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Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 30 minutes

Position words: above, below, in front of, behind

Geometry

CCSS K.G.A.1England: Reception ShapeEngland: Y1 Geometry

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Position words: above, below, in front of, behind.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: no earlier skill in the map; start from what students know.

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Rulers and protractors, Squared or dotted paper, Shape cut-outs, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval: three short questions students should already manage. Answers on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. The lamp is below the desk. So the desk is … the lamp. (above / to the left of / in front of / below) → abovePrompt: Swap places in your head: look from the other thing.
  2. A bookcase has three shelves. The robot is on the top shelf, the teddy is on the middle shelf and the drum is on the bottom shelf. Which toy is between the other two? (The robot / The teddy / The drum) → The teddyPrompt: Picture the bookcase from top to bottom.
  3. The lamp is in front of the desk. So the desk is … the lamp. (to the left of / in front of / above / behind) → behindPrompt: Swap places in your head: look from the other thing.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a photo of a building, a tile pattern or a road sign and ask what shapes and angles students can spot.
  • Share the objective: Position words: above, below, in front of, behind. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: The lamp is in front of the desk. So the desk is … the lamp.
  • Step 1: The desk is behind the lamp.
  • Step 2: behind
  • Answer: behind
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. The bird is behind the tree. So the tree is … the bird. (in front of / to the left of / above / behind) → in front ofPrompt: Swap places in your head: look from the other thing.
  2. A bookcase has three shelves. The drum is on the top shelf, the teddy is on the middle shelf and the robot is on the bottom shelf. Which toy is between the other two? (The drum / The teddy / The robot) → The teddyPrompt: Picture the bookcase from top to bottom.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. The bird is in front of the tree. So the tree is … the bird. (behind / in front of / above / to the left of) → behindPrompt: Swap places in your head: look from the other thing.
  2. A bookcase has three shelves. The robot is on the top shelf, the drum is on the middle shelf and the teddy is on the bottom shelf. Which toy is below the drum? (The robot / The drum / The teddy) → The teddyPrompt: Picture the bookcase from top to bottom.

Watch out for

  • Thinking a square turned on its corner is no longer a square.
  • Reading the wrong scale on a protractor.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Use concrete materials: rulers and protractors.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/kindergarten.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Position words: above, below, in front of, behind

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    The ball is behind the chair. So the chair is … the ball.

    • A. above
    • B. behind
    • C. in front of
    • D. to the left of

  2. Question 2

    A bookcase has three shelves. The robot is on the top shelf, the teddy is on the middle shelf and the drum is on the bottom shelf. Which toy is between the other two?

    • A. The robot
    • B. The teddy
    • C. The drum

  3. Question 3

    The ball is to the left of the chair. So the chair is … the ball.

    • A. above
    • B. to the right of
    • C. to the left of
    • D. in front of

  4. Question 4

    A bookcase has three shelves. The teddy is on the top shelf, the robot is on the middle shelf and the drum is on the bottom shelf. Which toy is below the robot?

    • A. The teddy
    • B. The robot
    • C. The drum

  5. Question 5

    The cat is above the table. So the table is … the cat.

    • A. above
    • B. in front of
    • C. to the left of
    • D. below

  6. Question 6

    The cat is in front of the table. So the table is … the cat.

    • A. above
    • B. in front of
    • C. to the left of
    • D. behind

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Answer key: Position words: above, below, in front of, behind

  1. 1. C. in front of

  2. 2. B. The teddy

  3. 3. B. to the right of

  4. 4. C. The drum

  5. 5. D. below

  6. 6. D. behind