Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Treasure Hunt Clues Garden: Free Printable Game for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Treasure Hunt Clues Garden is a free printable game for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Children cut out the clue cards and hunt outside. Each clue uses a position word such as under, behind, near or beside, so children read carefully and think about where things are. 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 children and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well. A grown-up hides the clues, and one or more children can play.
What is on the sheet
Children cut out the clue cards and take them outside. Each card tells them where to look, using a position word. Some clues point to colours or plants, such as something green or a big plant. Others point to objects, such as a pot, a wall, a path or a stone. Children read each clue, decide where it leads and find the next spot. The last clue points to the treasure.
- Look under something green
- Look behind a big plant
- Look near something you can sit on
- Look next to a pot
- Look by the wall
- Look near something that grows
- Look beside the path
- Look under a stone
- Treasure is near something wooden
Why position words matter
Position words tell us where something is compared with something else. Words such as under, behind, beside and near are some of the first maths words children use in everyday life. They use them when they ask for a toy, tidy a shelf or describe where they sat on the bus. In the National Curriculum for England, using this kind of language sits within the position and direction strand of geometry.
A garden is a good place to practise them. Children can see, touch and walk to each place, so the words are not just ideas on paper. A treasure hunt also gives a real reason to read closely. If a child misreads under as behind, they look in the wrong place and soon notice. That quick feedback helps them slow down and read again.
A grown-up should check the garden before the hunt and hide the clues. Choose safe spots at a sensible height that are easy for children to reach. Keep clues away from ponds, tools, hot surfaces, sharp edges and anything unsteady. Remind children to look carefully before they put their hands under or behind things.
Skills and curriculum link
- Reading clues
- Position words
- Following instructions
- Teamwork
- Listening
- Writing clues
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 | Geometry: position and direction | Key Stage 1 |
What children will be able to do
- I can follow a clue to find the next spot.
- I can use position words such as under, behind and next to.
- I can write a clue for someone else.
Ideas for talking about position
- Words come in pairsMany position words have a partner. Under goes with over, and behind goes with in front of. Ask children to say the partner word for each clue they read.
- Position depends on the starting pointWhere something is depends on where you stand. A pot may be on your left but on someone else's right. Let children stand in different places and describe the same spot.
- Clues can be more or less exactNear is a wide idea, while under is more exact. Talk about which words make a clue easier to follow and which leave more searching to do.
- Describing helps rememberingWhen children say a clue aloud, they picture the place before they move. Encourage them to say what they expect to find before they look.
Key words
- ClueA hint that helps you find something.
- UnderLower than something, with the other thing above you.
- BehindAt the back of something, on the side you cannot see from the front.
- BesideAt the side of something, very close to it.
- NearNot far away from something.
- PositionWhere something is.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
- A grown-up cuts out the cards if needed, checks the garden and hides the clues. Children should not see where they go.
- Read the rules aloud together so everyone plays the same game. Then read the first clue out loud and talk about what the position word means.
- Children hunt as a team or one at a time. Take turns reading each clue aloud. Check with the grown-up when a clue is found.
- Play again another day. Swap roles so a child gets to hide or read the clues. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read each card out loud. Ask the child to point to the position word before they move. Act it out first with a toy: put it under a chair, then behind it. Play with fewer clues at first, then add more.
To stretch confident children
Write your own clues using position words. Choose a hiding place, then describe where it is without naming it. Swap clues with a friend and see if they find it. Try to use a different position word in each clue.
Make it a game
Time the hunt. A grown-up uses a clock or a sand timer and calls out the start. Children try to find the treasure before time is up. Play again and see whether a team can find it faster. Always walk, never run.
Talk about it
- Which position word helped you most in a clue?
- How would you describe where the treasure is hiding?
- How could you make your clue easier to follow?
- What is the difference between near and beside?
- If you stood on the other side of the plant, how would the clue change?
- Which clue was trickiest to read, and why?
Take it off the page
Toy hide and seek
Hide a small toy around a room. Give three spoken clues using position words. The child finds it, then hides it for you.
Position drawing
Draw a simple garden with a path, a wall, a pot and a plant. Ask the child to draw a star under, beside or behind each one as you call it out.
Follow my words
Give a child a short set of spoken steps, such as walk beside the wall, stop near the path and put your hand on your head. Swap roles and let them be the one giving the clues.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go, then let them lead. Read the clues aloud together and ask what each position word means. Hide the clues yourself and keep play short. Praise careful reading, not just fast finding.
Teachers
Use it outdoors as a starter, plenary or table activity, or as a reward session. It needs no preparation beyond printing, cutting and hiding the clues. Pairs or small groups work well. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider life skills or maths plan. It pairs well with outdoor play, nature walks and everyday talk. It is free to print again for brothers and sisters, and older children can hide the clues for younger ones.
Where this fits
Before this, children learn everyday position and direction words through play, such as in, on, up, down, in front and next to. They use them while building, tidying and following simple spoken instructions. This sheet gives them a chance to read these words and act on them.
After this, children move on to describing position, direction and movement with more care. They start to use these words in simple maps, instructions and short routes. The skill of reading a clue and working out where to go supports all of that.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which position word helped you most in a clue?
- How would you describe where the treasure is hiding?
- How could you make your clue easier to follow?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Treasure Hunt Clues Garden for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in with a grown-up reading the clues aloud. Older children can use the stretch idea and write clues of their own.
- Who hides the clues?
A grown-up does. Hiding the clues beforehand means the hunt is a surprise for the children. The grown-up should also check that each hiding place is safe and easy for children to reach.
- Do I need a garden?
A garden is best, but you could use a playground, a park or even a tidy room. You can change the clues to suit the space, as long as the place is safe and the clues match what is really there.
- Can one child play alone?
Yes. One child can read each clue and hunt on their own while a grown-up watches. It also works well in pairs or small teams, where children take turns to read and check.
- What if a clue feels too hard?
Read each card out loud and ask the child to point to the position word. Act it out with a toy to show what under or behind means. Then try the clue again.
- 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, cutting and hiding the clues. Page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
- Is it screen free?
Yes. It needs only paper, scissors and a safe outdoor space. It works well for quiet time, rainy day planning, school holidays or a family gathering, and it gets children moving, reading and talking.
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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.