Graphic dictation on grid paper

Online tool for graphic dictation, also known as directional coding or graph paper programming: ready-made grid pictures for ages 5–7 and first grade, plus a builder that writes the dictation from your own drawing. The A4 or Letter worksheet with true-to-scale squares and an answer page prints from a PDF, and on screen the dictation can be read aloud to a group or traced with a finger on a phone.

How to make a graphic dictation

4 steps
1

Choose an age and a picture — or draw your own on the grid.

2

Pick the square size (1 cm or 5 mm) and the notation: arrows, large arrows or words.

3

Download the PDF with the child's sheet and the answer key, and print at 100% scale.

4

Or press “Dictate aloud” for a group or “Follow on screen” for one child.

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Print a worksheet with an answer key or dictate the picture aloud

Step 1 · Picture

Step 2 · Sheet

Square
Dictation on the child's sheet
Dictations per sheet
More settings
Paper
Orientation

Square on paper not exactly 1 cm?

First make sure you print at 100% scale, not “Fit to page”. If the line at the bottom of the sheet is still not 5 cm, download the test sheet, measure the line on it and enter its length.

Step 3 · Done

The PDF has the child's sheet and the answer key. Print at 100% scale.

On screen

Classroom TV, projector or phone: a voice reads the steps, the child draws with a finger.

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What the graphic dictation generator does

Ready-made pictures by age
Ages 5–6 get short straight steps, ages 6–7 longer pictures, and grade 1 adds diagonal moves; letters and numbers are a separate set. A test checks every picture: following its dictation draws exactly that picture.
Your drawing → dictation
Draw with a finger or mouse along the grid nodes and the dictation writes itself, with “→→→” folded into “3→”. Undo and redo are there, and drawings are kept in “My drawings” in this browser.
A4 or Letter sheet with true squares
A 1 cm square for little ones or 5 mm like a school notebook — exactly that size in the PDF. A 5 cm ruler at the bottom of the sheet shows the print was at 100%; the printer correction is shared with “Graph paper”.
Answer page for the adult
The picture on the same grid, the dictation in words for reading aloud and the start-dot offset for a blank notebook; two dictations per sheet or a whole batch in one PDF.
Voice dictation on screen
For the classroom TV: a voice reads the steps at the chosen pace and the current step shows in large type; pause, repeat, “back”, and the answer at the end.
Do the dictation on a phone
The child draws with the arrow keys, on-screen buttons or a finger on the grid; the app checks every move and shows which step went wrong.

Graphic dictation questions

How do I dictate a picture when the children have ordinary notebooks instead of a printed sheet?

In “Dictate aloud” mode, choose “Start dot: In a notebook”. The voice first says how many squares to count from the left edge and from the top edge, and only then starts the steps. The same offset is printed on the answer page, so an adult can also dictate from it.

Which square size should I choose — 1 cm or 5 mm?

Preschoolers aged 5–6 do better with the large 1 cm square: their hand can't yet hit fine lines. 5 mm is like a school notebook, for first grade and for long pictures. The ready-made pictures fit on an A4 or Letter sheet with either square; if your own drawing doesn't fit, the app will tell you.

Why isn't the printed square exactly 1 cm?

Most often “Fit to page” is turned on in the print dialog — set the scale to 100%. It's easy to check: the line at the bottom of the sheet should be exactly 5 cm. If the printer is off even at 100%, open “More settings”, download the test sheet and enter the line length — the correction is remembered in this browser and for “Graph paper” too.

How do I turn my own drawing into a graphic dictation?

Press “Your drawing”, then tap the grid nodes one after another or drag a finger: the line runs along the squares and diagonally at 45°. The first tap is the start dot. The dictation is written as you go, and the finished drawing can be downloaded as a sheet right away. Any ready-made picture can serve as a base with the “Edit this picture” button.

How can a child do the dictation on a phone or tablet?

Press “Follow on screen”. The child draws the line from the red dot with the arrow buttons, a finger on the grid or the keyboard arrows. A wrong move doesn't count: the segment lights up red and the dictation step is highlighted. The steps can be hidden — then the voice or an adult reads them.

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Who is this tool for?
📚 Educators & Teachers 👨‍👩‍👧 Parents & Families 🧸 Preschool and kindergarten teachers
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