Number 13 tracing worksheet (thirteen)
Practise writing 13: trace the digits in dotted lines, trace the word thirteen, and finish on a blank copy line. Edit the page below if you want more or fewer rows.
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How to write 13
Write 13 as a 1 followed by a 3. The 3 is made of two curves stacked on top of each other, both bulging to the right and opening to the left, with a small point where they meet in the middle. Start at the top, curve around to the middle, then keep curving down to the baseline without lifting the pencil. Leave a small gap after the 1.
A backwards 3 looks like a capital E drawn with curves, and children often write it that way when they start the curves from the bottom. Remind them that the 3 starts at the top and its curves open toward the left, toward the 1. Some children pinch the middle too deeply so the 3 looks like an unfinished 8. That is easy to correct gently by tracing the model again.
Say it and spell it: thirteen
Thirteen begins with thir-, not three-. Number words change their spelling before -teen: three becomes thir and five becomes fif. It has eight letters, t-h-i-r-t-e-e-n. Children often write threeteen, which is a sensible guess and a good moment to talk about why English does not always follow the pattern.
What 13 means
13 is one ten and 3 ones. Put ten counters in a row and three more underneath: the first digit tells how many tens, and the second tells how many ones are left over.
13 comes right after 12 and right before 14. Counting back from 13 goes 13, 12, 11, 10. 13 is an odd number: if you share it between two groups, one object is left over. Two groups of 6 plus one more make 13.
Number partners are pairs that add up to 13, such as 1 + 12, 5 + 8, 9 + 4. The written word has 8 letters: t-h-i-r-t-e-e-n. Say the number, trace the digits, then trace the word on the number-and-word preset to connect the symbol with its spelling.
Counting ideas for 13
Thirteen is a good size for a counting line. Cut a strip of paper into thirteen boxes and place a button in each as you trace the 13. Play thirteen steps by walking thirteen big steps across the room while counting aloud. Pick a bedtime story and count the pages until you reach the thirteenth.
A practice tip for 13
Because 13 comes right after the dozen, have the child compare 12 and 13 side by side. Trace both numbers on the same sheet by loading each preset in turn, then ask which one is bigger and by how much. The answer, one more, is a first lesson in comparing numbers.
What is on this 13 worksheet
The default sheet has two rows of 13 13 13, then the word thirteen, then a single 13 to write on its own. Each entry gets a dotted model and a blank copy line underneath, so the page fills in the order: practise the digits, trace the word, and try the number without a model. The Digits only button keeps just the three number rows, which suits a short session. The Number and word button prints 13 and thirteen on their own.
The Count up to 13 button loads the numbers 10 to 13 as a short counting run, which is a good way to see where 13 fits in the sequence. Every entry is editable, so you can type your own list, such as 13 13 13 followed by the numbers on either side of 13. The preview shows every page, and the PDF matches it, so check the spacing before you print at actual size.
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Number 13 questions
Why does thirteen start with thir?
The word is an old form that was shortened over time. It is one of the spelling exceptions in the teens, along with fifteen, so it helps to practise the written word alongside the digits.
My child writes the 3 backwards. Is that normal?
Yes. Reversals are common while handwriting develops. Use the tracing model, say where the 3 starts, and keep sessions short and positive.
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