Number 16 tracing worksheet (sixteen)
Practise writing 16: trace the digits in dotted lines, trace the word sixteen, 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 16
Write 16 as a 1 followed by a 6. The 6 begins at the top with a long curve that sweeps down the left side and then loops into a closed circle at the bottom. A helpful phrase is curve down and around, then close the loop. Leave a small gap between the 1 and the 6, and keep the loop on the baseline so the bottom of the digit stays steady.
Children commonly turn 6 into 9 by writing the loop at the top, or they rotate the page and read it upside down. Remind them that the 6 has its round part at the bottom, where it sits on the floor, and its tail at the top. If the loop does not close, show the child how to finish it back where it started.
Say it and spell it: sixteen
Sixteen keeps the whole word six and adds -teen: s-i-x-t-e-e-n, seven letters. It is a regular teen, which makes it one of the easier teen words once children know six. Compare it with sixty, where -ty replaces -teen, and have the child write the two words in a row to see the difference.
What 16 means
16 is one ten and 6 ones. Put ten counters in a row and six more underneath: the first digit tells how many tens, and the second tells how many ones are left over.
16 comes right after 15 and right before 17. Counting back from 16 goes 16, 15, 14, 13. 16 is an even number: you can share it into two equal groups of 8, with none left over.
Number partners are pairs that add up to 16, such as 1 + 15, 5 + 11, 9 + 7. The written word has 7 letters: s-i-x-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 16
Sixteen is four rows of four, so build a square from sixteen blocks or draw a four-by-four grid and count the boxes. Line up sixteen coins and group them in pairs: eight pairs make sixteen. Say each count aloud while tracing 16, then try counting again in twos.
A practice tip for 16
Once the child can trace 16 neatly, ask them to look for it around the house: a clock, a page number, a street sign. Real print helps them notice that the digits they trace appear in everyday life, and that 16 looks the same whether it is big or small.
What is on this 16 worksheet
The default sheet has two rows of 16 16 16, then the word sixteen, then a single 16 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 16 and sixteen on their own.
The Count up to 16 button loads the numbers 10 to 16 as a short counting run, which is a good way to see where 16 fits in the sequence. Every entry is editable, so you can type your own list, such as 16 16 16 followed by the numbers on either side of 16. 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 16 questions
How do I stop my child writing 6 like 9?
Point out that the round part of the 6 sits at the bottom and its tail rises at the top. Trace the 6 on the single-digit page, then return to 16.
Is sixteen spelled like six plus teen?
Yes. Sixteen is spelled six plus teen with no changes, which makes it easy to remember once six is known.
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