Courseversity

Lesson

Position and direction

Primary EducationGrade 1MathematicsCV-PRI-G01-MATH-GEO-U01-L0845–60 min

You will learn

  • Use position words: above, below, beside, between, in front of, behind.
  • Use left and right.
  • Follow simple directions.
  • Give simple directions to a partner.

Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.

Student lesson

The lesson in 60 seconds

  1. Position words say where something is: above, below, beside, between, in front of, behind.
  2. Left and right are directions.
  3. Follow directions one step at a time.
  4. Give directions with clear words.

Words to know

position
Where something is.
direction
Which way to go.
left
The side of your heart (for most people).
right
The side opposite to left.

1. Discover: where is the ball?

“The ball is under the table.” “The cat is next to the door.” Words like under and next to tell us where things are.

2. Understand: position words and directions

Position words tell us where something is: above (higher than), below (lower than), beside (next to), between (in the middle), in front of and behind.

To tell directions: forward, backward, turn left and turn right. Your right hand is on one side of your body and your left hand is on the other.

Idea 1: Where is it?

Position words tell us where something is. The bird is above the tree. The root is below the ground. The cup is beside the plate. The ball is between two boxes. The girl is in front of the door. The dog is behind the gate.

Idea 2: Left and right

Make an L with the thumb and finger of one hand. The hand that makes an L is your left hand. The other is your right hand.

Idea 3: Follow directions

A direction tells you which way to go. Do one step at a time: walk forward 2 steps, turn right, walk 1 step.

Why one step at a time? It stops you getting lost.

Remember: Position words tell where something is. Directions tell which way to move.

3. Worked examples

Example 1 (I show you): Above

A bird is higher than a tree. Where is the bird?

  1. Is it higher or lower than the tree? Higher.

Answer: The bird is above the tree.

Example 2 (We do it together): Between

A cup is in the middle of two plates. Where is the cup?

  1. One plate is on each side of the cup.

Answer: The cup is between the plates.

Example 3 (You try): Follow directions

You face the door. Turn right, then turn right again. Which way do you face?

Show the steps and answer
  1. Face the door.
  2. Turn right once: you face the side.
  3. Turn right again: you face away from the door.

Answer: You face the opposite way from the door.

Did you know?

Maps and phones give directions such as turn left, turn right and go straight. People used the same words long before phones.

Why this matters

Position and direction words help us say where things are and find our way.

4. Explore: treasure walk

You need a partner and a small object.

  1. Hide the object in the room.
  2. Give directions: “Take 3 steps forward. Turn left. Take 2 steps.”
  3. Your partner follows your directions.
  4. Swap roles.
Think about it: what did you notice?

Clear directions use forward, backward, left, right and step counts.

5. Practise

Say it in a sentence

Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.

  • The ___ is above the ___.
  • The ___ is between the ___ and the ___.
  • Turn ___ and walk ___ steps.
  • I am facing the ___.

Guided practice

Question 1. The cat is on the table and the dog is under it. Which is below?

The dog.

Question 2. Which hand is your right hand?

The one you write with, for most people (but check!).

Question 3. Move 2 steps forward. Which direction?

Forward.

Independent practice

Level 1: Start

  1. Put your pencil above your book. Describe it.
  2. Name three position words.
  3. Walk 2 steps forward and turn right. Where do you face now?
  4. Draw a ball between two boxes.
  5. Give directions from your seat to the door.

Level 2: Grow

  1. The cat is under the table. The table is ___ the cat.
  2. Raise your left hand. Which side is it?
  3. Walk 3 steps forward and turn left. What do you do?

Level 3: Stretch

  1. A ball is between a cup and a book. Draw it and say where it is.
  2. You face a window. Turn left and then left again. Where do you face?
  3. Give directions from your seat to the door in 3 steps.

Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.

6. Apply: everyday mathematics

Give a friend directions to find the school gate from your classroom door.

Show a sample answer

Example: forward 10 steps, turn left, forward 5 steps. (Answers will differ.)

Another one. A friend is lost in your school. Give directions from the gate to your classroom.

Show a sample answer

For example: go forward through the gate, turn left at the tree, walk to the second door.

7. Common mistakes

Mistake: Mixing up left and right.
Fix: Left and right depend on which way you are facing. Check your own left hand first.
Another mistake: Mixing up left and right.
Fix: Make an L with your left thumb and finger. The hand that makes an L is the left hand.
Another mistake: Giving directions without saying how far.
Fix: Say how many steps and which way to turn.

8. Lesson summary and revision card

I can…

  • I can use the words above, below, beside, between, in front of and behind.
  • I can use left and right.
  • I can follow simple directions.
  • I can give simple directions to a partner.

9. Check and master

Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.

1. A bird flies higher than a tree. The bird is…

2. The cup is between two plates. Where is it?

3. Walk forward, then turn right. You…

4. Which word tells where something is?

5. Which is a direction word?

6. The ball is on top of the box. The box is ___ the ball.

7. A girl stands between two boys. Where is she?

8. Which hand makes an L with its thumb and finger?

9. You walk forward, then turn left. You…

10. Which word tells where something is?

11. You face the door. You turn left and then left again. You now face…

12. Which is a clear direction?

Challenge 1. You face the door. You turn right, then turn right again. Where do you face now?

Challenge 2. Ana turns right 3 times, one turn at a time. Which single turn gives the same direction?

