Looking for a simple activity to print for your child, students or classroom? Here you’ll find our growing collection of free printable black and white memory games, created as an easy resource for parents, teachers and caregivers. Choose from themes such as animals, fruits and vegetables, geometric shapes and more. Each memory game is available as an easy-to-print PDF with matching pairs that adults can prepare for children to use at home, in the classroom or while traveling.
Black and white memory game with fruits and vegetables
Black and white memory game with animals
Black and white memory game with geometric forms
All designs are black and white, making them suitable for ordinary home and school printers while helping to save colored ink. We’ll continue adding new printable memory games and themes to this collection over time.
How to Prepare the Printable Memory Games
Preparing the games is quick and easy. Start by choosing a theme and downloading the printable PDF. Print the page on regular A4 paper and carefully cut along the lines to separate the individual cards.
If you want cards that can be reused many times, consider printing on thicker paper or cardstock. You can also glue the printed sheet onto thin cardboard before cutting out the cards. For classrooms or families that expect to use the games frequently, laminating the cards is another practical option. Once all the cards have been cut out, shuffle them and place them face down on a table or other flat surface. The activity is then ready for children or students to use.
Free, Accessible and Easy to Store
One of the main advantages of printable memory games is how convenient they are for parents and teachers. There is no need to purchase a new boxed game whenever you want to introduce a different theme. The memory games in this collection are free to download and print, so adults can prepare a new activity whenever one is needed.
They also require very little storage space. After an activity, the cards can be placed in a small envelope, paper bag or storage box. Several different sets can easily be kept together without taking up the space of traditional game boxes. If a card is damaged or goes missing, simply print another copy of the PDF.
An Easy Activity to Bring When Traveling
Printable memory cards can also be a useful activity for parents to pack when traveling with children. They are lightweight, flat and take up almost no room in a backpack or suitcase.
A small set can be brought on vacation, to a summer house, when visiting relatives or simply kept ready for occasions when parents want an easy screen-free activity for their children. Because the PDFs can be printed whenever needed, parents can also choose a different theme for each trip.
Ways Parents and Teachers Can Use the Cards
The traditional memory game is simple. Place the cards face down and let players take turns turning over two cards. When two matching pictures are found, the player keeps the pair. If the pictures do not match, the cards are turned face down again. At the end, the player who has collected the most pairs wins. For younger children, parents or teachers can make the activity easier by using only a small number of pairs. Starting with five or six pairs, for example, creates a simpler game. More cards can then be introduced gradually.
The cards can also be used for activities other than traditional memory. Teachers and parents might place them face up and ask children to find matching pictures, sort illustrations into categories or use the pictures as prompts for conversations and storytelling. With several themes available, and more being added over time, this collection provides parents, teachers and caregivers with a simple source of free printable memory activities that can be prepared whenever they are needed.