Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Pack for Sun or Snow: Free Printable Worksheet for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Pack for Sun or Snow is a free printable geography worksheet for Early Years children aged 2 to 4. Children sort things to pack for a hot place and a cold place. They circle the silly one and draw lines for the rest. It needs paper, a pencil and scissors for the cards, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help, 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 look at a small set of everyday things and decide where each one belongs. There are two suitcases, one for a hot beach and one for a cold mountain. Children draw a line from each item to the right suitcase. One item does not belong in either, so they circle it. There are cards to cut out, and boxes for drawing or notes.
- swimsuit
- mittens
- sun hat
- scarf
- toaster
- Beach suitcase (hot)
- Mountain suitcase (cold)
Getting the cards ready
Print and check
Print both pages on plain A4 paper. Keep page 2 aside so the answers stay out of sight while your child works.
Cut out the cards
An adult should cut out the cards for children aged 2 or 3. Older children may cut with child safe scissors, with a grown up sitting beside them.
Sort before you draw
Lay the cards out on a table. Let your child move them near each suitcase first, then draw the lines on page 1.
Why start geography with packing?
Geography for young children begins with noticing the world around them. Weather is one of the easiest places to start, because children feel it every day. Thinking about places that feel hot or cold helps them see that the world is not the same everywhere. In Early Years settings in England this sits within learning about the world and the people and places in it.
Packing a bag is a real task that children already know. It asks them to think ahead, compare two places and give a reason for a choice. Sorting by where something belongs is also an early step towards grouping and classifying, which children use later in geography, science and maths. The silly item adds a little fun and makes children stop and think.
Adults should do the cutting for younger children. Keep small paper pieces away from very young children's mouths, and tidy the cut out cards away when the activity ends.
Fun facts about weather and packing
- The weather can be very different in different places at the same time.
- A weather forecast tells people what the weather is likely to be.
- People think about where they are going before they pack.
- A suitcase is a bag made for carrying clothes and other things on a trip.
- The weather in the UK changes often, so many families check the forecast before going out.
Skills and curriculum link
- Sorting
- Hot and cold places
- Listening and talking
- Giving a reason
- Early drawing control
Ways to help your child think it through
- Talk about weather firstAsk how it feels outside today. Use words like warm, cool, hot and cold so your child has them ready for the sheet.
- Use real thingsIf you have real clothes or objects at home, hold them up. Touching and trying on makes the choice easier to understand.
- Let them point firstPointing is a good first answer for a young child. Draw the line together afterwards.
- Ask whyAfter each choice, ask a simple question such as, "Why did you pick that one?" Any reason is worth hearing.
Key words
- PackTo put things into a bag or suitcase before a trip.
- SuitcaseA bag for carrying your things when you go away.
- SortTo put things into groups that go together.
- SwimsuitClothes you wear to go swimming.
- MittensWarm covers for your hands with one space for the thumb and one for the fingers.
- ScarfA long piece of cloth that you wrap around your neck.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Cut out the cards if your sheet uses them. Adults should do this for younger children.
- Read each word aloud and let your child point first. Talk about whether the place feels hot or cold before they draw each line.
- Work through the sheet together the first time and talk about each choice. Then check with the notes and answers on page 2.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Do one line together. Hold up a real sun hat and a real scarf, or any two different hats or scarves, so your child can feel the difference. Then ask which place each one might suit. Let them point before you draw.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to name one more thing for each suitcase and draw it inside. Then ask them to explain their choices. Some children may also want to invent a silly item of their own for you to spot.
Make it a game
Pack a real bag with dressing up clothes. Your child chooses sun things or snow things and says why. Then swap roles. You pack the bag and your child checks whether you chose well.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child draws lines quickly without looking at the pictures.
Try thisSlow down. Say each word aloud and ask your child to point first, then draw.
Watch forA child does not know what some items are called.
Try thisName each one together and hold up a real version if you have one. Names grow with repeated use.
Watch forA child is not sure what the silly one means.
Try thisExplain that it is the one that does not belong with either suitcase. Ask, "Would you really pack this for a holiday?"
Talk about it
- What is the weather like today?
- Where do you like to go when it is hot?
- What do we wear when it is cold?
- What would you put in your own suitcase?
- Which thing on the sheet made you laugh?
- Where would you most like to go on a trip?
Take it off the page
Weather window
Look out of the window each morning. Talk about what the weather is doing and what you might wear. Draw a quick picture of it.
Two box sort
Use two boxes and a pile of soft toys or clothes. Sort them into a box for a hot trip and a box for a cold trip. Ask your child to explain.
Snow and sand play
Set up two trays, one with sand and one with torn white paper or cotton wool for snow. Play with toy figures in each. An adult should stay with young children, and no small loose items should go near mouths.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Keep it short and stop while it is still fun. Praise their thinking, not only the right answer.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, a table activity or a supply resource. It needs printing, and cutting out the cards if your copy has them. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
Home educators
Use it alongside books about weather and places, outdoor play and everyday talk. It can be printed again for brothers and sisters, or repeated another day for practice.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children build the words and ideas they need through talk about weather, clothes and everyday routines. Simple sorting games with toys or household objects help them get used to putting things into groups.
After it, children can move on to comparing places in more detail, talking about seasons, and sorting by more than one feature. These are early steps towards the geography they will meet in school.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Pack for Sun or Snow for?
It is written for children aged 2 to 4 in Early Years. Younger children can point and talk while a grown up draws the lines. Older ones can draw lines themselves and explain their choices.
- What will children practise?
Children practise sorting things to pack for hot and cold places, which is an early step in geography. They also practise listening, talking and giving a simple reason for a choice.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters or to repeat the activity another day.
- What do I need to prepare?
Print both pages. You will also need scissors for the cards, and an adult should do the cutting for younger children. After that, a pencil is all your child needs.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Do one line together. Hold up a real sun hat and a real scarf, or similar items, to help your child decide. Let them point first and keep the session short.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It is a screen free printable that needs only paper, a pencil and scissors for the cards. It works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary or table activity. Home educators and tutors can use it alone or as part of a wider plan with books and outdoor play.
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.