Things to talk about while coloring
Rockets count down before launch, and people count down to midnight on New Year's Eve, so this page connects the two. Real rockets push hot gases out of the bottom to blast off upward. Practice counting down together from 10, then shout blast off at the end. Astronauts ride rockets into space, and some live on the International Space Station.
Coloring ideas
Make the rocket silver, red, or white with a bright window, and the flames orange and yellow. Color the numbers 3, 2, 1 in three different colors, and fill the smoke clouds with soft gray. Older kids can add stars and planets in the background.
A little learning
Counting backward from 3 to 1, then from 10 to 1, is a fun way to practice counting in reverse order. Tracing the 3, 2, and 1 with a finger before coloring adds number formation practice.
