Shadow Matching for Preschool
Draw a line from each picture to its shadow.
Name:Date:
Free worksheet from maggiegames.com
Shadow Matching for Preschool Worksheet
Four pairs mixing an animal, a fruit, a vehicle and a bird. Free to print, at home or in class.
About this sheet
Four pairs, and deliberately one from each family rather than four of a kind. At this stage the child is still matching on overall shape, so mixing the categories keeps every pair solvable while quietly widening the vocabulary. The bicycle is the one that stretches them, because its silhouette is mostly empty space.
About the name. Nursery, preschool and kindergarten here describe how much the sheet asks for, not who is allowed to use it. If an older child is working on this skill, this is the right sheet for them and nothing printed on it says otherwise.
How to use it
- Name each one first. Go down the left column together and say them out loud before a single line is drawn. Matching is easier once the words are in the room.
- Talk about the outline, not the answer. "This one has a very long neck" teaches the strategy. Pointing at the right shadow teaches nothing.
- A finger is fine. If holding a pencil is hard work, let the child trace the line with a finger, or cut the sheet into cards and place them side by side.
- Stop while it is still going well. Half a sheet finished happily beats a whole one finished in tears.
What it practises
Visual discrimination, the ability to notice how two shapes differ from one another. It is the skill underneath telling a b from a d later on. Drawing the connecting line adds a little fine-motor and left-to-right tracking practice on top.
If the pencil work is the hard part rather than the matching, the online version of this game uses the same animal photographs and needs only a tap.
Questions
Is this worksheet really free?
Yes. Print it as many times as you like, at home or in a classroom. No account and no sign-up.
How do I get the PDF?
Use the download button above for the ready-made PDF, or press Print and choose Save as PDF.
What age is it for?
Roughly three to seven. Younger children usually do better with the four-pair Pets sheet.
More printable worksheets
6 pairs
Farm Animals Shadow Matching
Six farm animals and six shadows. Draw a line from each animal to its shadow.
Get the worksheet →
6 pairs
Wild Animals Shadow Matching
Six wild animals and six shadows. Draw a line from each animal to its shadow.
Get the worksheet →
4 pairs
Pets Shadow Matching
Four pets and four shadows. Draw a line from each animal to its shadow.
Get the worksheet →
5 pairs
Water Animals Shadow Matching
Five water animals and five shadows. Draw a line from each animal to its shadow.
Get the worksheet →
6 pairs
Fruit and Vegetable Shadow Matching
Six fruits and vegetables and six shadows. Draw a line from each one to its shadow.
Get the worksheet →
6 pairs
Vehicles Shadow Matching
Six vehicles and six shadows. Draw a line from each vehicle to its shadow.
Get the worksheet →
6 pairs
Dinosaurs Shadow Matching
Six dinosaurs and six shadows. Draw a line from each dinosaur to its shadow.
Get the worksheet →
6 pairs
Minibeasts Shadow Matching
Six minibeasts and six shadows. Draw a line from each minibeast to its shadow.
Get the worksheet →
6 pairs
Sea Animals Shadow Matching
Six sea animals and six shadows. Draw a line from each animal to its shadow.
Get the worksheet →
6 pairs
Clothes Shadow Matching
Six items of clothing and six shadows. Draw a line from each one to its shadow.
Get the worksheet →
3 pairs · easiest
Shadow Matching for Nursery
Three pairs, printed large. The easiest sheet on the site.
Get the worksheet →
6 pairs
Shadow Matching for Kindergarten
Six four-legged animals, all seen from the side. The hardest sheet on the site.
Get the worksheet →