For this week's Family Friday, we will be practicing our counting skills with Lucy the Ladybug! Read about Lucy's time at the farm through our Alphabet Animals series. Your children will create their own Lucy the Ladybug and practice counting while putting dots on her back. Read our step-by-step guide and have fun playing this interactive activity with your child at home!

• A red crayon/marker
• A green crayon/marker
• Pre-made templates (here)
• Scissors

Click to read Lucy the Ladybug. Read the book with your child, then complete the activity. You can also find this book by opening up your Footsteps2Brilliance App and going to Level 2 (Yellow). Open up the Alphabet Animal series and scroll down to find Lucy the Ladybug.

Print out the Ladybug template here.

While your child is busy coloring in the ladybug, cut out the black dots and numbers. If they're able, they can also cut the dots and numbers themselves for fine motor skill practice.

It's time to play! Pick any of the numbers and place it on your child's leaf. Have your child identify the number and count the appropriate number of black dots. Then have them put the dots on the ladybug.

Repeat the process for as many numbers as you'd like!

Enjoyed this counting skills activity? Find more Footsteps2Brilliance Family Friday Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities here.

Looking for this activity en español? Click here for the Spanish version of the Lucy the Ladybug book and blog post.