Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Modal Verbs Mission Control: Free Printable Game for Year 6
- ForYear 6
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Modal Verbs Mission Control is a free printable game for Year 6 (ages 10 to 11). Children read launch reports and match each one to how likely it is, thinking carefully about how sure the speaker sounds. It needs only a pencil. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea 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 play the part of mission control. They read each launch report and think about how sure the speaker is. Then they draw lines to match each report to how likely it is. The modal verb a speaker chooses shapes how sure they sound, so children need to read with care. The sheet also has lines for writing. Talking through each choice aloud helps children explain their thinking.
Why modal verbs matter
Modal verbs are small helping verbs that sit in front of a main verb. They tell the reader how likely something is, how certain the speaker feels, or how necessary an action is. Examples include will, could, may and should. A modal verb does not change its ending for different subjects, and the main verb after it stays in its base form.
Year 6 children often use modal verbs without noticing them. Choosing between two modal verbs can change a sentence from a promise to a guess. In the National Curriculum for England, modal verbs for degrees of possibility appear in the Year 5 and 6 grammar programme of study. A launch report gives children a clear, playful reason to weigh up each word.
Skills and curriculum link
- Modal verbs
- Degrees of possibility
- Reading carefully
- Comparing word choices
- Explaining your thinking
Ideas for helping with modal verbs
- Look at the whole sentenceThe modal verb is the main clue, but other words in the report can add to or change how sure the speaker sounds. Read the full sentence before deciding.
- Think about the speakerAsk how confident the person sounds. A speaker who has checked everything may sound different from one who is guessing.
- Try swapping the wordChange the modal verb in a sentence for another one and read it aloud. Notice how the feeling of the sentence changes.
- Use everyday examplesModal verbs turn up in daily talk, such as plans, promises and warnings. Spotting them in real speech makes the idea easier to hold.
Key words
- Modal verbA helping verb that shows how likely, certain or necessary something is.
- PossibilityHow likely it is that something will happen.
- CertaintyBeing completely sure about something.
- Modal adverbA word such as perhaps or definitely that also shows how sure a speaker is.
- ReportA short account that tells someone what is happening or what is planned.
- Main verbThe action word that comes after a modal verb in a sentence.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read each report aloud together. Talk about how sure the speaker is before any lines are drawn.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Ask your child to explain each choice.
- Check against the notes and answers on page 2. Talk about any matches that were different.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Put the reports in order from least sure to most sure before drawing any lines. Say each report aloud and ask, "Is this speaker guessing, hoping or certain?" Work on a few reports at a time, then return to the rest later.
To stretch confident children
Rewrite each report using a modal adverb, such as perhaps or definitely, instead of a modal verb. Then read both versions aloud. Does the speaker sound just as sure? Talk about which version you prefer and why.
Make it a game
Say a plan for the weekend using one modal verb. The others guess how sure you are. Take turns. Try to choose your modal verb so carefully that the guessers agree with each other.
Talk about it
- Which word in a report tells you most about how sure the speaker is?
- Can you think of a time when you used a word like might or will in real life?
- Why might a mission controller want to choose their words carefully?
- How does a sentence change if you swap one modal verb for another?
- Which report was hardest to place, and why?
- How is a modal adverb like perhaps different from a modal verb?
Take it off the page
Weather forecast
Write a short forecast for tomorrow using several modal verbs. Read it aloud like a presenter and ask a family member how sure you sound.
Plans and promises
Make a list of things you could do, should do and want to do this week. Talk about how sure each plan feels.
Spot the modal
Look through a favourite book for modal verbs. Copy out three sentences and underline the modal verb in each.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Keep the mood light and playful. Ask them to explain their choices rather than just checking answers. Short bursts of practice work better than long sessions.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, supply resource, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It links to the Year 5 and 6 grammar strand on modal verbs and degrees of possibility. Page 2 offers support and stretch for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider English plan. It pairs well with reading aloud, writing practice and everyday talk. Because it is free to print, 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 verbs and learn how helping verbs work with main verbs. They also build a feel for words that show how sure someone is, often through reading and talking.
After this, children can use modal verbs and modal adverbs in their own writing, such as in persuasive pieces, stories and reports. They can also look at how writers choose words to sound cautious or confident.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Modal Verbs Mission Control for?
It is written for Year 6 (ages 10 to 11), in Key Stage 2. Younger children may enjoy talking through the reports with an adult, and older children can use it as quick revision.
- What will children practise?
Children practise using modal verbs to show degrees of possibility. This follows the Year 5 and 6 English grammar programme of study. They also practise reading carefully and explaining why one report sounds more sure than another.
- How do I use it?
Read each report aloud and talk about how sure the speaker is before drawing the lines. Work through it together the first time, then check against the notes and answers on page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Put the reports in order from least sure to most sure first. Then match them to how likely each one is. Work on a few at a time and come back to the sheet 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, other pupils or later revision.
- How long does it take?
There is no set time. Children can work at their own pace, and talking through each choice makes it longer. Page 2 has help and stretch ideas to make the activity easier or more demanding.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Black and white printing on plain A4 paper is fine.
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.