Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Star of the Week Certificate: Free Printable Certificate for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Star of the Week Certificate is a free printable certificate for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). A teacher or parent fills it in by hand to celebrate a child who has shone this week. It is made for effort, kindness and progress, and it gives a child a clear reason to feel proud. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
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 the child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a certificate with lines for writing. A teacher or parent fills it in by hand, naming the child and the reason they have shone this week. The child can then read it, talk about it and colour the border. It is a keepsake to take home or put on display. There is no test and no right or wrong answer. The aim is to help a child feel seen and proud.
Ways to choose what to write
Name one real action
Pick something the child actually did, such as sharing equipment or trying a hard page again. A real action is easier for a child to believe and remember.
Say why it mattered
Add a few words on the effect. For example, it made a friend feel welcome. Children then see that kindness has an effect on other people.
Look for progress
Think about what the child could not do before and can do now. Progress counts as much as the best result in the room.
Keep the wording simple
Use short words a Year 2 child can read alone. Then they can read the certificate to family without help.
Why recognising effort matters
Children in Year 2 are still learning what it feels like to try hard and keep going. A certificate gives that effort a name. When a grown up says exactly what a child did well, the child learns which choices and habits are worth repeating. That works better than a general well done, because it is clear and true.
A star of the week certificate can also celebrate things that tests do not measure. Kindness, patience, helping a friend and trying again after a mistake all count. In a class, it helps to share the turns fairly so that every child is chosen at some point in the year. At home, it works just as well for a brother, sister or friend.
Skills and curriculum link
- Confidence
- Kindness
- Effort
- Thinking about progress
- Speaking and listening
What children will be able to do
- I can feel proud of my effort.
- I can think of something kind I did.
- I can say what I have got better at.
Tips for choosing a star
- Be specificName what the child did instead of saying they were good. A named action tells the child what to do again.
- Be fairKeep a simple list so every child gets a turn. Children notice quickly when the same few are chosen.
- Mix it upChoose children for kindness, effort and progress, not only for neat work or top marks.
- Make it visibleLet the child read it out, take it home or see it displayed. Being noticed is part of the pleasure.
Key words
- CertificateA piece of paper that says someone has done something well.
- ProudA warm, happy feeling about something you have done.
- EffortTrying hard, even when something is tricky.
- KindCaring about other people and showing it by what you do or say.
- ProgressGetting better at something over time.
- ReasonThe thing that explains why something happened or why someone was chosen.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is the certificate. Keep page 2, which has the notes for the grown up.
- Choose the child and decide on one real reason, such as an act of kindness or hard work.
- Fill in the certificate by hand, using short words the child can read. Read it out loud together.
- Talk about it. Ask the child what they are proud of and what they would like to get better at.
- Let the child colour the border and take the certificate home, or display it on the fridge or classroom wall.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read the reason out loud, slowly, and let the child follow it with a finger. Then let them colour the border while you talk about the week. Keep the words short and the reason clear, so the child can read it again later.
To stretch confident children
Ask the child to write one sentence about their own best moment of the week. Help with spelling only if they ask. Then let them read it aloud to a grown up, a friend or a family member.
Make it a game
Keep a star jar for the week. When someone spots a kind act or hard work, they write it on a scrap of paper and drop it in. At the end of the week, read the notes out and use them to fill in the certificate.
Talk about it
- What are you proud of this week?
- What kind thing did you do, or see someone else do?
- What would you like to get better at next week?
- Who helped you this week, and how did it feel?
- Why do you think trying hard matters, even when something goes wrong?
- Who else do you think deserves a star, and why?
Take it off the page
Design a badge
Draw and cut out a star badge for a family member or friend. Write one kind word on it, then give it to them and say why.
Kind acts diary
Draw a small picture each day of one kind thing you did or saw. At the end of the week, share the pictures and pick a favourite.
Thank you card
Fold a piece of paper into a card. Write a thank you to someone who helped you this week and decorate the front with stars.
Who it is for
Parents
Fill it in with your child nearby and read it out loud. Choose one real reason and say it simply. Then ask what they are proud of. Keep it warm and short, and put it somewhere everyone can see.
Teachers
Use it as a weekly routine, at the end of a day or in an assembly. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Keep a simple record so every child is chosen over the year, and give a reason that links to effort, kindness or progress.
Home educators
Use it to mark a good week in your home education plan. Fill it in by hand, read it out together and talk about what went well. Print it again for brothers and sisters so each child has a turn.
Where this fits
Before this, children learn that their actions matter and that effort is worth noticing. Simple praise from a grown up, a sticker or a kind word all build towards being able to feel proud of their own work and behaviour.
After this, children can start to name their own strengths and set small goals, such as getting better at something. Talking about what went well and what to try next helps them reflect on their own learning as they move through Key Stage 1 and beyond.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What are you proud of this week?
- What kind thing did you do?
- What would you like to get better at?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Star of the Week Certificate for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. The words are short enough for most children at this age to read, and you can read it aloud to anyone who needs support.
- What will children practise?
It celebrates effort, kindness and progress and gives children a reason to feel proud. It also encourages children to talk about what they did well and what they would like to improve.
- Who fills in the certificate?
A teacher or parent fills it in by hand. Choose one real reason and write it in simple words. The child can then read it, colour the border and keep it or display it.
- What if the child finds it hard to read?
Read the reason aloud together and let the child follow along with a finger. They can colour the border while you talk about the week. Keeping the words short helps them read it again later.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or other children in your class, so every child can have a turn.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, a rainy afternoon or a calm moment at the end of the school day. Colouring and talking replace screens.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. The child can add colour to the border with pencils or crayons, which makes the certificate feel more personal.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.