Positional Words and Directional Words
Directions provide assistance in pointing out the proper route. Position defines placement or arrangement in an order (e.g. first, second, third). The position of an object is also referred to as ordinal numbers.
Knowledge about directional or positional words as well as ordinal numbers enhances a child’s ability to give and follow directions as well as to speak precisely. One of the skills a child should master in kindergarten is the ability to describe the location of an object using positional or directional words. Our kindergarten teachers recommended working on the following words:
| above | after | before | behind | between |
| bottom | front | middle | under | top |
Using objects such as a stuff animal or doll, help your child grasp these words by putting them in various positions. For example, put the doll after the stuffed animal. Another great activity is to point out items throughout your home, e.g. the cat is under the chair.
Positional and Directional Words
The positional and direction words in the table below are presented in alphabetical order.
| above | after | around | before | beginning |
| behind | below | beside | between | bottom |
| down | end | far | finish | front |
| in | inside | left | middle | near |
| next to | off | on | out | outside |
| over | right | start | through | top |
| under | up | upside down |
Many of the words noted above are also sight words. In fact, almost half of these words are included on Dolch’s sight word list.
Directional & Positional Worksheets
We created 14 free directional and positional worksheets to help your child learn these words. When possible, each worksheet provides an opportunity for a child to practice writing the word as well as a fun activity to reinforce its meaning.
| Directional & Positional Worksheets (PDF) | Directional & Positional Words |
|---|---|
| Worksheet 1 | on, off, above, below, in, out, near, far, before, after, left & right |
| Worksheet 2 | on, off, in, out, above, below, left, right, before, after, over & under |
| Worksheet 3 | over, under, near, far, before, after, left & right |
| Worksheet 4 | top & bottom |
| Worksheet 5 | top, middle & bottom |
| Worksheet 6 | left, between & right |
| Worksheet 7 | start & finish (go & stop are included too) |
| Worksheet 8 | above & below |
| Worksheet 9 | front & middle |
| Worksheet 10 | inside & outside |
| Worksheet 11 | before & after |
| Worksheet 12 | next to, between & end |
| Worksheet 13 | upside down |
| Worksheet 14 | on, off, under & over |
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