Pre-writing
Waves Worksheet
Printable waves tracing practice. Smooth direction changes with no corners. Trace the dashed guide, then try the empty row underneath. Adjust the size to suit the hand using it, then print or save a PDF.
Four steps
How to practise waves
- 1
Say the cue
Roll over the top and under the bottom, nice and smooth.
- 2
Trace the guide
Start on the dot, follow the dashed line without lifting the pencil.
- 3
Try the empty row
The row underneath has no guide, so the movement is repeated unaided.
- 4
Shrink it over time
Reduce the row height as control improves.
What waves trains
Smooth direction changes with no corners.
Say this while they trace: “Roll over the top and under the bottom, nice and smooth.”
Why it matters later
The joins in cursive, and the curves of s and f.
That connection is the reason to practise the movement on its own. When one of those letters later refuses to come out right, the problem is usually this movement rather than the letter, and a page of waves fixes it faster than another page of the letter.
Where it sits in the order
This is pattern 6 of 11 in the teaching order used across these sheets. If it proves difficult, step back to humps. Once it is comfortable, move on to loops.
Related printables
See all pre-writing patterns, or move on to alphabet tracing and number tracing when the movements are secure.
Answers