Free Letter S Tracing Worksheet (Printable PDF)

What is on this worksheet

About the letter S — sound, shape, and words

Letter S makes the /s/ sound — a voiceless alveolar fricative. Air flows over the tongue and through the teeth, as in sun, snake, and star. S can also make the /z/ sound at the end of plural words (dogs, cats). It is one of the most common letters in English.

How to form the letter S

Uppercase S: start just below the top on the right side, curve up and left to the top, then curve down and left through the middle, then curve down and right to finish — a smooth double curve. Lowercase s: same shape as uppercase but smaller, sitting between the mid-line and the baseline.

Words that start with S

Use these words while tracing to connect the letter shape to a sound: Sun, Snake, Star, Sand, Soup, Spider, School, Sweet. Say S — Sun while tracing. The /s/ sound is a sustained hiss — children can hold it (sssss) like a snake, which makes it easy to isolate at the start of words.

The Todpoles Letter S flash card

The Todpoles Alphabet flash card for Letter S pairs Ss with a Sun illustration — the same word-letter connection used on this worksheet. When children see the card, trace the letter, and hear the word together, they form a much stronger memory than any single activity alone.

In the Todpoles app, scanning the Letter S card unlocks interactive letter games — children hear the letter sound, see the letter animate, and match it in a game. The card and worksheet work together: paper builds the motor skill, the app reinforces the sound.

How to use this worksheet

Ages 3–4

Do one tracing row per sitting — uppercase first, lowercase in a later session. Trace slowly, saying “S — Sun” aloud with each stroke. Do not rush to the free-write lines; tracing builds the motor memory that makes free writing possible. Three to five sessions spread over a week is ideal for this age group.

Ages 5–6

Complete the full sheet — uppercase, lowercase, and the free-write lines — in one sitting. Aim for consistent size and letters sitting on the baseline. Once free-writing feels confident, try writing the letter without looking at the model at all.

Common mistake to avoid

Many parents skip straight to the free-write section. This feels faster but skips the motor-learning phase — children end up with shaky, inconsistent letterforms. Let the tracing rows do their job first. The free-write section is the reward, not the shortcut.

Frequently asked questions

What age is this worksheet for?

Ages 3–6. Children aged 3–4 typically work one row at a time over several sessions. Children aged 5–6 can complete the full sheet — uppercase, lowercase, and free-write — in one sitting.

What does the letter S sound like?

Letter S makes the /s/ sound — like the start of sun, snake, and star. It also makes a /z/ sound when used as a plural ending (dogs, cats). S is one of the most common letters in English text.

Is this worksheet free to download?

Yes — completely free. Click the download button and the PDF opens directly. No email, no account, no watermark. Print as many copies as you need.

Can I print more than one copy?

Yes. We recommend printing 2–3 copies and using a pencil so your child can erase and repeat. Most children need 3–5 practice sessions before writing a letter confidently from memory.

What comes after Letter S?

Move on to Letter T once your child can write S from memory with consistent size and shape. You can also browse all 26 letters and download the full A–Z bundle.