Straight lines tracing worksheets
A straight lines tracing worksheet for ages three to five. The top three rows are dotted lines across the page, each starting at a dot on the left. The bottom three rows are short lines down, each with its own dot at the top. Every row ends in a box where the child draws the line alone.
Free printable PDF worksheet.
One page for every line and shape
Each kind of line and each shape has its own page, with where to start, which way to go and a sheet of just that one to trace.
What's on each sheet
- One kind of line. Start at the dot and go the way the arrow points. Trace each line to its end, then draw one yourself in the box. 6 rows per page.
Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.
A mixed sheet of lines, waves, zigzags and shapes prints from Preschool tracing lines and shapes.
How to teach this
Lines across go left to right, the way we read. Lines down go top to bottom, the way almost every letter starts. Put a finger on the dot and slide it to the end first, then trace with a crayon. Keep the crayon on the paper until the line ends, and stop at the end instead of flicking past it. Straight lines are the first strokes a child learns, and they are the pieces of letters like L, T, E, H and I. If the lines wobble, slow down rather than pressing harder.
Watch for: Drawing lines across from right to left. Start at the dot on the left every time, because that is the way writing goes. Pushing lines down from the bottom up. The dot is at the top; letters start at the top, so lines do too. Racing. A fast line skids off the dots. A slow line that stays on them is the goal.
Common questions about straight lines tracing
- What are standing and sleeping lines?
- Some teachers call lines down standing lines and lines across sleeping lines. This sheet has both: three rows of each, so a child practises the two strokes most letters are built from.
- Which way should a child draw a straight line?
- Across from left to right and down from top to bottom. The dots and arrows on the sheet show both, so the habit is right from the first try.
- When can a child draw straight lines alone?
- Many children copy a line down by about age two and a half and a line across by three. The empty box at the end of each row shows how close your child is.
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Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 240, updated October 2026.
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