The North Pole Code: the first rhyming clue card, about the Christmas tree, and a solved Reindeer code sheet with the North Pole Lock

New for Christmas · Printable

The North Pole Code

A printable Christmas treasure hunt with Sneaky Math. Ages 4–10.

$5.99

Buy & download — $5.99or get it on Etsy

Instant PDF download · Ready in about 10 minutes · 7 pages, US Letter

  • 3 math levels
  • Ends at the gift
  • Siblings play together
  • Color or black-and-white

How it works

Jingle the Elf hid a Christmas surprise and locked it with the secret North Pole Code. Your kids follow six rhyming clue cards around the house, crack the code, and find the surprise.

  1. Follow the clues

    Rhyming riddles lead from the Christmas tree to the fridge door, the front door, the couch and a bed.

  2. Solve your level

    Each clue card says which challenge to solve. Every child solves it on their own code sheet, at their own level, and writes the last digit in a box.

  3. Unlock the word

    Five digits open the North Pole Lock and spell a secret word. Kids shout it to a grown-up and get the final card, which says where the gift is hiding.

How the hunt works: the fridge-door clue card, a Snowflake counting sheet and a solved Reindeer code sheet

One hunt, three math levels

The Snowflake, Reindeer and Elf code sheets side by side: counting, adding and subtracting, and times tables

  • Snowflake sheet

    Counting to 10

    About ages 4–5

  • Reindeer sheet

    Adding and subtracting to 20

    About ages 6–8

  • Elf sheet

    Times tables and division

    About ages 8–10

Every sheet gives the same code, so siblings each work at their own level and check each other.

What you get

  • Grown-up guide with placement chart and answer key
  • 3 code sheets: Snowflake, Reindeer and Elf levels
  • 6 rhyming clue cards
  • Final surprise card and certificate
  • 7 pages, US Letter, color or black-and-white
All seven pages fanned out: grown-up guide, three code sheets, clue cards and the final card

Easy for grown-ups

  • About 10 minutes to set up
  • A chart shows exactly where each card goes
  • Ends wherever you hide the gift
  • No climbing and nothing in the tree branches
  • Answer key for all three levels
  • Hints and passing are always allowed

Placement rules from the grown-up guide: use dry, cleared surfaces kids can reach without climbing. Keep cards away from tree-light cords, candles, the fireplace and the stove. Kids never open the fridge or any cabinet, and never climb into the tree. If a spot isn't safe or you don't have it, keep that card and hand it over when the kids guess.

The one-page grown-up guide with the placement chart, placement rules and the answer key
The Snowflake Code Winter Party Edition: a whiteboard clue card and a team's solved Penguin code sheet

For teachers

The Snowflake Code: Winter Party Edition

Teachers: Pip the Penguin hid the class winter party surprise. There are no holiday references, so it works in any classroom in December or January. Teams of 3–5, grades K–4.

  • Clues use spots every classroom has: the door, the whiteboard, the class library, the pencil sharpener and your desk
  • Cards stay put: teams read them and leave them for the next team
  • Teams whisper the secret word to you
  • Teacher guide with setup chart and answer key
  • Snowflake: Counting to 10 (about kindergarten)
  • Penguin: Adding and subtracting to 20 (about grades 1–2)
  • Polar Bear: Times tables and division (about grades 3–4)

$5.99

Buy classroom edition — $5.99or get it on Etsy

Want one made for your house?

Use our hunt builder to write riddles for your own hiding spots, with your kids' names and ages. Your first missions are free.

Open the hunt builder

Questions grown-ups ask

How long does it take?

About 10 minutes to set up: print, cut out the clue cards, and place them using the chart in the grown-up guide. The hunt itself usually runs 20–40 minutes.

What ages is it for?

Ages 4–10. The Snowflake sheet (counting to 10) fits about ages 4–5, the Reindeer sheet (adding and subtracting to 20) about ages 6–8, and the Elf sheet (times tables and division) about ages 8–10. A grown-up can read the rhyming clues aloud for kids who aren't reading yet.

When should we do it?

Christmas morning is the classic: run the hunt before (or instead of) opening the big gift, and let the secret word lead them to it. It works just as well on Christmas Eve. Hide the gift first and write its spot on the final card.

Do I need a color printer?

No. Every page prints fine in black-and-white on a regular home printer. Color just looks a little more festive.

Can siblings of different ages play together?

Yes. Each child gets the code sheet for their level, and every sheet gives the same code, so they hunt together, solve at their own level, and can check each other's answers.

What if my house doesn't have one of the spots?

The grown-up guide covers it: if a spot isn't safe or you don't have it, keep that clue card yourself and hand it over when the kids guess the spot.

Christmas morning, sorted

The North Pole Code: a printable Christmas treasure hunt with Sneaky Math. Ages 4–10. $5.99

Buy & download — $5.99or get it on Etsy

Instant PDF download · Ready in about 10 minutes · 7 pages, US Letter