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.
Part of the pack
Month 3: Learning & Development | Ages Up to 4Curriculum
How to use this worksheet
Have your child trace the number 3 in the pencil boxes first, saying 'three' with each trace and paying attention to the two curved bumps. Once the pencil section is complete, move to the paint section: dip a finger in paint and trace over the number 3 in the boxes provided, feeling the shape with their fingertip. Let the painted numbers dry before closing the book or moving the page.
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Paint
- Paintbrush (optional)
Extension activities
- •Count out three of a favorite toy or snack and line them up together.
- •Search for the number 3 on clocks, remote controls, or book pages around the house.
- •Shape playdough into the number 3, feeling the two curves with their fingers as they form it.
- •Draw three of anything — three suns, three flowers, three stars — and count them aloud.
- •Practice writing 3 with a wet finger on a window or chalkboard to add another sensory format.
Tips for parents and teachers
The numeral 3 is one of the trickier early numbers to form because of its two connected curves, so expect more wobbly attempts than with straighter numbers like 1 or 7. Fingerpainting the shape after pencil practice helps some children feel the curve direction more intuitively than a pencil alone allows. Say the number aloud consistently as your child traces it, and celebrate the attempt at each format, not just the final result.
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
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