Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Tally Mark Scavenger Hunt: Free Printable Game for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Tally Mark Scavenger Hunt is a free printable maths game for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children go around the house, count things such as chairs, windows and cushions, and record each count with tally marks. Then they compare their totals. It needs only a pencil and paper, 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 your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a checklist of things to find and count around the house. Children look for chairs in one room, windows, doors, cushions, books on one shelf, lights, shoes by the door, cups in the kitchen, plants, beds, clocks and pairs of socks. They make a tally mark for each one they count and tick the item off. At the end they look at their totals and compare them.
- Count the chairs in one room
- Count the windows
- Count the doors
- Count the cushions
- Count the books on one shelf
- Count the lights
- Count the shoes by the door
- Count the cups in the kitchen
- Count the plants
- Count the beds in the house
- Count the clocks
- Count the pairs of socks you can see
Worked example: tallying toy cars
There are 8 toy cars in a box. How do you show them with tally marks?
This example uses toy cars, which are not on the sheet. It shows how to build a tally one mark at a time.
Method 1: tally as you count- Touch the first car and draw one short line.
- Touch the next car and draw another line. Keep going until there are four lines side by side.
- For the fifth car, draw a line across the four. That group is now closed.
- Start a new group for the last three cars, with one line for each.
- Look at the closed group first. Say 5.
- Point to each line in the new group and count on: 6, 7, 8.
- Check that the number you said matches the number of cars.
Set up your hunt
Choose the area
Decide which rooms are part of the hunt. A small home might use every room. A classroom might use one corner at a time.
Give each player a pencil and paper
Each player writes the name of the thing they are counting, then makes their tally marks next to it. Use a book or clipboard to lean on.
Agree what counts
Talk about tricky cases before you start. Does a cushion on the floor count? Do you count one sock or a pair? Keep the rule the same for everyone.
Keep the checklist close
Tick each item off as you finish its count. This shows how far through the hunt you are.
Why use tally marks for counting?
A tally mark is a simple way to keep track of a count. You draw one short line each time you count one thing. When you reach five, you draw the fifth line across the first four. This makes a neat group of five. Groups are easy to read because you can count in fives instead of in ones, and then add on the extra lines.
A scavenger hunt gives children real things to count. They walk, point, look closely and decide what to include. This builds careful counting, where each object is touched or pointed to once. Once they have totals for different things, they can talk about which is more, which is fewer and whether any are the same.
Children only need to look and count. Adults should lift down anything breakable, high up or in a cupboard, and should check that nobody climbs on furniture to reach something. In the kitchen, an adult should open cupboards and handle cups.
Tally mark facts
- A tally mark is just a short straight line.
- The fifth tally mark is drawn across the other four.
- People have used tally marks to keep count for a very long time.
- Tally marks are often used to keep score in games.
- You can make tally marks with a pencil, chalk or a stick in the sand.
Skills and curriculum link
- Counting objects
- Tally marks
- Comparing totals
- Counting in fives
- Recording with marks
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Maths | Number and place value | Year 1 |
What children will be able to do
- I can count objects.
- I can record with tally marks.
- I can compare totals.
Ideas for helping with counting
- One count for each objectTouch or point to each thing as you say its number. This stops children missing something or counting it twice.
- Groups of fiveGrouping helps the eye. Say 'five' when the line crosses the four, then count on from there.
- Words for comparingUse words like more, fewer, most, least and same. Say them out loud when you look at two totals.
- Neat marksDraw the lines straight and keep them in a row. Tidy marks are easier to count and check.
Key words
- Tally markA short line drawn to show one thing counted.
- TotalHow many there are altogether.
- CountSay the numbers in order as you point to each thing.
- MostThe biggest amount in a group of totals.
- LeastThe smallest amount in a group of totals.
- CompareLook at two or more amounts 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 for the grown up.
- Read the checklist together. Agree which rooms you will search and what counts as one item.
- Count each thing by touching it, and draw one tally mark for each. Draw every fifth mark across the four.
- Tick the item off, then move to the next. Take turns to read, check and record if there is more than one player.
- Look at the totals together. Say which is most, which is least and how you know. Come back another day to try again.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Count together and tap each object as you say its number. Draw one line for each tap. Show how every fifth line goes across the four. Start with just a few items from the checklist and come back to the rest later.
To stretch confident children
Ask which thing had the most and which had the least. Then ask how many more the biggest total is than the smallest. Children can also make up their own hunt for the garden or a park.
Make it a game
Play in teams or as a race. Each player picks one item and guesses the total first. Then they count and tally to check. The player whose guess was closest wins that round. Swap items and play again.
Talk about it
- What did you count first, and why?
- How did you know when you had counted everything?
- What is special about the fifth tally mark?
- Which total was biggest? Which was smallest?
- Did anything surprise you when you counted?
- What else could we count and tally in our home?
Take it off the page
Garden or park hunt
Go outside and tally things you can see, such as trees, benches or birds. Stay together and keep away from roads. Compare your totals when you get home.
Snack tally
Before a snack, sort pieces of fruit or crackers into groups. Make a tally mark for each one. Compare the groups before you eat.
Dice tally
Roll a dice and make a tally mark under the number that comes up. Roll lots of times and see which number gets the most marks.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first item and let them lead the counting. Walk round the house together. Keep rounds short and stop when they lose interest. Praise careful counting and neat marks.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups. Check it against your own plans.
Home educators
Pair it with everyday counting at home, such as setting the table or sorting washing. Use it again for brothers and sisters, or return to it a few weeks later to revise counting and tally marks.
Where this fits in
Before this, children count objects one by one, say numbers in order and match each number to one object. They also learn words such as more and fewer. These skills help with this hunt, because each tally mark stands for one object counted.
After this, children can count in groups of fives and tens. In Year 2 they meet tally charts and simple tables in the statistics strand of the National Curriculum for England. Making tally marks now gives them a head start with recording and comparing information.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- How many did you count?
- How do tally marks help you count?
- Which total is bigger, and by how many?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Tally Mark Scavenger Hunt for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Younger children may enjoy counting with a grown up, and older children can use it for extra practice or as a stretch with the comparing questions.
- What will children practise?
Children count objects, record each count with tally marks and compare their totals. They also practise counting in groups of five, writing neatly and using words such as most, least and more.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and give page 1 to your child. One to four players can take part, and each needs a pencil and paper for tally marks. Work through the first few items together, then let children lead.
- What if it feels too hard?
Count together and tap each object as you say its number. Draw one line for each tap, and draw every fifth line across four. You could also choose only a few items from the checklist to begin with.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters or for revision, and black and white printing on plain A4 paper works well.
- 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. Children move around, look closely and talk about what they find, instead of using a device.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. Home educators and tutors can use it alone or as part of a wider maths plan. It needs no preparation beyond printing.
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.