Connect the Dots: Bell With Guide for Ages 3–4
A Christmas bell hides in ten numbered dots, and a faint dashed line between them shows three- and four-year-olds exactly where each stroke should go.
1 A4 page · for home and classroom use
Connect the dots: bell
How to use this worksheet
- Put a finger on the bigger dot 1 at the top of the bell and say "one" together.
- Trace the dashed line down the right side to dot 4, the corner of the wide rim; dots 5, 6 and 7 make the little clapper underneath.
- Carry on up the left side through 8, 9 and 10, then draw one last line back to dot 1.
- Finish by adding a bow or a sprig of holly at the top.
What this worksheet teaches
The bell uses the numbers 1 to 10, the range most three- and four-year-olds are working on, and saying one number for each dot reached is one-to-one counting in its simplest form. Every stroke is a short straight line that has to stop on a dot. Stopping on target is harder for small hands than scribbling, and it is the control later needed for letters such as L, T and H.
Play idea
Cut out the finished bell, punch a hole near dot 1 and hang it on a ribbon. Then go on a bell hunt at home or down the street in December and count every bell you spot.
Questions and answers
Questions from parents
My child is three and does not know all the numbers yet. Can we still use this bell?
Yes. The dashed line shows the way, so say each number together while your child traces. Recognizing the numerals comes with repetition.
Where is the clapper on this bell?
It is the small bump at the bottom between dots 5 and 7, with dot 6 as its lowest point. Point it out first, so the dip in the line makes sense.
Should my child use a pencil or a crayon?
At three or four, a thick crayon or a chunky triangular pencil is easier to grip. The aim is a steady line, not neatness.