like, but the game works without any colour at all.
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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.