Number 1 Tracing Worksheet: Trace, Count, and Color!
This worksheet gives children ages 3-5 their very first structured practice tracing a numeral, using the simplest number shape, a single straight line, to build early pencil control before moving on to curvier numbers. Counting and coloring exactly one object reinforces that the numeral 1 represents a single item, an essential first step in connecting written symbols to real quantities. Because this is often a child's introduction to number writing, it sets the pattern for how they'll approach every number worksheet that follows.
Curriculum
How to use this worksheet
Show your child the dotted number 1 and demonstrate tracing it with one straight downward stroke, following the arrow if one is shown. Have them trace several guided 1s, then look at the objects on the page and count them together, confirming there is just one. Have your child trace any additional dotted lines near the object, then color the single ball with a crayon to finish the page.
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Crayons
Extension activities
- •Have your child find one of something around the house, like one shoe or one spoon, and hold it up while saying 'one.'
- •Encourage your child to draw their own picture featuring just one object, like one sun or one flower.
- •Practice writing the number 1 with a finger in a tray of sand or on a foggy window.
- •Read a counting book together and pause to point out the number 1 whenever it appears.
Tips for parents and teachers
Even a single straight line can wobble at this age, so don't worry if your child's number 1 leans or curves slightly, since consistent practice will straighten it out over time. Use this early worksheet to notice how your child holds the pencil, since correcting grip now is easier than later. Keep praise specific, such as 'you traced that line all the way down,' rather than general, to help your child understand exactly what they did well.
Written by
Hemsweta Jain · Teacher Cheena
MBA and Early Childhood Educator, teaching since 2014 · Founder of RaisoActive, Mumbai
Every RaisoActive worksheet is designed and checked by the founder before publishing.
Published · Last reviewed
Related worksheets
Trace the Numbers 1-9 Worksheet for Preschoolers
Tracing the numerals 1 through 9 gives children ages 3-5 repeated, guided practice with the specific pencil strokes each number requires, building the fine motor control and muscle memory needed for independent number writing. Because tracing follows a fixed, correct path, it also reinforces accurate numeral recognition, helping children tell visually similar digits apart.
Caterpillar Counting Worksheet for Preschoolers
Counting the segments of each caterpillar teaches children ages 3-5 one-to-one correspondence — touching or marking each segment exactly once while saying a number — which is the core skill underlying accurate counting. Writing the final total in a box also connects the physical act of counting to its written numeral, reinforcing early number-writing practice.
Pac-Man Maze Worksheet: Count and Move!
This dice-counting maze gives children ages 3-5 repeated practice matching a rolled number to the correct number of moves, reinforcing accurate counting under a bit of playful pressure. Tracking Pac-Man's current position after each roll also builds short-term spatial memory, since children must remember where they left off before moving again.
Pac-Man Maze Worksheet: Count and Move!
This dice-driven maze combines counting practice with path-following for children ages 3-5, since they must accurately count dots on a die before moving Pac-Man the matching number of spaces forward. Deciding how far to move and staying on the correct path also builds early strategic thinking, as children track their current position within the maze after each turn.
Corn Seed Addition Worksheet for Preschoolers
Counting corn seeds on two ears of corn and combining them into one total teaches children ages 3-5 the core concept of addition as joining groups together, using a concrete, countable image rather than abstract numerals alone. This worksheet also builds one-to-one correspondence, since accurate addition depends on touching or pointing to each seed exactly once while counting.
Number Matching Worksheet: 0-18
This activity strengthens numeral recognition for children ages 3-5 by having them find and pair matching numbers from 0 to 18 printed on separate strips. Because the numbers are scattered rather than in order, children must recognize each digit shape on its own rather than relying on counting sequence, which builds true number recognition instead of rote list-reciting.
Addition House Worksheet for Preschoolers
This hands-on craft turns simple addition into a reusable game, as children ages 4-5 build a paper house with numbered windows and a door that can be changed with tape or number stripes. Physically swapping numbers to create new addition problems (like 2 windows + 1 door) helps children grasp that addition means combining separate groups into one total, rather than just memorizing facts.
Coloring Worksheet: Identify and Color the Symbols!
This worksheet introduces children ages 3-5 to national symbols by having them color each one and then match or write its name from a list of options. Beyond fine motor coloring practice, naming each symbol builds early cultural knowledge and category-matching skills, since children must connect a picture to the correct word rather than color at random.
Guides for this topic
Number Formation Rhymes 0–9 and How to Fix Reversals
Original number formation rhymes for 0–9, the correct stroke order for each digit, why 3, 5 and 7 get reversed most often, and multisensory fixes that work.
Best Worksheets for 3-Year-Olds: What Works and What to Avoid
What works on worksheets for 3-year-olds: short sessions, crayons, tracing lines, matching, cutting, a free weekly plan, and signs one is too advanced.
Fostering Creativity in Structured Learning: The Perfect Balance for Young Minds
Learn how to blend creativity with structured learning for children ages 1-8. Practical strategies, activities, and printable worksheets for parents and teachers.
Reviews
Every worksheet for ages 3–5, no watermark
Members download the full library of 1,000+ worksheets and every activity pack without watermarks or daily limits. One year costs ₹1,000 in India or $20 elsewhere.
See membership plansOr download any worksheet free with a watermark (5 a day).