DOG WORKSHEET – FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY

This dog worksheet is perfect to work on fine motor skills, sequencing and more! You can download it for free at the bottom of this blog post. It is from the complete Step By Step Square Animals packet. If you love dogs, be sure to check out this Dog Sensory Motor packet too!

WHAT SKILLS ARE YOU PRACTICING WITH THIS ACTIVITY?

This free dog worksheet printable helps kids work on the following skills:

• Fine motor skills
• scissor skills
• Visual spatial skills
• Visual Motor skills
• Bilateral coordination skills
• Sequencing
• Follow step by step directions

HOW DO YOU COMPLETE THE DOG WORKSHEET?

All you have to do is print the worksheet. Provide the students with crayons, markers, or colored pencils. The students can color in the shapes. Cut out the shapes and assemble the square dog. Review shapes as students are working!

HOW TO GET ACCESS TO THE FREE PRINTABLE

All you need to do is follow these three steps to access the printable page for preschoolers, kindergarten students, elementary and homeschool students:

1. Sign up to receive the emails from Your Therapy Source. If you already get our emails, you can enter your email in the box. You will not be subscribed twice.
2. You will be redirected to download the PDF format file of the printable activity.
3. Print the activity.

OTHER WAYS TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY

Here are a few options to modify or differentiate this activity:

• Print on brown paper and skip the coloring part
• Screen share the activity on the board and try drawing the dog following the 4 directions at the top of the page – start with the square, add the ears and the snout.
• Make it easier by: precutting the shapes for the students
• Make it more difficult by: removing the step by step directions. Can they assemble the dog with out the directions?
• Add in physical activity by: practicing moving like a dog. Move slow and fast. Crawl around the room.

WHY ARE THESE SKILLS IMPORTANT FOR THE CHILDREN TO PRACTICE WITH THIS FREE PRINTABLE?

Here are more details about this free printable and why the skills are important to practice.

FINE MOTOR SKILLS

Fine motor skills refer to the ability to control small muscles in the hands and fingers. For example in this activity, the children have to: color the shapes and cut out the pictures/

Fine motor skills develop throughout childhood and continue to improve into adulthood. They are important for activities such as writing, typing,  cooking, and using other tools. There are many ways to improve fine motor skills, including occupational therapy, targeted exercises, and adaptive devices. Get more fine motor activity ideas.

VISUAL MOTOR SKILLS

Visual motor skills are the ability to use information from our visual system to guide our motor system. This can include skills such as catching a ball, writing, drawing, and cutting with scissors. Visual motor skills involve the coordination of both large and small muscles.

For example, in this activity the children have to: use scissors to cut along a line

Additionally, visual motor skills develop over time – infants and toddlers typically have poorer visual motor skills than school-aged children or adults.There are many ways to improve visual motor skills, such as by playing sports, engaging in crafts, or participating in other activities that require coordination and fine motor skills. Anyone can benefit from improving their visual motor skills! Get more visual motor activity ideas.

VISUAL SPATIAL AWARENESS

The definition of visual-spatial relations is the ability to visually perceive two or more objects in relation to each other and to yourself. 

In this activity, children are working on: figuring out where the place the ears and the snout.

Good visual spatial skills are important for tasks such as math, navigating the environment, following directions, and solving puzzles. Children develop visual spatial skills by participating in activities such as  building with blocks, playing video games, and participating in sports. Check out more spatial awareness activities.

COORDINATION SKILLS

Coordination skills involve the ability to use your body in a smooth, efficient way. There is eye hand coordination, eye foot coordination, and bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together). Good coordination skills are important for activities such as playing catch, sports,and dance. Practicing coordination exercises regularly can help!

In this activity, the children are working on these coordination skills: using their hands together to cut and glue the pieces of the dog worksheet.

Read more about coordination exercises for kids.

WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO USE THE DOG WORKSHEET?

The free printable is great to use for:

• Fine Motor stations
• Occupational Therapy Session
• Physical Therapy Session
• Carry over activities at home
• School breaks
• Anytime kids need some extra motor skill practice!