Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Wink Murder Detective Cards: Free Printable Game for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Wink Murder Detective Cards is a free printable game for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Role cards give each player a secret part in a silent wink and guess game. It takes about 15 minutes, needs no props and suits 6 to 12 players.
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. It is two A4 pages. Page 1 is the game for children. Page 2 is for the grown-up, with notes, help and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children cut out the role cards and share them out, one for each player. The roles are Winker, Detective and Friend. Each player looks at their own card and keeps it secret. Then the group sits in a circle and plays a quiet game of watching, bluffing and careful guessing. Children practise noticing small clues, keeping a straight face and taking turns in each role.
- Winker
- Detective
- Friend
About wink murder
Wink murder is a traditional group game, often played at parties, on rainy afternoons and at family gatherings. Its fun comes from a secret. One player has a hidden job, and everyone else tries to work out who it is without saying a word too soon. The game needs no board, no dice and no equipment, which is why it has lasted so long.
This version uses role cards so every player knows their part from the start. That makes it easy to set up and fair to play. Children learn to watch faces and body language, and to stay calm when they are being watched. They also practise being a good sport, whether they guess right, guess wrong or get caught.
This is a pretend game. Keep play seated and gentle. Nobody should shout, fall about or grab anyone. Remind children that being caught is part of the fun, and make sure everyone gets a turn in a different role.
Skills and curriculum link
- Observing
- Bluffing
- Turn taking
- Following rules
- Speaking and listening
What children will be able to do
- I can follow the rules of a group game.
- I can watch carefully and notice small clues.
- I can keep a secret and bluff in a fair way.
Ideas for running the game well
- Set the circleSit so every player can see every other player's face. A tight circle on chairs or the floor works well. Keep the space calm and quiet.
- Keep roles secretHand out the cards face down. Ask players to peek at their own card only and then hide it. The game depends on the secret.
- Explain being a good sportTalk before you start about winning and losing kindly. Children enjoy the game more when everyone agrees to play fairly.
- Swap roles oftenEvery child should try each role. Being the Detective and being the Winker need different skills, and both are worth practising.
Key words
- WinkerThe player with the secret job of winking.
- DetectiveThe player who watches carefully and tries to work out who the Winker is.
- FriendA player who joins in the game and helps keep it going.
- BluffTo act in a way that stops others guessing what you are really doing.
- ClueA small sign that helps you work something out.
- SuspectA person you think might be the one you are looking for.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
- Cut out as many cards as you have players. Read the rules out loud together so everyone plays the same game.
- Hand out the cards face down. Each player looks at their own card and keeps it secret.
- Sit in a circle and keep eye contact. Play a round, then talk about what happened.
- Play three rounds and swap roles each time. Keep each game short, then come back another day.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Let a grown-up be the Detective in the first game. This lets children see how the game works before they take on the role. Keep the first round slow, and say each rule out loud again if anyone looks unsure.
To stretch confident children
Have two Winkers at the same time. The Detective now has more to watch and the Winkers must be even more careful. Ask players to explain afterwards what they looked for and what they tried to hide.
Make it a game
Sit in a circle and keep eye contact. Play three rounds and swap roles each time. Try to give every player a turn as Detective. Keep each round short, so there is time for a quick chat in between.
Talk about it
- What did you look for when you were the Detective?
- How did it feel to keep a secret in front of everyone?
- What makes a good bluff? What makes a bluff fair?
- Which role did you like best, and why?
- What would you change to make the game harder?
- How can we make sure everyone feels included?
Take it off the page
Silent faces
Take turns making a face with no sound, such as happy, surprised or puzzled. The others guess the feeling. This builds the skill of reading faces.
Spot the change
One player closes their eyes. Another changes one small thing in the room. The first player opens their eyes and tries to spot it.
Mystery character
One player thinks of a person from a book or a film. Others ask yes or no questions to find out who it is.
Who it is for
Parents
Join in for the first round, then let your child lead. It works well with a small family group as well as a party. Keep it light, and praise good watching as well as good bluffing.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, a wet play activity or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Use the check questions at the end to build speaking and listening.
Home educators
Print it again for brothers and sisters, or for friends who visit. It fits well with other games, outdoor play and everyday talk. Rotate the roles so that every child tries each part.
Where this fits
Before this, children usually play simple group games with clear rules. They learn to wait their turn, listen to instructions and cope with winning and losing. Those habits make a game like this one run smoothly.
After this, children can move on to games that ask for more planning and strategy, such as chess. They can also try games where they must explain their reasoning to others. Watching carefully and thinking ahead are skills that carry over.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What did you look for to work out who the winker was?
- How did you try to stay hidden?
- What would you tell a new player about the rules?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Wink Murder Detective Cards for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Older and younger children can play too, as long as they can follow the rules and keep a secret.
- How many players do I need?
The game is for 6 to 12 players. Cut out as many cards as you have players. No props are needed, so you can play almost anywhere there is room to sit in a circle.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes. Rounds are short, and the aim is to play a few quick games rather than one long one. You can stop early or play on if everyone is enjoying it.
- What if it feels too hard?
Let a grown-up be the Detective in the first game. Children can then see how the game works before they try the role. Go slowly and repeat the rules if anyone looks unsure.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters, friends or another class group whenever you like.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, wet play activity or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out the cards.
- 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 children and keep page 2 for the grown-up.
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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.