Color by Sight Word
Updated November 2026 · 12 free printables
Color by sight word pictures: every space of the drawing holds a Dolch sight word, and the crayon key at the bottom says which color goes with which word. Children read a word, find it in the key and color, and the picture appears bit by bit: a peacock, a koala, a toucan, a llama, a lemonade stand, a friendly dragon and more.
There are pages for every Dolch list from pre-primer to third grade. Tiny spaces that are too small for a word come already colored, so kids only read and color the real spaces. Page 2 of each PDF shows the finished colored picture as an answer key.
All 12 Color by Sight Word, One by One
Here is a closer look at every page in this collection: what it practices, which grade it fits and a tip for each one.
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1. Peacock Color by Sight Word (Pre-Primer)
A color by sight word picture of a proud peacock spreading its big feather tail with eye spots on a sunny lawn, with flowers. Each space shows a Dolch Pre-Primer sight word (come, I, in, it, little, to, up and where); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. A grown-up can read the short directions aloud while the child does the reading of the word itself.
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2. Koala Color by Sight Word (Pre-Primer)
A color by sight word picture of a cuddly koala sitting on a eucalyptus branch holding a sprig of leaves, with the sun and a cloud. Each space shows a Dolch Pre-Primer sight word (and, away, can, I, in, it, jump, me and play); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. A grown-up can read the short directions aloud while the child does the reading of the word itself.
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3. Toucan Color by Sight Word (Pre-Primer)
A color by sight word picture of a toucan with a big orange beak perched on a branch in the jungle, with huge leaves and tropical flowers. Each space shows a Dolch Pre-Primer sight word (a, and, come, funny, I, in, play, to and up); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. A grown-up can read the short directions aloud while the child does the reading of the word itself.
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4. Hippo Color by Sight Word (Pre-Primer)
A color by sight word picture of a happy hippo bathing in a pond with a little yellow bird on its head, lily pads and cattails. Each space shows a Dolch Pre-Primer sight word (can, down, I, it, my, said, three and up); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. A grown-up can read the short directions aloud while the child does the reading of the word itself.
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5. Llama Color by Sight Word (Primer)
A color by sight word picture of a llama wearing a red blanket with pink tassels in the mountains, with snowy peaks and flowers. Each space shows a Dolch Primer sight word (all, at, be, did, pretty, soon and this); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. It suits kindergarten, about ages 5 to 6, with large print and short, decodable words.
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6. Lemonade Stand Color by Sight Word (Primer)
A color by sight word picture of a lemonade stand with a striped awning, a pitcher of lemonade, cups and lemons on a sunny day. Each space shows a Dolch Primer sight word (at, be, good, he, like, ran, so, there and went); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. Kindergartners can point under each word with a finger as they read it out loud.
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7. Hamburger Color by Sight Word (Primer)
A color by sight word picture of a big hamburger with cheese, tomato and lettuce, a box of fries and a drink on a tray under party flags. Each space shows a Dolch Primer sight word (all, at, get, he, now, out, please, so and under); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. It suits kindergarten, about ages 5 to 6, with large print and short, decodable words.
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8. Tugboat Color by Sight Word (Primer)
A color by sight word picture of a little red tugboat puffing smoke across the harbor, with a buoy, seagulls and a sunny sky. Each space shows a Dolch Primer sight word (am, at, ate, but, on, please and yes); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. Kindergartners can point under each word with a finger as they read it out loud.
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9. Dragon Color by Sight Word (First Grade)
A color by sight word picture of a friendly green dragon with purple wings and a striped yellow belly sitting on a grassy hill. Each space shows a Dolch First Grade sight word (by, from, going, let, may, of, old and over); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. First graders can read it on their own and ask for help only with the trickier words.
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10. Camping Tent Color by Sight Word (First Grade)
A color by sight word picture of a camping tent under the night sky with a crackling campfire, pine trees, mountains, the moon and stars. Each space shows a Dolch First Grade sight word (any, as, from, give, let, live, of, once and were); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. First graders can read it on their own and ask for help only with the trickier words.
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11. Treehouse Color by Sight Word (Second Grade)
A color by sight word picture of a wooden treehouse with a red roof high up in a leafy tree, with a ladder, a swing and flowers. Each space shows a Dolch Second Grade sight word (cold, its, off, or, sit, tell, upon, us and which); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. It fits second grade readers, around ages 7 to 8.
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12. Flying Saucer Color by Sight Word (Third Grade)
A color by sight word picture of a flying saucer with a friendly alien in its glass dome beaming light onto the moon, with a ringed planet and stars. Each space shows a Dolch Third Grade sight word (about, cut, far, if, never, six and try); read it, find the matching crayon in the key and color. The colored picture is the answer key on page 2. It is aimed at third grade readers, around ages 8 to 9.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Read the whole crayon key together before starting, pointing at each word.
- Color one word at a time: find every space with that word, color them all, then move to the next crayon.
- Say the word out loud every time a space is colored, so reading and coloring go together.
- Check with the answer key on page 2 when the picture is done.
Did you know?
- Color by code pages train visual scanning: the eyes search the picture for one word at a time.
- The pictures reuse the illustrated scenes of our color by number pages, with words in place of numbers.
- Tiny details come pre-colored, so every word on the page sits in a space big enough to read and color.
Fun ways to use your printables
- Swap roles: let your child read the key out loud while you color a second copy.
- Cut the finished picture into puzzle pieces and put it back together.
- Make a classroom gallery: one picture per child, all with the same words.
How to print
Click Download PDF and print at 100% on US Letter or A4 paper. Page 1 is the worksheet and page 2 is the answer key, so choose “page 1” in the print dialog if you only want the practice page. Every worksheet is free for home, homeschool and classroom use, so print as many copies as you need.
Frequently asked questions
How does color by sight word work?
It is like color by number, but with words: each space shows a sight word, and the key matches every word to a crayon color. Your child reads the word, looks it up in the key and colors the space.
Which page should we start with?
Start with the pre-primer pictures (peacock, koala, toucan, hippo): their words are short and repeat often. The first, second and third grade pictures use longer words.
My child colored a space the wrong color. Does it matter?
Not much. Compare with the answer key on page 2 together and read the word once more. Spotting the mix-up is part of the practice.
Can I use these with a whole class?
Yes. The pages are free for classroom use. They make a calm morning-work or center activity, and the answer key lets helpers check the pictures.