Mini Minds Hub · Free printable

The Fair Share Picnic: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception

  • ForReception
  • StageEarly Years
  • CostFree
  • FormatPrintable PDF
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The Fair Share Picnic is a free printable PSHE worksheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Four teddies sit down to a picnic, and children draw what each one gets so it is fair. A grown up reads the story aloud, children draw their ideas, and everyone talks about what fair means. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch task and the answers.

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

Children meet four teddies at a picnic: Bramble Bear, Honey Bear, Pip Bear and Maple Bear. A grown up reads the story aloud. Children draw lines to show how each food is cut, then draw each teddy's share in the boxes. There are lines for writing and boxes for drawing or notes. Children also say why they chose each share, so the talking matters as much as the drawing.

  • Bramble Bear's share
  • Honey Bear's share
  • Pip Bear's share
  • Maple Bear's share

Ways to build the idea of fair

Start with real things

Young children understand sharing best when they can touch it. Use toy food, blocks or paper shapes and give out one piece at a time.

Count the sharers first

Before any food is given out, count who is at the picnic. Knowing how many are sharing makes it easier to plan.

Look again and check

After sharing, stop and look at every teddy's plate. Ask whether anyone has been missed or left with less.

Say it in words

Give children simple sentences to use, such as "I shared it this way because...". Saying the reason out loud helps the idea stick.

Why teach fairness through a picnic?

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, personal, social and emotional development is a core part of learning. Children learn to take turns, share and think about how others feel. These ideas are easier to grasp when they are tied to something familiar, like snack time or a picnic with toys. A teddy story gives children a safe way to talk about fairness without it feeling personal.

Sharing fairly also touches early maths, because children notice who has more, who has less and who has been missed. This sheet keeps the focus on PSHE. It asks children to think, draw and explain. There is room for different ideas, and the most important part is the conversation about why a choice feels fair.

Skills and curriculum link

  • Sharing fairly
  • Talking about feelings and needs
  • Drawing to show an idea
  • Explaining a choice
  • Listening to a story
  • Thinking about others

Helping your child think about fair

  • Fair is about everyoneFair means thinking about every teddy at the picnic, not only the one your child likes best. Ask, "Has everyone been thought about?"
  • Feelings matterHow a teddy would feel is a good clue. Ask your child how a teddy might feel if it saw the others had more.
  • There can be more than one ideaChildren may draw different plans. Ask them to explain each one before you decide whether it works.
  • Needs can differSometimes a friend cannot eat a certain food. Talking about this helps children see that fair thinking includes what people need.

Key words

  • FairTreating everyone in a way that feels right, so nobody is left out.
  • ShareTo give a part of something to others, so more than one person has some.
  • WholeAll of one thing, before it is cut.
  • HalfOne of two equal parts of a whole.
  • NeedSomething a person must have, or must avoid, like a food that does not suit them.
  • FeelingsHow we feel inside, such as happy, sad, cross or left out.

How to use it

  1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
  2. Read the picnic story aloud. Let your child look at the four teddies and say who is at the picnic.
  3. Let your child draw lines to cut each food, then draw each teddy's share in the boxes.
  4. Ask your child to say why they chose each share. Write their words on the lines if they like.
  5. Check with page 2 and talk about it. Come back another day, because repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

If it feels too hard

Use real play food or paper shapes first. Share one item at a time and count the teddies together. Put one piece in front of each teddy, then look at every plate. Move on to drawing on page 1 once sharing with objects feels easy.

To stretch confident children

Ask what to do if one teddy cannot eat strawberries. Invite your child to suggest a fair way to share. There may be more than one good idea. Ask how each teddy would feel, then draw the new plan in a spare box.

Make it a game

Hold a teddy picnic with toys, play food or paper snacks. Seat the teddies in a ring. Your child shares out the food and says why it feels fair. Then swap roles, so the grown up shares and your child checks.

Mistakes to watch for

Watch forA child gives themselves, or a favourite teddy, the biggest share.

Try thisAsk how the other teddies might feel. Look at all the plates together and ask, "Does this look fair to every teddy?"

Watch forA child forgets one of the teddies when drawing the shares.

Try thisPoint to each teddy in turn and say its name. Tick them off as you find their share on the page.

Watch forA child draws shares but cannot say why they chose them.

Try thisOffer a sentence to finish, such as "I did it this way because...". Accept simple answers and praise the thinking.

Talk about it

  • What does fair mean to you?
  • How would a teddy feel if it got less than the others?
  • Which teddy at the picnic would you sit next to, and why?
  • Can you think of a time you shared something at home or at school?
  • What could we do if someone cannot eat a food?
  • How can we tell if a way of sharing is fair?

Take it off the page

Teddy picnic

Set a picnic blanket with soft toys and play food. Let your child share out the food and explain each choice. No real food is needed.

Paper plate sharing

Cut out paper plates and paper food shapes. Your child places the shapes on each plate and says who has what.

Fair or not fair

Tell short stories about sharing, such as turns on a swing. Your child gives a thumbs up for fair or thumbs down for not fair, and says why.

Who it is for

Parents

Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Keep it relaxed. Ask them to explain their drawings, praise their thinking, and stop when they have had enough. You can return to it another day.

Teachers

Use it as a PSHE starter, a circle time follow up, a table activity or an early finisher task. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed groups.

Home educators

Print it as part of a wider plan on feelings and friendships. It pairs well with picture books, role play with toys and everyday chat at snack time. You can print it again for brothers and sisters.

Where this learning fits

Before this sheet, children learn to take turns, play alongside others and say how they feel. They begin to notice when something feels unfair. Simple games, snack times and stories all build this early understanding.

After this sheet, children can take on bigger ideas about friendship, kindness and cooperation. They can talk about rules, solve small disagreements and think about other people's needs. Sharing and fairness stay useful as they move into Year 1 and beyond.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is The Fair Share Picnic for?

It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. It works best when a grown up reads the story aloud and talks it through with the child.

What will children practise?

Children practise sharing food out fairly and talking about what fair means. They also draw to show an idea, and explain their choices in their own words. It sits within PSHE.

What if it feels too hard?

Use real play food or paper shapes first. Share one item at a time and count the teddies together. Once that feels easy, go back to the drawing on page 1 and try again.

Is it free?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group, and use it as often as you like.

Is it 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, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas.

Is this a screen free activity?

Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children draw, talk and think without a screen.

How long does it take?

Children can work at their own pace. Some will draw quickly and others will want to talk about each teddy for longer. Stop when attention drops and come back to it another day.

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.

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