8 Riddles for Kids: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 3

8 Riddles for Kids is a free printable worksheet for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2. Read the clue and guess the answer. It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, a growing library of free 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 activity for children. Page 2 is for the grown-up: it has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea, and the answers. Print it at home or in the classroom. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

This worksheet includes numbered questions with space to answer.

A look at what children will meet:

• I have hands but I cannot clap. What am I?
• I have a face but I cannot smile. I tell you the time. What am I?
• I get wetter the more I dry. What am I?
• I have keys but no locks. What am I?
• I can fly but I have no wings. I cry but I have no eyes. What am I?
• I have a spine but no bones. What am I?
• The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
• I am always in front of you but cannot be seen. What am I?

Who this is for

Year 3 (ages 7 to 8) in Key Stage 2.

Key Stage 2 covers Years 3 to 6, ages 7 to 11. Children are widening what they know and getting better at explaining their thinking, so activities that ask them to reason, not only recall, are especially useful. Use it at home, in class, on a rainy afternoon or at a family gathering.

What children practise

• Reading clues
• Inference
• Vocabulary

Practises reading clues carefully and using them to work out an answer.

Learning focus and curriculum link

Subject: English. Key stage: Key Stage 2. It supports the subject at this level through short, focused practice.

This sheet is a practice and play activity. It supports classroom learning and is not a replacement for it.

How to use it

1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
2. 1 or more players. About 15 minutes. Read each riddle out loud.
3. Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice.
4. Check against the notes on page 2 and the answers.
5. Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

If it feels too hard

Read the riddle together and talk about each clue.

To stretch confident children

Write a riddle of your own for someone else to solve.

Make it a game

Take turns to read a riddle to the family and count the right answers.

Tips for parents and teachers

• Print on plain A4 paper. Black and white printing works too.
• Work through it together the first time, then let children try alone.
• Praise effort and thinking, not only correct answers.

A screen-free english activity for Year 3

Children spend a lot of time on screens. This is a screen-free english activity that needs only paper and a pencil. It works as quiet time after school, a rainy day activity, a holiday boredom buster or a calm moment before bed. Screen-free learning gives eyes a rest and gets children talking, thinking and writing by hand.

Free english resources for teachers

Teachers can use this worksheet as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task, a supply teacher resource, a homework task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. The learning focus and skills are listed above so you can match it to your planning, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.

English ideas for parents at home

You do not need to be a teacher to use this. Read the sheet through, sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Short bursts of ten to fifteen minutes work better than long sessions. If you are looking for free english worksheets for Year 3, or simple home learning for the weekend or school holidays, this is a good place to start.

Home education and tutoring

Home educators and tutors can print this as part of a wider english plan. It pairs well with books, outdoor play and everyday talk. Because the sheet is free and printable, you can use it again for brothers and sisters or for revision a few weeks later.

Why it helps children learn

Hands-on, paper based activities slow learning down in a good way. Children read carefully, think before they answer and see their own progress on the page. Games and challenges add a reason to keep going. That mix of play and practice is why printable activities like this are popular with parents, teachers and home educators.

Curriculum links for teachers

This sheet supports the areas below. It is matched to the published England frameworks. Please check it against your own school plan.

What children will be able to do

• I can read each clue carefully.
• I can use the clues to work out the answer.
• I can explain which clue helped me.

Check it worked

Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.

1. Which clue helped you most?
2. How did you work out the answer?
3. Can you make up a riddle of your own?

More like this

• Alliteration Tongue Twisters
• Alliteration Tongue Twisters
• Because But So Story Chain
• Birthday Memory Book

Same subject, one year up: Fronted Adverbial Cards | Same subject, one year down: The Kn and Wr Spellings

Frequently asked questions

What age is 8 Riddles for Kids for?

It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2.

What will children practise?

Practises reading clues carefully and using them to work out an answer.

How do I use it?

1 or more players. About 15 minutes. Read each riddle out loud.

What if it feels too hard?

Read the riddle together and talk about each clue.

Is it free?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use.

Is 8 Riddles for Kids suitable for teachers to use in class?

Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing.

Is this a screen-free activity?

Yes. It is a screen-free printable that needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays.

Can I use it for home education?

Yes. Home educators and tutors can use it on its own or as part of a wider plan. It is free to print again for brothers, sisters or revision.

How long does it take?

Most children finish page 1 in 10 to 20 minutes. The notes on page 2 suggest ways to make it shorter or longer.

Do I need to print in colour?

No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper.

More free printables

More Rainy Day printables | More for Key Stage 2 | More english printables | Free printable games | All Mini Minds Hub resources