Fish Dot to Dot

Give a pencil and about three to five minutes. Afterward, children can add scales, bubbles and seaweed with crayons. The answer key shows the connected fish, and 5 versions gives each child in a class a different tilt. It pairs well with an ocean or pet unit, and Practice online allows connecting on a screen with a finger. Pair it with a story about the sea and let the child tell you where the fish is swimming.

The practice is counting to 11 in order and drawing a tail that changes direction. Eleven is the first number that does not follow the single-digit pattern, and many young children say it as 'one-teen'. The curved body of a fish makes the dots slightly less obvious than straight shapes, so a child has to scan to find the next number. Fish are a friendly shape, and the child can use the finished picture to talk about the sea.

Normal has 11 dots and fits preschool and kindergarten. More adds dots for a child who wants a smoother fish. Leave Count by on 1s to begin. Try 2s once a child can count high, and 10s for a kindergartner who practices counting by tens. Press New version for another fish.

How long a count is the fish for a young child?

The normal setting has 11 dots. More adds extra dots and a rounder outline. Eleven is short enough for a three or four year old to finish with a little help, and the page still ends in a shape worth coloring.

Why does the tail confuse my child?

The tail doubles back, so the next dot sits close to the earlier ones. Have the child put a finger on the next number before drawing. Counting aloud also keeps them in order.

What can a child do with the finished fish?

Color it, then cut it out and hang several as a school of fish. Children can also write their name on it. Because each page tilts a little, a group's fish look different.