Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Rainy Day Charades: Free Printable Card Set for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Rainy Day Charades is a free printable card set for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children take turns to act out an idea without speaking while the other players guess. It takes about 15 minutes, needs three or more players, and works well on a wet afternoon indoors.
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. Page 1 has the cards for the children. Page 2 is for the adult, with notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet simple cards to cut out, such as Eating ice cream, Swimming, Sleepy bear and Shy mouse. Some cards show an action, like Climbing a ladder. Others show a character or a feeling. One child picks a card and acts it out using only their body and face. There is no talking. The other players watch closely and guess. Then the next child has a turn.
- Eating ice cream
- Brushing teeth
- Playing the drums
- Swimming
- Riding a horse
- Sleepy bear
- Climbing a ladder
- Shy mouse
- Washing a car
- Stuck in mud
- Making a cake
- Walking a dog
How to play
Get ready
Cut out the cards and put them in a pile where nobody can see the words. An adult can do the cutting for younger children. Sit or stand so everyone can see the actor.
Take a turn
One child picks a card and reads it quietly. They then show the idea using movement and expression only. They do not speak.
Guess
The other players call out guesses. Short guesses work best. Keep going until someone gets it, or the group decides to move on.
Swap
The next child picks a card. Keep playing until everyone has acted at least once. Cheer for every turn, not only the correct guesses.
About charades
Charades is a guessing game where one player shows an idea using only movement and expression. Nobody speaks. The other players watch closely and call out guesses. It needs no equipment, which makes it a good choice for a rainy day, a class break or a family get together. Children of many ages can join in, and the rules are quick to learn.
For Year 2 children, the game links acting with speaking and listening. The actor has to decide which part of an idea is clearest to show. The guessers have to look carefully, think about the clues and put their guess into a clear sentence. Everyone also practises waiting for a turn and cheering on others, which matters in any group game.
Skills and curriculum link
- Acting
- Guessing
- Speaking and listening
- Using facial expression
- Taking turns
What children will be able to do
- I can act out an idea without talking.
- I can guess what someone else is showing.
- I can take turns and cheer others on.
Ideas to help actors and guessers
- Use the whole bodyBig movements are easier to read than tiny ones. Try using arms, legs, hands and face together.
- Show it with your faceA face can show how someone feels, such as sleepy or shy. Try a slow, sleepy face or a small, nervous one.
- Think before you moveAsk yourself whether the card is something you do or someone you are. That helps you choose how to start.
- Say what you noticeGuessers can describe what they see, such as a big arm movement. Saying clues aloud helps everyone think.
Key words
- CharadesA game where you act out a word or idea without speaking.
- MimeActing something out using movement and no words.
- GestureA movement of your hands, arms or head that shows an idea.
- ExpressionThe look on your face that shows how you feel.
- ClueA small piece of information that helps you work something out.
- TurnYour chance to play before the next person.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 has the cards. Keep page 2 for the adult.
- Cut out the cards and put them in a pile. An adult can cut them out for younger children.
- Gather three or more players. One child picks a card, reads it quietly and acts it out without speaking.
- The others guess. When the idea is guessed, the next child takes a turn. Check the notes on page 2 if you need help.
- Talk about what worked, then come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read each card to the child who is acting, so reading is not a barrier. Act the idea out together first, then let the child try alone. Start with cards that show a simple action, such as swimming or brushing teeth.
To stretch confident children
Add a one minute timer for each guess, so the guessers have to look and think quickly. Confident children can then try acting the same idea in a different way, or add a clue to show how a character feels.
Make it a game
Play in two teams and keep score. One child acts for their team. If their team guesses the idea, the team scores one point. Swap teams after each turn. The team with the most points when everyone has acted wins.
Talk about it
- What did you do with your body to show your idea?
- What clue helped you guess?
- How could you act that out in a different way?
- Which card was the hardest to show, and why?
- How did your face help to show a feeling?
- What did you like about watching someone else act?
Take it off the page
Story acting
Pick a favourite picture book. Take turns acting out one character from it while the others guess who it is.
Draw the mime
Act out a card idea, then draw what you showed. Ask a friend to guess the idea from your picture.
Slow motion turn
Act out an everyday job in very slow motion, such as getting dressed. Slow movements make each clue easier to see.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit in for the first round and act first, so your child sees how it works. Let them lead after that. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. Laugh with them and praise brave acting, not only correct guesses.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a wet play activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Pair children up or use small groups, and use page 2 for support and stretch.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider plan for speaking and listening. It pairs well with story time and outdoor play. Brothers and sisters can join in, and you can reuse the cards on another rainy day.
Where this fits
Before this, children act in pretend play, join in with songs and rhymes, and learn to take turns in simple games. Charades builds on this by asking them to plan how to show an idea, and to watch and listen carefully while others do the same.
After this, children can use drama more fully, such as acting out parts of a story, retelling events with expression and working in groups to share ideas. Speaking and listening, including role play, is part of spoken language in the English programme of study.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What did you do with your body to show your idea?
- What clue helped you guess?
- How could you act that out in a different way?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Rainy Day Charades for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in with help, and older children can use the stretch idea to make it harder.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes. You can play fewer turns for a shorter game, or keep going with more rounds if everyone is enjoying it.
- How many players do I need?
You need three or more players. One child acts and the others guess. A larger group works well for teams, but a small family group is fine.
- What if it feels too hard?
Read each card to the child who is acting. You can also act the idea out together first, then let them try alone. Start with cards that show simple actions.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs no devices at all. Children use their bodies, faces and voices for guessing, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out the cards. Page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
More like this
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.