Positional Terms
K.12 The student will describe the location of one object relative to another (above, below, next to) and identify representations of plane geometric figures (circle, triangle, square, and rectangle) regardless of their positions and orientations in space.
UNDERSTANDING THE STANDARD (For Teachers)
Representations of circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles can be found in the students’ environment at school and at home. Students should have opportunities to identify/classify things in their environment by the type of figures those things represent.
Children are often confused when a figure such as a square is rotated: they frequently refer to the rotated square as a diamond. Clarification needs to be ongoing — i.e., a square is a square regardless of its location in space; there is no such geometric figure as a diamond.
All students should
Understand that objects can have different orientations in space.
Teaching the Standard
Books
Above and Below (Where Words). By Tami Johnson. 2007. 32p. Capstone Press. (9780736878531) Gr K. This book walks children through the meaning of being above and being below. The concept is broken down into "mini-chapters" which work parallel to each other. Engaging pictures and easy to understand.
Up Above and Down Below. By Sue Redding. 2006. 32p Chronicle Books. (9780811848763). Gr PreK-K. This book illustrates what happens above and below the ground. Children begin to develop their knowledge of positional vocabulary and learn a little bit about what goes on in the world around them.
Up Down and Around. By Katherin Ayers. Illus. by Nadine Westcott. 2008. 32p. Candlewick. (9780763640170). Gr. PreK-K. This book is a little "young" for some kindergarteners, but instead of reading it to the class have it out at a station. Ask students to come describe the pictures using their new positional vocabulary. Use it as a writing prompt. Just because it's intended for a younger audience doesn't mean it's not useful to others.
Lessons/Activities/Centerwork
Positions Bingo. Print out and laminate these bingo cards and either play whole class or at a center.
Positional Posters. Do this activity with your class as an introduction to positional words. Download the powerpoint and work with students to work on their "where is it" words.
Toy Positions: Scroll down to find directions for this activity. Have fun using a box and stuffed animal (or really anything that you feel will get your student's attention) to teach students above, below, next to, in, behind, in front of, and any other positional vocabulary you deem necessary.
Electronic Resources
Above It All. Video teaching about above and below. Older cartoon, but it does a good job of illustrating above and below to younger children.
Next to. Kermit the Frog talks with his friends and together they teach children about "next to." Who is next to who? This video can be played at a station and then maybe brought into whole group instruction on a different day. There are many activities that can come about from this!
Positions Above and Below. This online quiz lets students self check themselves and their knowledge of positional terminology.
Assessments
Above Below. Have students complete this sheet to test their knowledge of above and below. Have students draw or write in the answers.
Cut and Paste Positionals. Have students cut out the pictures and follow the directions on the other pages. After assessment by the instructor, have students paste the sheets into their math journals for studying.
Draw Above and Below. Using this sheet will assess students learning of both above and below and of their geometric shapes. Students follow basic directions that can be read to them and draw a set number of a certain shape above the school bus, and a different amount of a different shape below the school bus. Quick and simple.