Positional Words Worksheets

Related Math Standard: K.G.A.1

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

We often must explain or describe how to locate things. If you ever played the game Battleship, you will understand what I mean. A positional word tells where one object is in relation to another. Positional words are prepositions that control a noun, pronoun, or phrase. We never give a second thought as to the difficulty of understanding positional words, but for some children it can be a big task. This is a vital skill that encompasses all content areas. It is tough to teach geography, physical science, and most forms of math without students having a solid base with this skill. Not to mention trying to work with a map of any kind. These worksheets will have students get very familiar and comfortable with using positional words.

Positional Word Worksheets To Print:

Above | Middle | Below - We cover all three in these across a series of columns. Teach students what a column is first. Also make sure that they understand the directions on this worksheet.

Left and Right - Let's see where all the Xs go. Just follow the directions on this worksheet.

Before and After - This is almost a following directions activity. You will need access to the colors blue, orange, pink, and brown.

Between - This isn't as easy as it looks, at first glance. You will need to know what a square, heart, triangle, and circle are.

IN and OUT - A box, nest, and basket is what you have to work with. Look at each picture. Write in or out.

Left or Right? - Write whether the duck is to the left or the right of the shape. That red square really got away from him.

Waiting in Line - Circle the correct response after you see who is in line. It is a line of just three being which includes an alien, frog, and caterpillar. Which are mixed all over the place.

The Great Ape - Each ape gets something different done to him or around him. You will be the one drawing what is asked for.

Where's the Ball? - Circle the word that describes the position of the ball relative to the people. They look like a brother-sister duo.

Silly Monkey! - You'll need scissors and glue for this monkey-see, monkey-do activity. This is all about following the directions that are set out for you.

Go Fish! - Lots of yellow fish are up in here. Do not let their brightness scare you away. There are some other colors in there too.

Where is Smiley? - Circle the correct answer. Lots of happy faces. Describe where they are in all of this.

Where is the Cat? - What is the position of the ball and cat relative to one another in each of these different set ups.

Above | Between | Below - In each row, circle the shape that is above, between or below the hearts.

Over, Under! - Look at each picture. Complete each sentence with over or under based on the pictures that are located above the sentences.

What are Positional Words?

Positional words, as the name suggests are certain prepositions that are representative of a noun's position in a sentence. A positional word defines the position of one noun relative to the other noun in the same sentence. It points out the placement of an object that where is something placed. Several words refer to the position of an object in the sentence e.g. beside, beneath, etc.


List of Positional Words


Upside, down, below, above, top, bottom, off, on, left, right, over, under, end, finish, near, behind, front, middle, next to, around, upside down.


These positional words are used to locate the object and describe a situation properly. In most of the cases, the absence of those word forms makes it difficult to comprehend the meaning of a sentence e.g. the speaker must use a placement word to report the location of a notebook.


The Advantages of Using Positional Words


As a child, the use of these terms helps to develop language rapidly. Positional words provide students with a chance to enhance their communication. These words further increase their skills to give directions and to locate an object. Moreover, learning new terms that describe something's whereabouts increases the vocabulary of children. These forms of words should be taught to children in preschool as it expands their geometrical, geographical, and mathematical knowledge. Positional words activities in kindergarten help develop strong grip of geometry and Math. This is one of the effective ways to teach children how to solve a math problem.


Positional words also help to drive the meaning of the sentence. If we exclude a prepositional word from a sentence, then the sentence may become incomplete and meaningless. For example, if we change the sentence "The book is on the top of the shelf" to "The book is -the-of the shelf", the sentence will become meaningless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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