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Positions: Above, Below & Next To

Students learn position words — above, below, next to, in front, behind — so they can describe exactly where things are, a key part of talking about the world around them.

KindergartenPositions30 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Use position words.
  • ✓Tell what is above or below.
  • ✓Tell what is next to something.
  • ✓Describe where things are.
Essential Question

If your shoe is lost, how do you tell someone exactly where to look — under the bed, or on top of it? Words for position help!

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Where Is It? · Interactive

Where Is the Cat?

Project this and tap the buttons to move the cat. Have students say where it is: above, below, or next to the box.

🐱 Move the cat — where is it now?Try it
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The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

30 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Launch — Where Is It?

5 min

Where is my pencil — on the desk or under it?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Hide an object; describe where.
  • Use position words.
  • Set the goal: positions.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Find the object.
  • Hear position words.
  • Predict the words.
2

I Do — Above & Below

8 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Place an object above/below.
  • Name each position.
  • Add next to, in front, behind.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch the placing.
  • Say the position.
  • Learn the words.
3

We Do — Move Together

9 min

Class uses Where Is the Cat?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Move the cat with buttons.
  • Say where it is.
  • Use each position word.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Move the cat.
  • Say the position.
  • Use the words.
4

You Do — On Your Own

8 min

Students describe positions.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Place objects; describe them.
  • Follow position directions.
  • Draw a picture from clues.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Describe positions.
  • Follow directions.
  • Draw from clues.
5

Close — Close

5 min

Where is it?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Place an object; students describe.
  • Use the right word.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Describe the position.
  • Use the word.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

CCSS
K.G.1

Describe the relative positions of objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

CCSS
K.G.2

Correctly name shapes.

CCSS
K.MD.3

Classify objects into categories.

CCSS
K.CC.4

Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Act out position words with a toy.
  • Sentence frame: “The ___ is ___ the ___.”
  • Use gestures for above/below.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with above and below.
  • Use a real box and toy.
  • Model each position.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add in front and behind.
  • Give position directions to a partner.
  • Draw a scene from position clues.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📓Math journals
  • 💻Where Is the Cat?
  • 📦A box and a toy
  • 🖍️Crayons
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

positionwhere something isaboveover the top ofbelowunder somethingnext toright besidebesidenext toin front ofahead ofbehindin back ofunderbelow something
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
If the ball is on top of the box, is it above or below the box?
Above.
QUESTION 2
What word means “right beside” something?
Next to (or beside).
QUESTION 3
The cat is under the table. Where is it — above or below the table?
Below.

Going deeper? Position treasure hunt.

Give students position clues (“Look under something red”) to find a hidden object around the room. A printable position-clue sheet is in the Math library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 PositionsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 PositionsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ PositionsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: above, behind, below, beside, in front of, next to, position, under
  1. next to
  2. below something
  3. right beside
  4. ahead of
  5. over the top of
  6. where something is
  7. in back of
  8. under something

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. If the ball is on top of the box, is it above or below the box?
  2. What word means “right beside” something?
  3. The cat is under the table. Where is it — above or below the table?
Answer key — Part A: 1) beside · 2) under · 3) next to · 4) in front of · 5) above · 6) position · 7) behind · 8) below
Part B: 1) Above. 2) Next to (or beside). 3) Below.