Pre-writing strokes and tracing worksheets
Printable kindergarten pre-writing worksheets: a strokes chart, trace the path from an animal to its treat, finish the picture with dotted lines, and big stroke warm-ups.
The worksheets
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Writing Strokes Chart
The six strokes that make every letter, with start dots and arrows.
Help Them Get There
Dotted paths from an animal to its treat, like a bee to a flower. Paths are straight, wavy, zigzag, hills, steps or loopy. More has the trickiest paths.
Finish the Picture
Two scenes to finish by tracing, like rain from a cloud, a fence, waves, balloon strings, grass or a kite string.
Big Stroke Warm-ups
Rows of big strokes to trace, like down lines, circles, crosses and X marks.
Picture Mazes
Mazes from an animal to its treat, like a cat to a fish. Fewer mazes are small and wide open, More mazes are bigger.
Print the whole packet
One copy of every sheet above, in order. Tap + for more copies (up to 10).
For the parent or teacher
What it is
Every letter is made from a few simple strokes: down, across, circles, slants, curves and zigzags. Practicing these big strokes builds the hand control kids need before letters feel easy.
What comes next
Uppercase and lowercase letters.
How to teach it
- Go big first. Draw the strokes in the air, in sand or on a whiteboard before paper.
- Start at the green dot every time. Starting in the right place makes letters easier later.
- Use short, chunky crayons. They help small hands hold a good grip.
- Keep it short. A few minutes of tracing is plenty at this age.
Common mistakes
- Starting at the bottom instead of the top.
- Gripping the crayon in a fist. Show how to pinch it with the thumb and first finger.
- Going too fast and skipping off the dotted line. Slow and steady wins.