Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Same or Different Passport: Free Printable Chart for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Same or Different Passport is a free printable chart for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children listen to a picture fact, think about life here in England, and decide whether it is the same or different. They draw a tick for same and a cross for different, then add a stamp or mark for Australia, Japan and France.
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 use a chart with three columns: Country, Picture fact and Tick or cross. The rows are for Australia, Japan and France, each with a stamp box. The sheet also has cards to cut out and use. A grown up reads each fact aloud. The child says what happens here first, then decides if it is the same or different. They draw a tick if it is the same and a cross if it is different. Then they stamp or draw a mark in each country box.
- Country
- Picture fact
- Tick or cross
- Australia stamp
- Japan stamp
- France stamp
Why compare places in Reception?
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Understanding the World includes People, Culture and Communities. Young children begin by noticing what is familiar in their own lives, such as homes, food, clothes and celebrations. Once they can say what happens here, they can compare it with somewhere else. Comparing is a simple way to see that people live in different ways, and that many things, like family and play, are shared.
A passport is a small booklet that travellers carry when they go to another country. Stamps are often added to show where someone has been. Pretending to travel gives young children a reason to look closely and talk. The stamp or mark in each country box makes the task feel like a journey, not a test. Different does not mean better or worse. It just means not the same.
Things to know about places
- A globe is a round model of the Earth. It shows where countries are.
- England is one of the countries that make up the United Kingdom.
- A passport is a small booklet that people often carry when they travel to another country.
- Stamps in a passport can show which countries a traveller has visited.
- People everywhere have homes, food and ways to play, but the details can be different from place to place.
Skills and curriculum link
- Comparing
- Listening
- Talking about places
- Noticing same and different
- Making a choice and explaining it
Ideas for talking about places
- Start at homeBefore each fact, ask your child what happens here. A clear picture of their own life makes it easier to compare with somewhere else.
- Find the placeLook at a globe, a map or a photo to show where each country is. Seeing it helps a faraway place feel real.
- Use the key wordsSay same and different often, and ask your child to use them too. A full sentence such as "That is different because..." builds speaking skills.
- Welcome every homeChildren live in many different ways, and some families have links to other countries. Ask about their experience and treat every answer with interest.
Key words
- SameJust like something else.
- DifferentNot the same as something else.
- CountryA place with its own name, land and people. England is a country.
- PassportA small booklet that people carry when they travel to another country.
- StampA mark pressed or drawn in a passport to show you have arrived somewhere.
- CompareLook at two things and say how they are the same or different.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- If you are using the cards, cut them out first. A grown up can help with the cutting.
- Read each fact aloud. Ask your child to say what happens here first.
- Decide together. Draw a tick if it is the same as here or a cross if it is different, then stamp or draw a mark in the country box.
- Check with page 2 and talk about each choice. Come back another day, because repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Do one country at a time. Use a toy, a photo or a globe to show where that place is. Ask what happens here before you read the fact. Keep the tick and the cross as simple choices and praise the thinking.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to think of one thing that is the same everywhere and one thing that is different. They can draw each one or just talk about them. Then ask another person the same question and compare the answers.
Make it a game
Make a pretend passport booklet from folded paper and draw a picture of yourself inside. Line up chairs as plane seats and take a pretend flight. When you land in each country, stamp or draw a mark in your passport.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child ticks because they like the fact, not because it is the same as here.
Try thisAsk, "What happens here?" first. Then ask if the fact matches. Liking something and it being the same are two different questions.
Watch forA child thinks a cross means they got it wrong.
Try thisExplain that the cross is a way to say different. It is not a mark for a mistake. Say, "A cross is a good answer if it is different."
Watch forA child says a different place is strange or silly.
Try thisUse the word different instead. Say, "People live in lots of ways. Different is just not the same."
Talk about it
- What is something you do every day that you think children in other countries might do too?
- Can you tell me one thing that is the same at home and at school?
- Why did you choose a tick for that one?
- Where do you think Australia, Japan and France are? Can we find them on a globe?
- If you took a real trip, which country would you like to visit and why?
- How do you feel when something is different from what you are used to?
Take it off the page
Pretend airport
Set up a check in desk, a gate and some seats. Take turns being the traveller and the person who stamps the passports. Talk about where you are going.
Globe hunt
Find England, Australia, Japan and France on a globe or map. Point to each one and say its name together.
My day here
Draw three things that happen in your day in England, such as getting up, eating and playing. Talk about which ones might be the same in another country and which might be different.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Say what happens at home first. Keep the mood curious and playful. There are no wrong feelings about a different place, only things to notice and talk about.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, a table activity or an early finisher task in Understanding the World. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and the cards give you a talk focus for a small group. Page 2 has support, stretch and answers.
Home educators
Pair it with a globe, a picture book about another country or a family photo from a trip. Let children use their own words. The pretend passport game works well with brothers and sisters, and the sheet is free to print again.
Where this fits
Before this sheet, children talk about their own family, home and routines. They learn to describe what they know and to listen to others. Knowing what happens here gives them a base to compare from.
After this sheet, children can look at more places and ask more questions about how people live. They can use books, photos and maps, and begin to explain why things might be different. These skills feed into geography and history later in school.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Same or Different Passport for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Older or younger children can join in with a grown up, but the language and ideas are aimed at this age.
- What will children practise?
Children practise comparing life in England with life in other countries. They also practise listening to a fact, talking about places and making a choice between same and different. It supports Understanding the World: People, Culture and Communities.
- How do I use it?
Read each fact aloud. Say what happens here first, then decide together. Draw a tick if it is the same or a cross if it is different, then stamp or draw a mark in each country box. Check page 2 afterwards.
- What if it feels too hard?
Do one country at a time. Use a toy, a photo or a globe to talk about where each place is. Always start with what happens here, and keep the choice as simple as tick or cross.
- 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. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper.
- 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 and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Home educators and tutors can also use it on its own or as part of a wider plan.
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.