Number 3 with Three Fish Coloring Page

The number three is considered special in many cultures worldwide — from the three acts of a story (beginning, middle, and end) to the three primary colors (red, yellow, blue). Fish are the most diverse group of vertebrates on Earth, with over 34,000 known species living in oceans, rivers, and lakes. Fish breathe underwater through gills that extract dissolved oxygen from the water. Most fish are covered in scales that overlap like roof tiles, protecting their skin and helping them glide through the water. The round, cute fish in this picture are inspired by clownfish body shapes — compact and easy for young artists to color.

Coloring ideas: make each of the three fish a different color to show they are three separate fish — one orange, one blue, and one red or yellow. Give each a white circle for the eye with a black pupil, and color the fins slightly darker than the body. The number 3 can be colored in a contrasting bright green or purple.

Count the fish together as a pre-coloring activity: touch each fish and say 'One, two, three!' Then color them in order: 'Let's color the first fish orange.' After coloring, ask 'How many fish did we color?' Reinforcing the count after completing the activity solidifies early numeracy.