The Parrot graph paper drawing
How to show the steps
Kid mode will come on: the answer, the difficulty, the descriptions and everything else leave the screen — only the task stays.
What this activity is
A graphical dictation is drawing on graph paper from spoken instructions. A grown-up calls out a step, the child draws the line without lifting the pencil. When the steps run out, the line turns into a picture.
👂Listens to a step
✍️Crosses off the one that is done
🎨And gets a picture
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Free, no sign-up, works on a phone and a tablet
The Parrot graph paper drawing is an activity for ages 7–9. It takes 30 steps: a grown-up reads a step, the child draws the line across the squares. When every step is done, the line turns into a picture.
The steps
The start is the red dot. Draw the line without lifting the pencil.
- → 1 square right
- ↓ 1 square down
- → 1 square right
- ↑ 1 square up
- → 1 square right
- ↓ 1 square down
- → 1 square right
- ↓ 3 squares down
- → 2 squares right
- ↓ 1 square down
- → 4 squares right
- ↓ 2 squares down
- ← 5 squares left
- ↓ 2 squares down
- ← 2 squares left
- ↑ 1 square up
- ← 1 square left
- ↓ 1 square down
- ← 2 squares left
- ↑ 2 squares up
- ← 1 square left
- ↑ 3 squares up
- ← 2 squares left
- ↑ 1 square up
- → 1 square right
- ↑ 1 square up
- → 1 square right
- ↑ 1 square up
- → 1 square right
- ↑ 1 square up
🖨️ Print the sheet A ready one-page A4 PDF — it opens and prints exactly as it is.
How to do it
- Mark the starting point — it is the red dot.
- Read the steps in order: “three squares right”, “two down”.
- The child draws exactly along the squares, without lifting the pencil.
- Cross off every finished step — that is how you keep your place.
- At the end the line closes up and a picture appears.
What it builds
- attention and the ability to follow spoken instructions;
- orientation on the page: right, left, up, down;
- counting within ten;
- fine motor skills and handwriting readiness.