KShapesK.G.A.1

Position Words

Use words like above, below, beside, in front of and behind.

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Position words tell where something is. Where is the teddy bear?

The bear is under the table.
The bear is behind the box. The box hides part of the bear.
  • above, below, under
  • on, in
  • beside, next to
  • in front of, behind

Key idea

Position words tell where a thing is compared with something else.

Why it works

“Where?” only makes sense next to another thing. The bear is not just “under”; it is under the table.

Worked example: Turn it around

The ball is under the chair. Where is the chair?
  1. If the ball is under the chair,
  2. then the chair is above the ball.

Answer: Above the ball

For grown-ups: Play “I spy” with position words: “I spy something behind the sofa.” Let your child give clues too.

Practice

Pass with 3 right answers, the last 2 in a row. Each right answer earns 1 XP.

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Builds on

Nothing before it: a good place to start.

Leads to

This is one of the top rungs of Kindergarten.

Sources and further reading

  • Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Kindergarten, K.G.A.1: describe the relative positions of objects using words such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind and next to
  • Institute of Education Sciences practice guide: Teaching Math to Young Children (NCEE 2014-4005)
@teddyrookbook GitHub