What you will be able to do
use position words such as beside, between, above, and below; describe a simple route from a clear starting point; explain that direction depends on the chosen reference point
Where We Are: Position and Direction
How can position and direction words help us describe where something is?
Activate what you know
Place a block beside a cup, then move it between two cups. Say or show what changed about the block’s position
- positionwhere something is compared with another feature
- directionthe way someone or something faces or moves
- besidenext to
- betweenin the space separating two things
- neara short distance away in the situation being described
- routea path used to travel from one place to another
- reference pointthe place or object used to describe another location
1
Location Words Connect Features
Position words describe where one thing is compared with another. A pencil can be beside a book, below a shelf, or between two boxes. These words form a relationship: the pencil is not simply ‘between’; it is between two named things. Near and far depend on context. A playground may be near a school for a walker but far from another city. A clear description names the reference point and sometimes the travel method or situation
2
Directions Guide Movement
A route is a path from a starting place to a destination. Helpful directions name the start and use ordered steps: first go forward to the rug, next turn toward the shelf, and last stop beside it. Landmarks can help a traveler check the route. Words such as left and right depend on which way a person faces. The top of a page is not always north, either; a map needs a direction marker or other information. Careful geographers state the viewpoint instead of assuming everyone sees the same orientation
Name the Reference Point
Complete the location idea: ‘The bench is between the library and bus stop,’ not only ‘The bench is between.’
Move an Object, Not a Child
Guide a toy figure through a tabletop route. This keeps attention on spatial language and works for learners with varied mobility
Directions Are Not Complete Without a Start
‘Turn right’ can lead different ways depending on where a traveler stands and faces. Name the starting point and orientation
Guide the Toy
Arrange a toy, block, paper tree, and paper pond. Describe the toy’s starting position, then give two ordered directions that move it to a destination without crossing the pond
Position words compare locations using reference points. Directions describe movement from a stated start to a destination, and viewpoint affects words such as left and right
Practice and answer guide
Work through all 8 questions. Open an answer only after you have written or explained your response.
- 1. The pencil is next to the notebook. Which position word fits? A. beside B. future C. producer
Check answer
Beside
- 2. A tree is in the space separating two benches. The tree is ____ the benches. A. between B. above C. inside one
Check answer
Between
- 3. Why should a location sentence name a reference point?
Check answer
A reference point tells what other place or object the location is compared with
- 4. Draw a ball below a table and a book above the ball
Check answer
The drawing should place a ball below a table and a book above the ball
- 5. Describe your drawing using below and above
Check answer
Accept: ‘The ball is below the table, and the book is above the ball,’ or an equivalent accurate description
- 6. Put these route steps in order: stop beside the shelf; start at the door; move straight to the rug
Check answer
First start at the door. Next move straight to the rug. Last stop beside the shelf
- 7. Why can ‘turn left’ be unclear if we do not know which way a traveler faces?
Check answer
Left changes with the traveler’s orientation, so different facing directions can produce different turns
- 8. Which is the clearest direction? A. Start at the door and move to the rug. B. Go over there somehow. C. Turn without a starting place
Check answer
Start at the door and move to the rug