Every September I hand a child a pair of scissors and watch the whole arm cut instead of the fingers. These free fall scissor skills worksheets fix that, one line at a time. There are ten printable pages, from straight lines to a leaf spiral and a picture puzzle, all with fall pictures children like.
Print on regular paper, set out safety scissors and a glue stick, and let children work through the pages in order. Each sheet is a single PDF, so choose just the ones your group needs for fall cutting practice.
Free Fall Scissor Skills Worksheets to Print Today
Look at each preview, then press its Download PDF button. The pictures are only previews, so the button does the downloading.
1. Straight Lines Cutting Practice
Straight dotted lines between fall pictures for a first snip-and-cut success.
2. Zigzag Lines Cutting Practice
Zigzag dotted lines between fall pictures to practice turning the paper while you cut.
3. Wavy Lines Cutting Practice
Wavy dotted lines through fall pictures for smooth, rolling scissor cuts.
4. Curved Lines Cutting Practice
Big gentle curves between fall pictures for steady control on bent lines.
5. Square Lines Cutting Practice
Square and step lines with sharp corners to stop, turn and keep cutting.
6. Cut Out the Leaves Worksheet
Four leaves with dotted outlines to color and then cut out on the line.
7. Shadow Match Cut and Paste
Cut out a squirrel, hedgehog, acorn, leaf, apple and mushroom and paste each on its shadow.
8. Leaf Spiral Cutting Worksheet
Cut the spiral path from the leaf in to the acorn in the middle.
9. Snip the Fringe: Fall Edition
Fringe strips on a scarf, corn, hedgehog and owl for quick, easy snips.
10. Fall Picture Strip Puzzle
Color the squirrel and tree, cut the six strips and put the picture back together.
Want everything in one go? This single PDF holds all 10 pages in the order shown above:
How to Teach Cutting Practice, Step by Step
Start with how the scissors are held. Thumb goes in the small loop, the middle finger in the big one, and the other fingers tuck away. I tell children to keep the thumb pointing up, like a thumbs up while they cut. Hold the paper with the other hand and move it as you cut.
Then work from easy to hard. Straight lines come first, then zigzag, wavy and curved, and square lines last because corners need a stop and a turn. Do one or two lines a day. A child who rushes the zigzag page usually needs one more week of straight lines.
Use child-size safety scissors, and stay close. Check that the blades are blunt, remind children to cut only paper and to sit while they work. Left-handed children need left-handed scissors, which make a bigger difference than most people expect.
Fun Fall Cutting Activities for Preschool
Once the lines feel easy, move on to the pictures. On cut out the leaves, children color first, then cut around each dotted outline. Coloring slows them down, which helps. The shadow match page adds gluing: cut out six pictures and paste each one on its shadow.
The spiral is a favorite. Show children how to turn the paper, not the wrist, and they will follow the path from the leaf to the acorn. For the fringe page, a few snips on each strip are enough, which makes it a good first page for the youngest. Finish with the strip puzzle. Color the picture, cut the six strips, mix them up and rebuild the squirrel and tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age are these fall scissor skills worksheets for?
They suit children aged 3 to 6. Younger children start with straight lines and fringe snipping, while older ones can try the spiral, the shadow match and the puzzle.
How do I help a child who cannot cut on the line yet?
Go back to snipping fringe and straight lines, and let the child cut thick card strips. Keep sessions short and praise effort, not neatness.
Which scissors are best for preschoolers?
Child-size safety scissors with blunt tips and a comfortable loop. Offer left-handed scissors to children who use their left hand.
Do I need to print all 10 pages?
No. Each page is its own PDF, so print only what you need. The bundle holds all 10 pages in one file.
Can I use these cutting practice worksheets for free in class?
Yes. Print as many copies as your class, daycare or co-op needs, with no sign-up. Please link back to this page rather than posting the PDFs elsewhere.
Related Free Printables
- Straight line cutting practice worksheets: more straight lines for first-time cutters.
- Printable cutting lines worksheets: extra lines to repeat before moving on to pictures.
- Scissor cutting skills worksheets: a wider set of pages for growing scissor control.
- Shapes cutting practice: circles, triangles and squares to cut next.
- 15 best free printable fall worksheets: more fall pages for math, writing and reading.
- Fall crafts and activities: ideas to use your cut-out leaves and pictures.
Print a few pages, pour a cup of safety scissors onto the table and let the small hands practice. These free fall scissor skills worksheets take children from a first straight snip to a finished picture puzzle, so one download covers weeks of practice.
