Maths · Preschool–Kindergarten
Free shape tracing worksheets
Free printable shape tracing worksheets for preschool and kindergarten: one sheet for each of ten shapes with a start dot, arrow and the shape word to trace, a page of all twelve shapes, trace-then-draw, and a shape names handwriting page.
Trace the circles and write the word
Six large dashed circles with a start dot and arrow, the word "circle" to trace and then write, and a box to draw your own. Free printable PDF.
Trace the squares and write the word
Six large dashed squares with a start dot and arrow, the word "square" to trace and then write, and a box to draw your own. Free printable PDF.
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Trace the triangles and write the word
Six large dashed triangles with a start dot and arrow, the word "triangle" to trace and then write, and a box to draw your own. Free printable PDF.
Trace the rectangles and write the word
Six large dashed rectangles with a start dot and arrow, the word "rectangle" to trace and then write, and a box to draw your own. Free printable PDF.
Trace the ovals and write the word
Six large dashed ovals with a start dot and arrow, the word "oval" to trace and then write, and a box to draw your own. Free printable PDF.
Trace the hearts and write the word
Six large dashed hearts with a start dot and arrow, the word "heart" to trace and then write, and a box to draw your own. Free printable PDF.
Trace the stars and write the word
Six large dashed stars with a start dot and arrow, the word "star" to trace and then write, and a box to draw your own. Free printable PDF.
Trace the diamonds and write the word
Six large dashed diamonds with a start dot and arrow, the word "diamond" to trace and then write, and a box to draw your own. Free printable PDF.
Trace the pentagons and write the word
Six large dashed pentagons with a start dot and arrow, the word "pentagon" to trace and then write, and a box to draw your own. Free printable PDF.
Trace the hexagons and write the word
Six large dashed hexagons with a start dot and arrow, the word "hexagon" to trace and then write, and a box to draw your own. Free printable PDF.
Trace all 12 shapes
Circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval, heart, star, diamond, pentagon, hexagon, octagon and kite on one page, each labelled, each with a start dot. Free printable PDF.
Trace it, then draw it
Six shapes: trace the dashed model on the left, then draw it three times in the empty boxes. The step from tracing to drawing. Free printable PDF.
Shape names: trace and write
Ten shapes with their names in dashed letters to trace and a ruled line to write each word. Handwriting practice with a shape vocabulary payoff. Free printable PDF.
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Thirteen shape tracing worksheets that take a preschooler from the first circle to writing the word "hexagon". Ten sheets cover one shape each (circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval, heart, star, diamond, pentagon, hexagon): six large dashed shapes with a start dot and an arrow showing which way to go, the shape's name in dotted letters to trace and write, and a box to draw the shape without a guide. Three more sheets pull it together: all twelve shapes on one page (octagon and kite included), a trace-it-then-draw-it page, and a shape names handwriting page. Every sheet is a one-page PDF that prints on A4 or US Letter.
What's in this set
- Circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, ovals. The five classroom shapes, one sheet each, in the order children usually learn them: curves first, then corners.
- Hearts, stars, diamonds. The three shapes children ask for most. The heart starts in the dip at the top; the star zigzags in and out around five points; the diamond stands on a point.
- Pentagons and hexagons. Five and six sides for children who have the basics. Each sheet states how many sides and corners the shape has.
- Trace all 12 shapes. Every shape on one labelled page, plus the octagon and the kite. Good for a quick check of which shapes still need work.
- Trace it, then draw it. Six shapes: trace the dashed model on the left, then draw it three times in empty boxes. This is the step from tracing to drawing.
- Shape names: trace and write. Ten solid shapes with their names in dashed letters and a ruled line to write the word. Handwriting practice with vocabulary attached.
If your child needs many more of one shape, each of the classroom shapes has its own page with eight sheets: circle tracing, square tracing, triangle tracing, oval tracing and rectangle tracing.
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How to use these worksheets
Print at 100% and hand out one sheet at a time. For a three-year-old start with the circle and use the sheet as a tracing page only; for a five-year-old the word line and the draw box are the point of the page.
- Start at the dot, follow the arrow. Round shapes and shapes with a point at the top start at the top and go to the left, the same direction as writing the letter O. Flat-topped shapes (square, rectangle, hexagon) start in the top-left corner and go right, like writing a capital letter. Consistent directions now make letter formation easier later.
- Read the fact line out loud. Each single-shape sheet begins with one sentence about the shape ("A pentagon has 5 sides and 5 corners"). Ask the child to count the sides on the first shape before tracing.
- Trace the word with a finger first. The dotted word is large. Finger, then crayon, then pencil. Writing the word on the blank line is optional for preschool.
- Trace all 12 shapes. Use this page as a quick assessment: which names does the child know, which shapes are traced smoothly, which wobble. Then pick the single-shape sheets to match.
- Trace it, then draw it. Expect the three drawings to improve left to right. Praise the last one and point out what changed.
- Shape names. This is a handwriting sheet. Lowercase letters, sitting on the line. Pair it with the letter worksheets if letter formation is still new.
Common mistakes to watch for
- Lifting the pencil at every dash. The dashes are a guide, not separate marks. Say "keep the pencil moving" and demonstrate one continuous line.
- Rounded corners on squares and triangles. Slow down at each corner: stop, turn, go.
- Hearts that look like two bumps. The point at the bottom needs a definite stop and a change of direction. Trace it together in the air first.
- Stars drawn as a single zigzag line. Follow the dashes all the way round; the stroke goes in to the inner corner and back out to the next point ten times.
Frequently asked questions
What age are shape tracing worksheets for?
Ages 3 to 6. Three-year-olds trace circles, squares and hearts with a thick crayon; four- and five-year-olds trace all ten shapes and start writing the words; kindergartners use the trace-then-draw and shape names sheets. Kindergarten standard K.G.A.2 asks children to name shapes regardless of size or orientation, and K.G.B.5 to draw them.
In what order should children learn to trace shapes?
Circle and oval first (one smooth curve), then square and rectangle (straight lines and corners), then triangle (slanted lines), then heart, star and diamond, then pentagon, hexagon and octagon. The order of the sheets on this page follows that sequence.
Why do the shapes have a start dot and an arrow?
So every child traces the same way every time. The directions match the strokes used later for letters: round shapes go counter-clockwise like O and C, flat-topped shapes start top-left like E and F. Habits built on shapes carry over to handwriting.
Do these worksheets have answer keys?
No. Tracing sheets have nothing to mark. The trace-then-draw and shape names sheets are checked by looking at the drawing or the handwriting.
Can I use these in a classroom or laminate them?
Yes. The PDFs are free for home and classroom use. Laminate a set or slip the sheets into plastic sleeves and trace with dry-erase markers to reuse them.
More tracing practice
Each classroom shape has a deeper page: circle tracing worksheets, square tracing worksheets, triangle tracing worksheets, oval tracing worksheets and rectangle tracing worksheets. Before shapes, try the line tracing worksheets; after shapes, move on to the number tracing worksheets 1 to 20 and the handwriting worksheets. Print the shapes flashcards to name the shapes, and the 3D shapes worksheets for the next step.
Free library
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