Dot paper (free printable square dot grid)
A page of evenly spaced dots in a square grid, in the spacing you choose. Draw shapes by joining the dots for geometry, symmetry and area. Print true to size.
To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints.
About this sheet
Dot paper lets students draw without the grid lines getting in the way. They join the dots to make shapes and the shapes sit on a lattice that makes them easy to compare: a square, a rectangle, a right triangle, a parallelogram. It is the paper for area by counting, for slides, flips and turns, for symmetry and for proving a shape is what it looks like. Choose the spacing, from a quarter inch to one inch, and the dots are drawn to that distance and centered on the page. The dots are small and gray on the screen, and dark in black and white, so shapes in pencil or pen stand out clearly. A lighter paper than the graph paper, it is easier to read after drawing.
Grades: 2 to 8. Best in: September, October, November, January.
How to use it
- Choose the spacing between the dots and print at 100 percent. Turn the heading off for a full page of dots.
- Give each student a page and a shape challenge, such as draw three different triangles with an area of four.
- Ask students to explain how they know the area, using the dots as the unit, and compare drawings with a partner.
Five ideas for class
- Draw every shape you can make with an area of six square units on the dots, and sort them by name.
- Teach reflection and rotation: draw a shape and its flip across a line, joining the matching dots.
- Use it for the Pythagorean idea with younger students by drawing a square on a tilted segment and counting its area.
- Make a geoboard record: students copy what they built on a physical geoboard onto the dot paper.
- Draw the same shape at two sizes, and talk about what changes (side lengths, area) and what stays the same (angles).
Related
Questions
How is it different from graph paper?
Graph paper has lines; dot paper has only points. Students join the dots to draw, so the shapes are cleaner and the grid does not clutter the drawing.
What spacing should I use?
Half inch suits young students and large shapes. Quarter inch or a centimeter suits upper elementary and middle school work.
Does it match a geoboard?
A geoboard has pegs in a square grid, and dot paper has dots in the same arrangement. Students can record a geoboard shape directly on the page.
How do I save it as a PDF?
Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.
Can I print it in black and white?
Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.
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