School Theme Tracing Strips for Pre-Writing Practice
These free printable school theme tracing strips are a great way to develop fine motor skills and get engaging pre-writing practice.
School Theme Tracing Strips
Start the year off with some fine motor tasks to get your little learners ready to write and complete other tasks in the classroom.
Fine motor skills are vital for success in school; students use these skills to cut, glue, write, point, and so much more.
Gross motor tasks use large muscles like running and jumping, while fine motor tasks use smaller muscles and can be challenging for some students.
These free back to school tracing strips can be used in a variety of ways and are super simple to prep. Change them up with different manipulatives to keep the kids engaged and excited.
Add them to your writing center or morning bins for lots of engaging pre-writing practice.
Low-prep Pre-Writing Activity
To prepare these tracing strips, you will print them out. Then, cut them apart and laminate them. Done! Three simple steps to make 12 different strips that can be used in multiple ways.
Save time prepping by sliding the whole sheet into write and wipe pockets or page protectors. No cutting required!
Setting Up the Back to School Tracing Strips
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Supplies needed:
- School Theme Fine Motor Tracing Strips (button to get them is at the bottom of the post)
- Dry erase markers
- Small manipulatives like pom poms, mini erasers, play dough
- Write and wipe pockets (optional)
Instructions:
- Print the tracing strips.
- Cut apart the strips.
- Laminate or slide whole sheets into write and wipe pockets.
- Gather manipulatives.
- Store the entire activity in a large baggie, file folder, or storage tray.
Using the Pre-Writing Tracing Strips
Slide your mats into wipe and write pockets to make them perfect for tracing with dry erase markers.
Or create a fun fine motor activity with the tracing strips and just a finger for a simple task. Students will trace the dotted line with their finger. Each strip has a different line to trace; some are curvy, others are zig-zag and jagged.
It is a very simple fine motor work task, but students will be working on strengthening their fine motor muscles, improving their pre-writing skills, and improving their hand-eye coordination.
Differentiated Fine Motor Fun!
To make this pre-writing activity even more fun, add manipulatives! Students can use mini erasers, pom poms, or buttons to trace the lines. They are still building their fine motor muscles while they pinch and pick up the small manipulatives. Add kid-friendly tweezers to make it even more challenging!
These tracing mats would be great for a play dough activity too! Laminate or slide into wipe and write pockets to make them more durable. Students will roll play dough into long snakes and then cover the tracing lines with it. Students could also smash the play dough over the line if they can’t make a play dough snake yet.
The tracing strips would be great for:
- morning work
- writing center
- fine motor center
- play dough center
- early finisher task
Your kindergarten, preschool, or pre-k students will benefit from this free, easy-to-prep activity, and it may become a classroom favorite this school year. It has so many benefits and is really fun for kids!
Grab the free pre-writing tracing strips today! Happy learning!
Here are some more back to school activities for kids!
Back to School Alphabet Activity Mats
Back to School Number Tower Mats
Back to School Letter Sound Mats
Back to School Beginning Sounds Pencil Puzzles
Back to School Editable Write the Room
Back to School Editable Bump Game