Connect the Dots for Teachers

Bring the fun (and learning) of connect the dot puzzles and games into your classroom with printable connect the dots for kids created especially for the elementary classroom by the Teach Starter team of teachers!

This collection of dot to dot printables will help students practice a variety of skills from skip counting to letters of the alphabet and more. Best of all, many of these teaching resources can be used online with students in Google Classroom and the classroom.

Looking for fresh ways to use connect the dot puzzles in the classroom? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!

What Is a Connect the Dot? A Kid-Friendly Definition

The name says it all, doesn't it? But how do you explain a connect the dot puzzle to your class?

A connect the dot puzzle is a game or activity with a series of labeled dots. The player or student, then draws lines between the dots to create a drawing or picture. The objective is to connect the dots in the correct order to reveal the hidden image.

Connect the dot puzzles are also known by various other names such as dot-to-dot, join the dots, dot puzzles or even follow the dots.

What Kids Learn from Connect the Dots

Not only do these puzzles improve student concentration, but they reinforce basic math skills and literacy skills and plenty more. Here are just a few things that can come out of dot to dots.

1. Number Recognition — Recognizing and sequencing numbers takes a lot of practice. When students connect the dots in numerical order, it reinforces their understanding of number progression.
2. Hand-Eye Coordination — As students connect the dots on one of these puzzles, they're developing both their hand-eye coordination and their fine motor skills. This activity requires precision and control, helping kids refine their pencil control.
3. Following Instructions — There's a very specific order to connect the dots; if you don't follow it, the hidden picture will never be revealed! In this way, dot-to-dot puzzles teach kids the importance of following instructions and sequencing. They learn to read and interpret the numerical cues to complete the puzzle accurately.
4. Spatial Awareness — Connecting the dots in the correct order requires spatial awareness. Students develop a sense of how objects are positioned in relation to each other as they draw lines to connect the little spots on the page.
5. Object Recognition — This classic puzzle typically forms pictures of familiar objects or animals. Because of this, teachers can use these puzzles to reinforce object recognition and vocabulary development.

How to Use Connect the Dots Worksheets in the Classroom

Looking for some fun ways to add them to your lesson plans? Browse the collection for ideas, or check out a few ways our teacher team suggests using dot-to-dot activities in your classroom:

1. Pair off students to practice listening and speaking skills as one student guides the other in completing the connect the dots worksheet.
2. Print out dot-to-dot worksheets to add to your emergency sub tub or substitute teacher folder for a backup activity that can be completed at any time.
3.  Use these printables to fill in that extra time right before a holiday break with low-stakes content that keeps the curriculum coming.