Grid Locations

Grid Locations

Ages 3–6 · 20 minutes · Math, English

Play with cats to learn grid locations like "top left" and "bottom right"

Students will learn how to describe all the positions in a 3x3 grid such as top left, top middle, bottom right, etc. They will then practice the positional words by playing two fun games that require choosing locations in a grid: Tic-Tac-Toe and Matching Pairs.

Prior knowledge required: understanding of top/middle/bottom and left/middle/right locations that are taught in previous lessons

Part of

Standards alignment

Common Core State Standards

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

Alabama

  • ELA21.K.6 — Uses spatial and temporal concepts correctly.
  • SS10.K.10 — Apply vocabulary related to giving and following directions.
  • SS10.2.6.4 — Locating points on a grid

Alaska

  • K.G.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes and describe their relative positions (e.g.,above, below, beside, in front of, behind, next to).

Arizona

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • 1.G1.2 — Use a grid to locate places.

Arkansas

  • K.GM.1 — Describe the positions of objects and geometric shapes in the environment. • Terms include: inside, outside, between, above, below, near, far, under, over, up, down, behind, in front of, next to, to the left of, and to the right of
  • G.1.K.1 — Describe familiar places using words that communicate location (e.g., beside, past, before), direction (e.g., right/left), and distance (e.g., long/short).

California

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • K.4.1 — Determine the relative locations of objects using the terms near/far, left/right, and behind/in front.

Colorado

  • P.G.B.4 — Understand and use language related to directionality, order, and the position of objects, including up/down and in front/behind.
  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • SS.P.2.1 — Develop spatial understanding, perspectives, and connections to the world

Connecticut

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

Delaware

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • MP7 — Look for and make use of structure.

Florida

  • SS.K.G.1.1 — Describe the relative location of people, places, and things by using positional words.

Georgia

  • K.GSR.8.2 — Describe the relative location of an object using positional words.
  • K.GSR.8 — Identify, describe, and compare basic shapes encountered in the environment, and form two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures.
  • K.MP.7 — Look for and make use of structure.

Hawaii

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

Idaho

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as “above,” “below,” beside, “in front of,” “behind,” and “next to.”
  • K.MP6 — Attend to precision.

Illinois

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • MP.7 — Look for and make use of structure.

Indiana

  • K.G.1 — Use words related to location, direction, and distance, including here/there, over/under, left/right, above/below, forward/backward, and between. (E)
  • K.G.3 — Locate and describe places in the school and community using words such as here/there, over/under, left/right, above/below, forward/backward, and between.

Iowa

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, besides, in front of, behind, and next to.

Kansas

  • K.G.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

Kentucky

  • KY.K.G.1.b — Describe the relative positions of these objects using terms above, below, in front of, behind and next to.

Louisiana

  • K.18 — Use maps and models to describe relative location. For example: locating objects and places to the right or left, up or down, in or out, above or below.
  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

Maine

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

Maryland

  • identifying important objects in the classroom using the terms near/far, left/right, behind/in front, and up/down.
  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

Massachusetts

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • PreK.T2.1 — With prompting and support, describe location of people, animals, objects, and places, using words and phrases such as up, down, on, off, close, far away, beside, inside, next to, close to, above, below, apart correctly.

Michigan

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • K–G1.0.2 — Use directions or positional words to identify significant locations in the classroom.

Minnesota

  • K.3.2.1 — Use words to compare objects according to length, size, weight and position. For example: Use same, lighter, longer, above, between and next to. Another example: Identify objects that are near your desk and objects that are in front of it. Explain why there may be some objects in both groups.
  • 0.3.1.1.1 — Describe spatial information depicted in simple drawings and pictures. For example: While looking at a picture, the student says, "The boy is in front of the house. The house is at the edge of the woods." Other words describing spatial information in a picture include up, down, left, right, near, far, back, in front of.

Mississippi

  • K.G.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • K.G.1.3 — Explain a place using terms related to location, direction, size, and distance (e.g., up, down, left, right, far, near, etc.).

Missouri

  • K.GM.C.7 — Describe the relative positions of objects in space.
  • K.EG.5.B.a — Apply positional words to locations within the classroom

Montana

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects, including those of Montana American Indians, in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as: above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • MP7 — Look for and make use of structure.

Nebraska

  • K.G.1.c — Describe the relative positions of shapes in relation to other objects or shapes using terms such as above, below, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • SS K.3.1.a — Communicate personal directions to describe relative locations of people and objects.

Nevada

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • SS.K.17. — Use simple geographic models to describe spaces at school and home.

New Hampshire

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

New Jersey

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

New Mexico

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • L.K.5.c — Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful).

New York

  • NY-PK.G.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as top, bottom, up, down, above, below, in front of, behind, over, under, and next to.
  • NY-K.G.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • K.6c — Places, physical features, and man-made structures can be located on a map or globe and described using specific geographic vocabulary.

North Carolina

  • NC.K.G.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of objects using positional terms.
  • K.G.1.3 — Identify locations in the classroom, community, and around the world with positional words.
  • PS.K.2.1 — Use models to compare the relative position of various objects observed in the classroom and outside using position words such as: in front of, behind, between, on top of, under, above, below, beside.

North Dakota

  • K.L.2e — spatial and time relationships such as up, down, before, and after.

Ohio

  • K.G.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • L.K.5.c — Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful).

Oklahoma

  • K.GM.2.1 — Use words to compare objects according to length, size, weight, position, and location.
  • K.GM.2 — Compare and order objects according to location and measurable attributes.
  • PK.2.2 — Use basic directional terms in relation to the student’s relative location.

Oregon

  • K.GM.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes and describe the relative positions of these objects in their environment.
  • K.12 — Use terms related to location, direction, and distance (such as over/under, here/there, left/right, above/below, forward/backward, between).

Rhode Island

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • L.K.5.c — Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful).

South Carolina

  • K.G.1 — Describe positions of objects by appropriately using terms, including below, above, beside, between, inside, outside, in front of, or behind.

South Dakota

  • K.G.1.2 — Use environmental directions or positional words including but not limited to up, down, above, and below to identify significant locations in the classroom
  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

Tennessee

  • K.08 — Use personal directions such as: up, down, near, far, left, right, in front of, and behind.
  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes and solids (squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, hexagons, cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres). Describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, between, and next to.

Texas

  • K.3A — use spatial terms, including over, under, near, far, left, and right, to describe relative location;
  • K.3C — identify and use words that name actions; directions; positions; sequences; categories such as colors, shapes, and textures; and locations.

Utah

  • K.3.2.c — Determine a location by using terms such as near/far, up/down, right/left.
  • K.G.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • K.3.1.a — Locate objects in the classroom using the terms near/far, left/right, behind/in front, and up/down.

Vermont

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

Washington

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • L.K.5.c — Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful).

Washington, D.C.

  • K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • K.20 — Explain the concept of relative location using directional words.

West Virginia

  • M.K.20 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind and next to.
  • SS.K.10 — Identify the difference between bodies of water and land masses on maps and globes, and demonstrate directions (e.g., left/right, up/down, near/far and above/under).

Wisconsin

  • M.K.G.A.1 — Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

Wyoming

  • K.G.H.1 — Describe objects in the environment using the names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
  • K.MP6 — Attend to precision.