Where is it?
Location means where something is. Every day, we tell people where things are. We say, "Your shoes are under the bed," or "The library is next to the park."
The words that tell where something is are called position words. They help us describe places and give clear directions.
Position words
| Word | Example |
|---|---|
| above / over | The lamp is above the table. |
| below / under | The cat is under the chair. |
| beside / next to | I sit beside my friend. |
| between | The ball is between the two boxes. |
| in front of | The car is in front of the house. |
| behind | The garden is behind the house. |
| inside / in | The toys are inside the bin. |
| outside / out | The dog is outside. |
| on / on top of | The book is on the desk. |
| near / close to | The school is near my house. |
| far / far away | The mountains are far away. |
| around | We walked around the pond. |
| across | The store is across the street. |
Left and right
Left and right are two sides of your body.
- Hold up both hands with your thumbs out, palms facing away. The hand that makes an L shape is your left!
- Many people write with their right hand, but some people are left-handed.
Remember: if someone is facing you, their left is on your right side!
Direction words
A direction tells which way to go or face.
- forward and backward
- up and down
- left and right
- turn, straight ahead, go past, stop
Walk straight ahead, turn left at the big tree, and stop at the red door.
North, south, east and west
On maps, we use four special directions called the cardinal directions:
- North (N) is usually at the top of a map
- South (S) is at the bottom
- East (E) is on the right
- West (W) is on the left
The sun helps us find directions! It rises in the east in the morning and sets in the west in the evening.
Remember the order with: Never Eat Soggy Waffles.
Landmarks help us find our way
A landmark is a place or object that is easy to spot and remember. It helps people find their way.
- a big tree
- a red mailbox
- the school
- a statue in the park
- a tall tower in the city
Go past the playground and turn right at the fire station.
Giving good directions
Good directions are clear and in the right order.
- Say where to start.
- Use direction words: left, right, straight.
- Name landmarks.
- Say when to stop.
Example: Start at the classroom door. Walk straight down the hall. Turn right at the water fountain. The library is the second door on your left.
Try it yourself
- Play "I spy" with position words: I spy something under the table.
- Stand up and follow a grown-up’s directions: Take two steps forward, turn left, hop once.
- Draw a map from your house to a nearby park and add landmarks.
- Go outside in the morning. Where is the sun? That way is east!
- Write directions from your classroom to the gym.
Tip for families
On walks, ask your child to give you directions home using landmarks and left and right.
Quick recap
- Location tells where something is.
- Position words like under, beside and between describe locations.
- Direction words like left, right, forward and turn tell which way to go.
- North, south, east and west are the cardinal directions.
- Landmarks help us find our way.