Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Relative Clauses Castle Quest: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 6
- ForYear 6
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Relative Clauses Castle Quest is a free printable English worksheet for Year 6 (ages 10 to 11). Children fill the gaps in sentences with relative pronouns, using who, which, that, whose and where, and so defend the castle. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch task 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 read a rule line, then fill the gaps in sentences using words from a word bank. Each time they use a word, they cross it out, so they can see which choices are left. The castle quest gives the practice a reason to keep going. There are also lines for writing, so children can work on their own sentence writing as well as choosing the right word.
Why relative clauses matter
A relative clause gives extra information about a noun. It usually starts with a relative pronoun, such as who, which, that, whose or where. The clause joins on to the noun it describes, so one sentence can carry more detail without being split into two. Writers use relative clauses to describe characters, places and objects in a smooth, grown up way.
Choosing the right relative pronoun means looking at the noun just before the gap and asking what the clause tells us about it. That habit of checking the noun is useful in all writing. Year 6 children also meet clauses that add extra information between commas, so reading sentences aloud and listening for the pauses is a good skill to build.
Skills and curriculum link
- Relative clauses
- Relative pronouns
- Sentence writing
- Reading carefully
- Checking by reading aloud
Grammar help for grown ups
- What a clause isA clause has a verb and usually a subject. A relative clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. It needs the main part of the sentence to make sense.
- Look at the nounLook at the noun just before the gap. Ask what kind of word it is: a person, a thing, a place, or something that belongs to someone. That helps point to the right pronoun.
- Read it aloudSay the sentence with each word from the bank in turn. Children often hear a wrong choice before they can explain why it is wrong.
- Commas and extra informationExtra information can sit between commas, and the sentence still works without it. Mention this if it comes up, but do not worry if your child cannot yet name the rule.
Key words
- NounA word that names a person, place or thing.
- ClauseA group of words with a verb in it. It is part of a sentence.
- Relative clauseA clause that gives extra information about a noun.
- Relative pronounA word like who, which, that, whose or where that starts a relative clause.
- Word bankA list of words to choose from. On this sheet you cross a word out when you use it.
- Extra informationDetail that tells the reader more about a person, place or thing.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the rule line together. Make sure your child knows what a relative clause does before they start.
- Fill the gaps using the word bank. Cross out each word as you use it. Talk about each choice the first time.
- Check against the notes and answers on page 2. Ask, "Why did you choose that word?" The reasoning matters as much as the answer.
- Come back to the sheet another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read each sentence aloud with each word from the bank, one at a time. Listen for the one that sounds right. Then ask what the noun before the gap is. Is it a person, a place or a thing? Do a few gaps together first.
To stretch confident children
Write three more sentences. Start a relative clause in each one with a different pronoun. Then swap sentences with a friend or grown up and check each other's work. Can you make one of them longer by adding a second detail?
Make it a game
Take turns to say a sentence about a person, a place or a thing. The next player adds a relative clause. Then the next player says a new sentence. See how long you can keep the castle story going.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child picks a word that sounds fine on its own but does not suit the noun before the gap.
Try thisRead the whole sentence aloud. Ask what the noun is: a person, a thing, a place or something that belongs to someone. Then try the word again.
Watch forA child fills the gaps quickly and then finds the bank words left over do not fit.
Try thisUse the crossing out as a check. Look at the words left and reread the unfinished sentences aloud to see where they belong.
Watch forIn their own writing, a child writes only the relative clause and forgets the main part of the sentence.
Try thisCheck that the sentence has a main part that could stand alone. Then add the relative clause to give more detail about one noun in it.
Talk about it
- What does a relative clause tell the reader that the main sentence does not?
- How did you decide which word to use in your first gap?
- Can you think of a person in a story and describe them with a relative clause?
- How would you describe a castle using a clause that starts with where?
- What happens to a sentence if you take the relative clause out?
- Which sentence did you find trickiest, and what helped you?
Take it off the page
Castle sentence cards
Write the main part of a sentence about a castle on one strip of paper. Write the relative clauses on other strips. Mix them up and match each clause to the right sentence.
Describe a character
Draw a knight, a queen or a dragon. Write two sentences about your drawing, each with a relative clause. Read them to someone at home.
Pronoun hunt
Look through a favourite book for who, which, that, whose and where. Find a sentence for each and decide what the clause is telling you about the noun.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first few gaps, then let them lead. Ask them to read each sentence aloud and explain their choice. Praise careful thinking, not only correct answers.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the answers for quick marking.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider English plan. It pairs well with reading, story writing and everyday talk. Because it is free to print, you can use it again for brothers and sisters or for revision later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this, children learn about nouns, pronouns and the idea of a clause. They also practise joining ideas with words like and, but and because, so they are ready to meet clauses that add detail to a noun.
After this, children can use relative clauses in their own stories, descriptions and explanations. They can also look at how commas mark off extra information, and how to vary sentence structure to make writing more interesting.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Relative Clauses Castle Quest for?
It is written for Year 6 (ages 10 to 11), in Key Stage 2. Younger or older children can try it too, but the sentences and the grammar focus are aimed at Year 6.
- What will children practise?
Children practise relative clauses that begin with who, which, that, whose and where. They also work on relative pronouns and sentence writing, in line with the Year 5 and 6 English grammar programme of study.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages. Read the rule line together, then fill the gaps using the word bank. Cross out each word as you use it. Check against the notes and answers on page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Read each sentence aloud with each word from the bank in turn and listen for the one that sounds right. Look at the noun before the gap too. Work through a few gaps together before your child tries alone.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision, and it needs only paper and a pencil.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support, a stretch idea and the answers.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, give page 1 to the child and keep page 2 for the grown up.
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.