Color By Code Worksheets for Teachers
Bring printable color by numbers, letters and more foundational concepts into your classroom with fun worksheets created by teachers for teachers.
This collection of curriculum-aligned teaching resources is designed to add an engaging element to your worksheets for math, science, ELA and more! Best of all, each printable has been carefully reviewed and selected by an expert on the Teach Starter teaching team, so you know it's ready for your classroom, your lesson plans and your students!
Not familiar with the term color by code, or just looking for some fresh ideas to use these worksheets in the classroom? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Is a Color By Code Worksheet?
Haven't heard the term color by code? That's OK! Maybe you've heard of color by numbers or coloring by math? Or maybe you call them mystery picture worksheets?
These fun worksheets allow students to pull out their crayons or colored pencils to color a picture based on a predetermined colour key or code, where each color corresponds to a specific number or symbol. The goal is to match the numbers or symbols on the picture with the corresponding colors to reveal a mystery picture.
Color by code refers not just to color by numbers but also coloring by parts of speech, synonyms, addition and other educational concepts!
Coloring by shape is a type of color by code worksheet!
History of Color by Numbers
Ever wonder how coloring by numbers became so popular?
The exact history of these sheets is hard to track down, but as far back as the early 20th century, people were "painting by number" as a recreational activity. Then an activity mainly for adults, it involved painting pre-drawn canvases with numbered sections that corresponded to specific paint colors.
In the 1950s, an artist called Dan Robbins developed a commercial version of the concept called "Paint by Numbers" that helped the idea go mainstream and give life to what we now call color by numbers in schools! His kits included pre-printed canvases, numbered paints and brushes, and his idea was soon adapted to make coloring books for kids.
In the versions for kids, numbers or symbols were added to line drawings instead of canvases, and young children could easily color within the lines using crayons or colored pencils!
- Plus Plan
2-Digit Addition Color by Number- Halloween Mystery Picture
Celebrate the coming of Halloween and practice adding 2-digit numbers up to 99 with a set of addition color by number worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Halloween Multiplication Color By Number Worksheet
Practice multiplying single-digit numbers with a Halloween color-by-number worksheet.
- Free Plan
Firetruck Color By Number Worksheet
Build number identification skills with a printable Firetruck Color by Number Worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Double Digit Multiplication Worksheets - Halloween Color By Number
Practice multiplying 2-digit by 2-digit numbers with a pair of engaging Halloween color-by-number worksheets.
- Free Plan
Color by Number – Repeated Addition and Multiplication
Guide your students to connect repeated addition with multiplication by completing this color-by-code multiplication worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Trick or Treat Digraphs Worksheet
Sort Halloween Digraphs and color them by code with a fun Halloween Phonics worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Rounding to 10, 100, and 1,000 Worksheet - Halloween Color-By-Number
Round each number to the place of the underlined digit with a fun Halloween color-by-number worksheet.
- Free Plan
Fall Color By Part of Speech Worksheet - Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs
Use this color by part of speech worksheet as a fun fall activity with your students.
- Plus Plan
Halloween Division Mystery Picture - Multi-Digit
Have a bit of Halloween math fun with a division color by number worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Color By Code Worksheet
Guide your students to differentiate between examples of weathering, erosion and deposition with this color-by-number science worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Scarecrow Division Color by Number Worksheet
Have fun with your Halloween math practice with a division color-by-number worksheet!
- Free Plan
Is It Half? Differentiated Fractions Coloring Sheet
Introduce your students to the concept of halves as well as equal and unequal parts with this fractions coloring sheet.
- Free Plan
What is the Syllable Type? - Color By Syllables Worksheet
Practice identifying the six syllable types in common words with this color-coding activity.
- Plus Plan
Color by Parts of Speech - Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives - Octopus
A fun activity to use when learning about nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
- Plus Plan
Subitizing Worksheets for Kindergarten
Incorporate these subitizing worksheets for kindergarten into your lessons to give your students practice subitizing collections up to 12.
- Plus Plan
3 States of Matter - I Spy Worksheets
Recognize examples of solids, liquids, and gases with a pack of printable States of Matter I Spy Worksheets!
- Plus Plan
Area Model Multiplication – Color by Number Worksheet Pack
Download this color-by-number worksheet pack for your students to practice using the area model when multiplying multi-digit numbers.
- Plus Plan
Halloween Area and Perimeter Color by Number Worksheet
Use these Halloween color-by-number worksheets to practice identifying the perimeter and area of regular polygons.
- Plus Plan
Halloween Shapes - Color By 2D Shapes Worksheet
Don’t get too spooked while trying to identify 2D shapes with a printable Halloween Shapes Color by Code worksheet!
- Free Plan
Color by Parts of Speech Worksheet – Chameleon
Practice identifying different parts of speech with this fun color-by-code worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Football Multiplication Mystery Picture
Use the color-coded multiplication guide to complete the grid and reveal a mystery picture.
- Free Plan
Color by Number – Multiplication Fact Practice (Mixed)
Practice multiplication facts through 12 with this fun color by number worksheet.
- Plus Plan
States of Matter - Color by Code Worksheet
Engage your students and have fun identifying the states of matter with a color-by-code worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Unit Fraction Coloring Sheet
Crack the color code and practice unit fractions all while coloring some fun images.
- Plus Plan
Halloween Shapes Worksheet - Batty for 2D Shapes
Go batty and identify the 2D shapes with a printable Halloween Shapes worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Decimal Designs – Differentiated Decimal Rounding Worksheet for 5th Grade
Guide your students to round decimals to different places and create a beautiful design with this differentiated worksheet for 5th grade.
- Plus Plan
Measuring Angles – Mystery Picture Worksheet
Find the measure of each angle and use the color guide to reveal a mystery picture with this worksheet designed for 4th-grade students.
- Plus Plan
Converting Ratios – Color by Number Worksheet
Reveal a mystery image by converting a ratio to a percentage with this color-by-number worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Mystery Pictures - Addition to 99
Celebrate Thanksgiving and practice adding 2-digit numbers up to 99 with a set of four Thanksgiving-themed color-by-number worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Fall Color by Part of Speech - Nouns and Verbs Worksheet
Use this fall color by part of speech worksheet to review nouns and verbs.
- Free Plan
Grammar Grid - Parts of Speech Mystery Picture (Crab)
Follow the color-coded parts of speech guide to fill in the word grid and reveal a mystery image.
- Plus Plan
Multiplication Mystery Picture (Ice Cream)
Use the color-coded multiplication guide to complete the grid and reveal a mystery picture.