Free Resources
Cutting Strips:
This 3-page PDF offers a variety of ways to practice cutting in the classroom or at home. Younger children greatly enjoy coloring in the different shapes prior to cutting on the dotted lines. Older children will challenge themselves by cutting out each small shape individually, then gluing them on to a piece of construction paper to create patterns and designs. Whichever way they are used, these cutting strips are a wonderful addition to an art shelf.
Click this link to download the free PDF:
Shape Tracing Booklet:
This is a fun and simple activity in booklet form, which also supports several areas of learning. Children love tracing the shapes and coloring them in. Adults can go through and name the shapes with the child either before they begin, or after they have finished. Younger children greatly enjoy having a booklet they can make that fits their skill level. They find great satisfaction in the extended activity and are always so proud of the finished product. I recommend pre-assembling the booklets for ease of use for younger children. However, if a child's cutting skills are developed enough to do it on their own, that is an option as well.
Click this link to download the free PDF:
Shape Tracing Booklet
Small Coloring - Animals:
Young children love to color but often find larger coloring sheets hard to finish with their still-developing fine-motor skills. Rather than reduce regular sized coloring sheets on a copy machine like I did in “the old days”, I learned how to make my own small coloring sheets, and they have always been popular. Children enjoy the realistic images, and they are always excited to show off their finished artwork. Just cut along the guidelines to get four different, 4.25” x 5.5”, coloring sheets.
Click this link to download the free PDF:
Small Coloring - Animals
Small Coloring - Magical Creatures:
Young children love to color but often find larger coloring sheets hard to finish with their still-developing fine-motor skills. Rather than reduce regular sized coloring sheets on a copy machine like I did in “the old days”, I learned how to make my own small coloring sheets, and they have always been popular. Children enjoy the realistic images, and they are always excited to show off their finished artwork. Just cut along the guidelines to get three different coloring sheets: Two 4.25” x 5.5” and one 8.5” x 5.5”.
Click this link to download the free PDF:
Small Coloring - Magical Creatures
Themed Tracing Squares - Spring:
I am always looking for ways to inspire children to write, draw, and practice their pincer grasp. These tracing squares are a bite-sized way to do all three of those! With dotted-line images ranging from simple to challenging, they spark interest and creativity every time. Children also enjoy coloring in the pictures once they have traced the outline.
Each set of 6 squares is themed, so they can be rotated out during different times of the year. Simply cut along the guidelines and display with a set of fine-tip markers!
Click this link to download the free PDF:
Themed Tracing Squares - Spring
Themed Tracing Squares - St. Patrick’s Day:
I am always looking for ways to inspire children to write, draw, and practice their pincer grasp. These tracing squares are a bite-sized way to do all three of those! With dotted-line images ranging from simple to challenging, they spark interest and creativity every time. Children also enjoy coloring in the pictures once they have traced the outline.
Each set of 6 squares is themed, so they can be rotated out during different times of the year. Simply cut along the guidelines and display with a set of fine-tip markers!
Click this link to download the free PDF:
Themed Tracing Squares - St. Patrick’s Day
