Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Mothers Day Quiz: Free Printable Quiz for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Mothers Day Quiz is a free printable quiz for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). It asks, "How well do you know your mum?" Children guess seven answers about the person who looks after them, then check their guesses and write in full sentences. It takes about 15 minutes and needs only a pencil.
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 the grown up. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet has seven numbered questions about a mum's favourite things and her childhood. Children think about what they already know, make a guess and write it down. Then they ask the grown up and check how close they were. There is space under each question to answer, and children are encouraged to write in full sentences rather than single words.
- What is her favourite colour?
- What is her favourite meal?
- What is her favourite film or programme?
- Where would she most like to go on holiday?
- What was her favourite thing to do as a child?
- What is her favourite animal?
- What job did she want to do when she was little?
Ways to make the quiz feel special
Pick a calm moment
Choose a time when nobody is rushing, such as a weekend morning or after tea. The quiz works best as a relaxed chat, not a test.
Keep the guesses secret
Ask your child to finish all seven guesses before they speak to the grown up. This keeps the checking part fun and full of surprises.
Add a small extra
Your child could draw a picture beside their favourite answer, or write one more thing they learned about the grown up.
Keep it as a keepsake
Fold the finished sheet into a card, or keep it in a folder. It is nice to look back on how a child answered at age 8 or 9.
About Mothering Sunday and why a quiz fits
Mothering Sunday in the UK falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, so the date changes from year to year. It began as a church tradition, when people visited the church they thought of as their mother church. Over time it became a day for thanking mothers and the people who care for us, often with cards, flowers and a family meal.
A quiz like this turns the day into a conversation. Children guess what their mum likes, then check and find out what they got right and what surprised them. Asking questions and listening to the answers shows children that adults have their own likes and childhood memories. The sheet works with any family member who looks after you, so a grandparent, carer or aunt can take part too.
Mothers Day facts for children
- In the UK, Mothering Sunday happens in spring, and the date is different each year.
- Many countries have a day to thank mothers, but they do not all hold it on the same date.
- In the USA, Mothers Day is celebrated in May.
- Simnel cake, a fruit cake with marzipan, is traditionally linked with Mothering Sunday.
- Spring flowers such as daffodils are a popular gift in the UK at this time of year.
Skills and curriculum link
- Predicting
- Writing in full sentences
- Listening
- Asking questions
- Giving reasons
Ideas for the grown up
- Answer in your own wordsGive your real answers, even if they are surprising. Children enjoy finding out something they did not know.
- Share a memoryWhen you answer the childhood question, tell a short story about it. Stories help children remember and want to ask more.
- Praise the thinkingSay what was clever about a wrong guess. A guess based on a clue shows good reasoning.
- Let your child leadLet them read each question and choose when to check. This keeps the activity theirs.
Key words
- PredictTo make a careful guess about what is true before you check.
- FavouriteThe one you like best out of all the choices.
- OpinionWhat a person thinks or feels about something. Different people can have different opinions.
- MemorySomething you remember from the past.
- Full sentenceA group of words that starts with a capital letter, makes sense on its own and ends with a full stop.
- ReasonThe "because" part of an answer that explains why.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers, for the grown up.
- Read each question aloud. Ask your child to think about what they already know before they write a guess.
- Let your child write each guess in a full sentence. They should finish all seven before checking.
- Ask the grown up for the real answers, then check the guesses together. Talk about any that were different.
- Come back another day. Try swapping roles or adding new questions. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give a choice of three answers for each question, written by a grown up, so the child can pick one. Do the first two or three questions together and talk about clues. Come back to the rest later if needed.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to write three more questions of their own and answer them in full sentences, with a reason for each. They could then interview another family member and compare the two sets of answers.
Make it a game
Swap roles. The grown up guesses the child's answers to the same seven questions. Keep a score for each side, then talk about who knew the other better and which answer was the biggest surprise.
Talk about it
- Which answer were you most sure about, and why?
- Which guess was furthest from the real answer? What surprised you?
- What do you think your mum would guess about you?
- What is one thing you would like to ask that is not on the sheet?
- How might the answers be different for a grandparent or carer?
- What is a good way to say thank you to someone who looks after you?
Take it off the page
Make a card
Fold a piece of paper and decorate it. Write a message that includes one thing you learned from the quiz.
Memory drawing
Draw a picture of a favourite thing you do with your mum or carer. Add a short caption in a full sentence.
Family interview
Ask another family member the same seven questions. Write down their answers and compare them with the first set.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go, then let them lead. Answer honestly and share a short story where you can. About 15 minutes is plenty, and it makes a lovely quiet activity.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. Be sensitive to children who may not live with their mum. The sheet works with any family member or carer, so offer that choice.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider plan for writing and talk. It pairs well with card making and family stories. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or use it on another occasion.
Where this skill fits
Before Year 4, children practise speaking and listening, and writing simple sentences about themselves and the world around them. Talking about what they know and like gives them ideas to write about. This sheet builds on that with short, personal writing that draws on conversation.
In Years 3 and 4, children write in full sentences and begin to organise their writing into paragraphs around a theme. A quiz like this gives gentle practice with sentences and with giving reasons. In Years 5 and 6, children build on paragraphs by linking ideas across them and choosing language to suit the reader. Asking good questions and listening carefully also help with interviews and later writing.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Mothers Day Quiz for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can manage with help and a choice of answers, and older children can use the stretch idea to add more thinking.
- What will children practise?
They practise making predictions and checking them against real answers. They also write in full sentences, listen carefully to what an adult says and give reasons for their guesses. All of this happens through a friendly conversation.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes. Children guess first, then ask the grown up to check. You can stop after a few questions and come back later, or add extra questions to make it longer.
- Can it be used if a child does not live with their mum?
Yes. The quiz works with any family member who looks after the child, such as a grandparent, carer, aunt or older sibling. Simply tell your child which person to think about before they begin.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No, you do not need colour. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, and you only need a pencil.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. It also gets children talking with a grown up, away from screens.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity with no preparation beyond printing. Home educators and tutors can use it alone or as part of a wider plan, and print it again for others.
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.