Number One Worksheet: Trace, Count, and Color!
Children ages 3-5 practice forming the number 1 through guided tracing while also reinforcing what the quantity 'one' represents by counting a single finger and a single candle. Linking the written symbol directly to a real quantity is a key early step in number sense before children move on to larger numbers.
Part of the pack
Month 2: Learning & Development | Ages 4-5Curriculum
How to use this worksheet
Start by having your child trace the dotted number 1 shapes with their pencil, following the top-to-bottom stroke direction. Next, have them look at the picture of the hand and count the fingers, coloring in just one finger to represent the number. Finally, have them count the candles on the cake and color the number 1, reinforcing that the written numeral and the single object both mean 'one.'
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Crayons
Extension activities
- •Go around the house finding and naming one example of an object, like one lamp or one door.
- •Practice writing the number 1 on a whiteboard, in a sand tray, or with sidewalk chalk.
- •Draw a picture with exactly one of something, like one balloon or one flower.
- •Sing a simple counting song together, holding up one finger each time you say 'one.'
Tips for parents and teachers
Watch that your child starts the number 1 stroke from the top and moves downward, since consistent stroke direction now makes later numbers easier to form correctly. Saying the number aloud while tracing and coloring reinforces the connection between the symbol and the quantity. Praise their effort even if the line wobbles, since number formation improves with repeated, low-pressure practice.

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 and Learn the Number 7 Worksheet for Preschoolers
Children ages 3-5 practice the diagonal stroke pattern of the numeral 7 through guided tracing, then reinforce the quantity it represents by drawing exactly seven raindrops. This pairing of symbol-writing with a matching counting task helps children understand that '7' isn't just a shape to copy but a specific amount they can produce and check themselves.
Tracing and Writing the Number 5 Worksheet for Preschoolers
This worksheet targets the specific pencil-control needed to form the numeral 5 correctly, while linking that written symbol to the quantity it represents through counting the apples on the page. Practicing number formation alongside counting at this age helps children connect the abstract symbol '5' to a concrete amount they can see and touch.
Tracing the Number 3 Worksheet for Preschoolers
This worksheet gives children ages 3-5 repeated practice forming the numeral 3, first with a pencil and then with a fingerpaint-dipped finger, using the curved double-bump stroke that makes 3 tricky for many young writers. Practicing the same numeral through two different tactile methods — pencil and paint — reinforces the motor memory of the shape through varied sensory experience.
Tracing Number 2 Worksheet: Practice Writing & Counting!
This worksheet combines number formation practice for the numeral 2 with early counting skills, asking children ages 3-5 to trace the curved-then-flat stroke of a 2 and then apply that number by counting and circling matching groups of balloons. Connecting the written symbol to an actual quantity is a critical step in building number sense, not just handwriting.
Number 8 Worksheet: Trace, Count, and Color Butterflies!
Tracing the number 8 while counting and coloring eight butterflies helps children ages 3-5 connect the written numeral to the actual quantity it represents, reinforcing number sense alongside handwriting. The final step, drawing any eight objects of the child's choosing, moves beyond guided practice into independent application, checking whether the concept of 'eight' has truly transferred rather than just been copied. This progression from tracing to counting to free drawing builds a complete, layered understanding of one specific number.
Tracing Numbers 13-16 Worksheet for Preschoolers
Tracing the numbers 13 through 16 gives children practice with the trickier teen-number range, where number names and digit order don't always match intuitively, fourteen starts with the digit that comes second, for example, making handwriting practice here also a subtle exercise in number sense. For ages three to five, saying each number aloud while tracing helps cement both its written form and its place in the counting sequence.
Number Tracing and Counting Worksheet for Kids
This worksheet layers three connected numeracy skills for children ages 4-6: tracing numerals to build correct number formation, writing numbers independently from memory, and counting objects to connect a written numeral to an actual quantity. Number formation practice at this age matters because children often develop habits — like starting a number from the wrong point — that are hard to unlearn later, so guided tracing helps establish correct strokes early. Pairing that with counting smiley faces ensures the numeral isn't just a shape being copied but a quantity being understood.
Trace and Learn Numbers 17-20 Worksheet
This tracing worksheet helps children ages 4-6 build number-writing fluency and number-name recognition for 17 through 20, a range that's often trickier than smaller numbers because it involves two-digit sequencing and less familiar number words like 'seventeen' and 'nineteen'. Tracing the dotted numerals builds the fine motor control and muscle memory needed for independent number writing, while saying each number aloud reinforces the link between the written numeral and its spoken name. This range also sets up the transition into the twenties and beyond.
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).