I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel guilty when adults walk into my classroom and my students are quietly coloring their color by number worksheets.
Have you ever felt that way – or wondered if all this coloring was actually a sound learning activity?
Are they actually learning or are they just engaged in quiet busy work?
Let me squash those concerns by sharing with you many of the benefits and creative ways to use color by number printables to facilitate learning with your students.
WHAT are the Benefits of Color by Code?
Color by number worksheets actually have many benefits that contribute to your students' learning.
1. ENGAGING PRACTICE
We all know one of the keys to learning is practice. The challenge we face as teachers is to provide that necessary practice in an engaging way. These printables provide a fun way to get that additional practice that most learners need. Just imagine giving your students a worksheet with 50 math facts to solve – can you see the dread on their little faces? Now, put those same 50 math facts in a color by code page – I think you will see anticipation instead of dread!
2. BRAIN FRIENDLY
It makes the brain happy for so many reasons! The engaging format of Color by Number creates anticipation – fertile ground for learning. Color enhances memory by engaging the visual cortex portion of our brains. And it's kinesthetic, so we have added another intelligence to the activity. Coloring is a calming activity that takes the stress out of the practice session, and we know from Maslow's Hierarchy of needs that safety is very important. Coloring stimulates so many happy chemicals to be released in our brains. (Don't you just want to go grab a box of colors?!)
3. IMPROVES MOTOR SKILLS
Holding crayons, coloring within the lines and sharpening crayons requires the use of many small-motor muscles. Many younger children need activities like these to strengthen their small-motor muscles which will prepare them for the rigor of school.
4. DEVELOPS STAMINA
Stamina is developed as students complete a color by number page. Students must solve the math problem, sort parts of speech, make color choices, and color within the lines to complete the page.
5. STIMULATES CREATIVITY
Coloring develops a creative spirit as students are engaged with colors and shapes.
6. INDEPENDENT & SELF-CHECKING PRACTICE
Your students will be able to complete the worksheets on their own, so they are perfect for independent practice! Answer keys are included to make them self-checking.
7. MAKES DIFFERENTIATION EASY
It is so important for us as teachers to be able to differentiate our curriculum for the diverse needs of our students. The color by number printables that I have created I kept this in mind. In my Addition & Subtraction packs, each page reinforces a specific mental math strategy. In the Multiplication & Division packs, each page provides practice for one fact family. In the Grammar/Parts of Speech pack I have included a variety of levels to choose from. This gives you, as the teacher, the choices to give each student the specific practice they need.
8. NO-PREP PRACTICE
There is no time needed to get these ready for your students – just print and go! That is a huge benefit to busy teachers that want to provide effective learning activities without sacrificing personal family time to prep!
9. ALLOWS YOU TO USE HOLIDAY ENTHUSIASM FOR LEARNING
Tame that holiday frenzy with color by number worksheets! You will be using your students' heightened enthusiasm at different holidays to promote learning! Just give them these motivating and effective worksheets and watch them get engaged! My students love to see these fun practice sheets around the different holidays. (And they it brings a quiet calm to your classroom!)
Here are some of my holiday packs you may find useful during some of those crazy holiday times:
10. INCREASE CONFIDENCE & SELF-ESTEEM
Help boost your students' confidence by putting up their finished pictures up in the classroom.
11. TEACHER BENEFIT – ‘GET STUFF DONE'
Now that we understand the many benefits of Color by Number worksheets – you can use them with NO GUILT when you just need a quiet activity for the students while you ‘get stuff done'!
12. MULTIPLE SUBJECT AREAS
There are lots of resources available in many subject areas: sight words, parts of speech, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, place value, phonics, life skills and more!
Click on the image below to see my Grammar Color by Code worksheets.
Now you can use Color by Code activities with no guilt or concern about their effectiveness!
You will also love the flexibility they provide! Here are some opportunities in your day you may wish to use them.
If you think of more, please leave a comment below and share how you have used them, or intend to use them.
- Morning Work
- Differentiate Practice
- Seatwork
- Early Finishers
- Math Centers
- Homework
- When you need to do a small group pull-out
- Holiday time – calm moments
Take a peek at what teachers are saying about these color by code worksheets!
I find it very satisfying and motivating to hear what teachers say after using these color by number packs with their students!
Used to reinforce skills taught in the classroom. Aligned to state standards. Used for differentiated instruction. Used in small groups and stations.
Fun way to reinforce skills thank you! Students loved these for homework.
I love this! Great for independent work and fast finishers!
Now, you can confidently use these motivating actives in your classroom quilt-free! Because you know the many benefits of using them with your students to promote learning in a variety of subjects and throughout the day.
Get these free 4 Season Color by Code Worksheets for your students!
Get these free 4 Season Color by Code math fact fluency pages for addition.
Just click on the image, fill out the form, and I will send them to you.
Get these free 4 Season Color by Code math fact fluency pages for multiplication.
Just click on the image, fill out the form, and I will send them to you.
If you would like to see more color by code resources, just click on the thumbnails below.
I hope I have put to quiet any misplaced guilt about using color by code worksheets with your students – your students with love you for it – and love learning the content!
PIN FOR LATER
My name is Peggy Means. I am a child of God and a retired elementary teacher. I loved teaching and creating engaging resources for my students. Now, I love sharing my resources and ideas with busy teachers around the world.
