Every classroom has students who finish early. Without a plan, they get bored, chatty or disruptive. Coloring is a popular early-finisher choice, and it can be much more than filler with a few tweaks.
The early finisher folder
Each student has a folder with:
- A coloring page in progress
- A challenge card
- A writing prompt
- A few extra pages
When they finish work, they take out their folder.
Challenge cards
Add a challenge to every page:
- "Use only warm colors."
- "Add a pattern to every space."
- "Shade one side of the character."
- "Add a background."
- "Give the character a name and three facts."
See coloring techniques for kids.
Coloring plus writing
- Write a sentence about the character.
- Write a short story starring the character.
- Write a speech bubble.
Silly characters make writing fun: Trace Then Color: Cartoon Food Monsters.
Detailed pages for older students
Older early finishers want a challenge. Detailed characters like Trace Then Color: Alien Cyborgs and Trace Then Color: Weird Creatures can take several sessions to complete.
Make it quiet
Early finisher coloring should not distract others. Set expectations: stay at your seat, quiet voices, supplies stay organized.
Avoid rewarding speed over quality
Make sure students don’t rush work to get to coloring. Check work before they move on.
Questions teachers ask
Won’t students rush to get to coloring?
Set a quality check before early finisher time.
What if a student always finishes early?
They may need more challenging work. Consider extension activities alongside coloring.
How do I manage supplies?
Each student keeps a small set in their folder or desk.
About Kevin Coulston
Kevin Coulston is a cartoonist and member of the National Cartoonists Society who has written and illustrated more than 100 drawing, tracing and coloring books for kids, including the Trace Then Color series. Meet Kevin or browse all his books on FirstArtBooks.com.
