Letter I Coloring Page

This letter I coloring page has everything your child needs for I week on one sheet. A big capital I with a happy face stands at the top, and a small i covered in polka dots stands at the bottom, with a star in place of its dot. Six picture cards run down the sides, each one with a word that starts with I: igloo, island, ink, iguana, ice cream and insect.

It suits ages 3 to 6, and most kids will finish in about 20 minutes. Tiny stars fill the background, but those are optional. A child can ignore them and the page still looks finished.

Ideas for each picture card

Each card asks for its own colors. The igloo is built from small ice blocks, so try pale blue and white in a mix, and keep its doorway dark. The island card has a palm tree, brown sand and a wavy blue sea.

The ink bottle is a nice lesson in itself. Make the liquid dark blue, leave the glass above it pale, and use that same blue for the single drop beside it.

The iguana is usually green, with an orange crest along its back. Some real ones are gray or even blue, so kids can choose. Ice cream can be any flavor your child likes, with a red cherry on top. The insect is a ladybug, and red with black spots is the classic look.

Making the two big letters stand out

• Use your child's favorite color for the capital I, with a second color for the stripes at the top and bottom.
• Leave the face panel white or pale, so the eyes and smile stay easy to see.
• Fill the dots on the small i with one color and the letter itself with another.
• Run a finger down each letter as you say its name, then color it in the same direction.

A fat crayon suits the big letters. For the cards, sharpened colored pencils give young kids better control, since the pictures are smaller.

Fun facts behind the I words

The dot on a small i has a real name. It is called a tittle, a word many grown-ups have never heard. Share that one at dinner.

Insects have six legs, and you can count them on the ladybug card. Spiders have eight, which is one way to tell that a spider is not an insect at all.

Green iguanas are strong swimmers that often live close to water, and a big one can reach about 6 feet long with its tail. Wikipedia's green iguana page has more about where they live.

Letter sounds with your letter I coloring page

Point out something tricky as you go. The I in igloo and insect makes a short sound, while the I in ice cream and island says its own name. Ask your child to sort the six cards into those two groups.

Next, try an I word hunt. Can your child find anything at home that starts with I? Ice in the freezer counts. So does an itch! Draw any new finds on the back of the page.

Preschool teachers can cut out the six cards, punch a hole in each, and tie them on a ring for a small flip book of I words. Children can take it home and read it to a parent.

Other pages for early readers

Look for more easy sheets in our preschool coloring pages. To see the I in the full alphabet, print the ABC blocks drawing. The bubble letters printable gives you more big shapes to color and cut out.

Questions