Printable Templates
Every template here is a drawing first. One thick black outline, as large as the page allows, and nothing else printed on it: no title, no instructions, no colour. Cut it out, then draw around it as many times as the paper lasts.
2 collections ·
Drawn and checked by 
Iris Calder
Templates are the printable that gets used twice. The first time a child cuts one out it is an activity in itself: hold the paper still, turn the paper instead of the scissors, follow a line that does not move. The second time it becomes a tool, drawn round on card, on felt, on the back of a cereal box, until there are twelve of the same shape and something can be built out of them.
Everything in this category prints the same way on purpose. One shape per page, a thick black outline on white, sized to fill most of a Letter or A4 sheet, and no words anywhere on the printable. Words only get in the way of the scissors, and leaving them off means the same file works for a child reading in English or in Spanish.
Which template should I print first?
Whichever shape you actually need. The outlines are all thick enough to follow with round-ended scissors, so there is no easy sheet and no hard sheet to work through in order. If a shape has fine points, cut the outside first and come back for the detail.
Common questions
How do I print a template at its full size?
Open the PDF and print at 100 percent, the option most print dialogs call "actual size". Avoid "fit to page", which shrinks the shape. Every template is drawn to fill most of a Letter or A4 sheet, so both paper sizes work without cropping. There are more tips on our how to print page.
Can I use these templates in my classroom?
Yes. Teachers, librarians, tutors and therapists can print as many copies as they need, free. The only limits are selling the files or uploading them to another website; the short, plain-language version is on our licensing policy page.
What paper should I use for cutting practice?
Ordinary printer paper is best for scissor practice, because small hands can cut it without tiring. If you want a stencil to trace around many times, print on cardstock instead, or glue the printed sheet onto an old cereal box before cutting it out.
Are the templates really free?
Yes. No account, no email address, no watermark beyond the small classdoodle.com line on each page. Open a collection, download the PDF and print it as many times as you like.
Can I make the shapes smaller, for ornaments or garlands?
Yes, from the print dialog. Lower the scale percentage, or use the "multiple pages per sheet" option: two per sheet prints each shape at roughly 70 percent, four per sheet at half size. The outlines stay thick enough to cut at both sizes.