Your result appears here after you answer every question.

10. Key takeaways

  • Position words: above, below, beside, between, in front of, behind.
  • Direction words: forward, backward, left, right.
  • Clear directions help others find places.

11. Next lesson

Next lesson: Identifying shapes in everyday life. Keep going with the next idea in this course.

Exam practice

These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.

  1. A bird is higher than a tree. Which word tells where the bird is? [1 mark]
  2. Write three position words. [3 marks]
  3. You face the door. You turn right and then turn right again. Which way do you face? [2 marks]
  4. Draw a ball between two boxes. [2 marks]
  5. Give directions from your seat to the door. [2 marks]

Total: 10 marks.

Marking guide and model answers
  1. above [1]
  2. Any three correct, such as above, below, beside [1 each]
  3. Away from the door [1]. Two turns to the right turn you round [1].
  4. Ball drawn in the middle [1]; one box on each side [1]
  5. Clear steps [1]; left or right used correctly [1]

Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.

Printable worksheet

  1. The sun is above the tree. The tree is __ the sun.
  2. The plate is between 2 cups. Is it in the middle? (yes/no)
  3. Name one direction word.
  4. If you turn left twice, do you face the opposite way? (yes/no)
  5. Draw a star beside a circle.
  6. A cup is on a table. The table is ___ the cup (above or below).
  7. Which hand makes an L?
  8. Walk 2 steps and turn right. What changes?
  9. Draw a star beside a moon.
  10. Use the word between in a sentence.

Homework

Make a short treasure hunt for a family member using directions like forward, left and right. Let them follow your directions.

Answer key and marking scheme

Question Expected response Marks
The sun is above the tree. The tree is __ the sun. below 2
The plate is between 2 cups. Is it in the middle? (yes/no) yes 2
Name one direction word. forward, backward, left or right 2
If you turn left twice, do you face the opposite way? (yes/no) yes 2
Draw a star beside a circle. star next to circle 2
Total 10

Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 below; 2 yes; 3 forward, backward, left or right; 4 yes; 5 star next to circle.

Quiz answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 C, Challenge 2 C.

Extra worksheet answers (items 6 onward): 6 below; 7 The left hand; 8 The way you face; 9 A star next to a moon; 10 The cat is between the dog and the bird..

Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 The pencil is above the book; 2 for example above, below and beside; 3 you face a new way, to your right; 4 a ball drawn in the middle of two boxes; 5 your own directions, such as: walk forward 5 steps, turn left, walk 3 steps. Level 2: 1 above; 2 The left side; 3 Face a new way, to your left. Level 3: 1 The ball is in the middle, with the cup on one side and the book on the other.; 2 Away from the window; 3 For example: walk forward 4 steps, turn left, walk 2 steps..

Mastery and remediation

Objective Bronze (Developing) Silver (Proficient) Gold (Advanced)
O1 Use position words: above, below, beside, between, in front of, behind Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O2 Use left and right Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O3 Follow simple directions Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O4 Give simple directions to a partner Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation

Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.

If a learner struggles

  1. Find the misconception: Mixing up left and right. Left and right depend on which way you are facing. Check your own left hand first.
  2. Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
  3. Show a simpler example: Practise above and below with two objects, then add beside and between.
  4. Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
  5. Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
  6. Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.

For parents and guardians

In this lesson your child uses position words and learns left and right. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.

  • Play a game: hide a toy and give directions to find it.
  • Practise left and right when walking.
  • Ask: where is the cup? Above, below or beside?
  • Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
  • Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
  • Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.

Teacher package

1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration

Lesson objectives. Learners will: use position words: above, below, beside, between, in front of, behind; use left and right; follow simple directions; give simple directions to a partner.

Prerequisite knowledge. Basic spatial vocabulary; Lessons 1 to 7 of this unit.

Materials. Counters (stones, seeds or bottle tops), paper, pencils, board or chalkboard. Low-resource options: use stones, seeds, sticks, bottle tops or drawings in the sand or on the board instead of printed materials.

Preparation. Gather the counters and draw the example pictures on the board before the lesson.

Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.

6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities

Introduction (5 min). Start with the Discover situation and let learners suggest ideas before you teach.

Explanation (10 min). Teach the Understand section with real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words.

Guided activity (10 min). You need a partner and a small object. Learners follow the Explore steps in pairs.

Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the independent practice and the worksheet.

Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.

Key questions. Where is it? Which hand is your left? What do you do first in a direction?

Teacher explanation notes. Use the concrete, pictorial, abstract order: real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words. Return to real objects whenever a learner needs support.

10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions

Support. Use real objects and work with a partner; say each step aloud together. Extension. Ask learners to make up their own example and explain it to a partner.

Formative assessment. Listen to learner explanations, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.

Misconceptions. Mixing up left and right. Left and right depend on which way you are facing. Check your own left hand first.

13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme

Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 10-mark exam practice scheme, the 10-mark scheme and all answers are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer and the marking scheme before publication.

16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection

Remediation. Practise above and below with two objects, then add beside and between. Enrichment. Invite learners to find or create three more examples at home or in the classroom and explain them. Homework. See above.

Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which concepts learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.

Sources and standards

This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points named in the Courseversity standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.

Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (official site): Grade 1 » Geometry. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.

Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core K.G.A.1 (position words); Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 1. These sources informed the lesson.

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