You already know words like on, under and next to from position words. They work on maps too. Let us use them on the map of a bedroom.
Key idea
Words like left, right, above, below, next to, between, near and far tell where things are.
Worked example: Between
On the bedroom map, what is between the bed and the toy box?
- Find the bed at the top left.
- Find the toy box at the bottom left.
- In a line between them is the lamp.
Answer: The lamp.
Worked example: Near and far
Is the rug near the door or far from it?
- The door is the curved line at the bottom.
- The rug is a little above it, in the middle of the room.
Answer: Near the door.
Why it works
On a map, left and right are the left and right of the page as you look at it. Everyone reading the map sees the same left and right, so the words mean the same thing to everyone.
Common mistake
If a picture shows a person facing you, their right hand is on your left. That trips children up. On a map, always use the page's left and right: hold up your own left hand and look.
For the grown-up. Play "I spy" with the bedroom map: "I spy something to the right of the chair." Then switch, and let your child give the clues.