Sloth on a Race Track Coloring Page

Day 3. Lap 1. Nobody is in a rush. This sloth on a race track coloring page stars a sloth in a sweat band and a number 1 bib, stretching out one long arm and smiling a slow, sleepy smile. The big scoreboard behind it reads Big Sloth Race, Day 3, Lap 1 of 1. Up in the stands, every single fan has fallen asleep. Down on the track, a tiny snail is sliding past the sloth and heading for the finish.

We marked this page as medium. The sloth is big and simple, yet the fans, the lanes and the checkered line ask for more care. Kids from about 5 to 12 are a good fit. Give it 30 minutes, or split it into two sessions.

Find every joke on the page

The scoreboard is the first gag, and the snail is the second. Then look at the crowd. Each round fan has shut eyes and a small open mouth, and a few big letter Z shapes float above the stands. The sloth has half closed eyes, as if it might nod off at any moment. Check the sloth's claws, too. They trail out from its hands like three long combs.

A yellow Finish flag hangs on a pole at the right. Below it, a checkered strip runs down the track. The snail has already slid onto it, so the race is nearly over.

Sloth on a race track coloring page color ideas

Sloths are soft browns and tans. Go with a sandy body, a cream face and dark brown eye patches. A little green on the fur is a fun extra, and there is a good reason for it that we will get to below.

• Orange track with white lane lines
• Red sweat band and red shorts to match
• Blue shoes with white soles
• Rainbow crowd, with each fan a new color

For the snail, try a red shell and a yellow body. Bright colors on such a small racer make your eye go right to it, and that is where the joke lands.

Tips for the crowd and the checkers

Give the fans a color plan. Pick five colors and repeat them in order across each row. It looks tidy, and it saves kids from stopping to think about each face. Use a sharp pencil for these, and keep the closed eyes dark.

On the finish line, color every other square. The rows are all the same height, which makes this a good job for a ruler if your child wants clean edges. A marker works well here, as long as you put a spare sheet underneath.

The track is a large area, so lay a crayon flat on the paper and sweep it along. Keep your strokes running along the lanes from left to right. That direction adds a sense of movement, even if the sloth has none.

Host a slow race

Here is a family game that kids find very funny. Mark a start and a finish line about 10 feet apart. The last person to cross wins, and nobody is allowed to stop moving. It is much harder than it sounds. Time it with a phone, then write the winning time on your scoreboard.

Kids who like to write can do a sports report. Interview the snail. Ask the sloth how it feels on day 3. Then add a headline along the top of the page.

True facts about sloths

Our joke is close to the truth. National Geographic Kids says sloths can sleep up to 20 hours a day, and they move so little that algae grows on their fur. That green tint helps them blend in with the leaves. They live in tropical forests in Central and South America, and they are related to armadillos and anteaters.

Next up on the track

Kids who want real speed can print the race car coloring page. For another page with a slow and steady star, try the sea turtle coloring page.

Questions