Spatial Sense - First Grade
What is Spatial Sense?
Concept: Spatial sense helps us understand where things are in space! It tells us the position and location of objects around us.
Why is Spatial Sense Important?
✓ Helps us describe where things are
✓ Allows us to follow directions
✓ Makes it easy to find things
✓ Helps us navigate our environment
💡 Tip: Position words help us communicate clearly about where things are!
1. Above and Below
Concept: "Above" means higher than something. "Below" means lower than something.
⬆️ ABOVE
Meaning: Higher than, over, on top of
Ball is ABOVE the line
⬇️ BELOW
Meaning: Lower than, under, beneath
Ball is BELOW the line
Real-Life Examples:
ABOVE Examples:
• The ceiling is above our heads
• Birds fly above the trees
• The clouds are above the ground
• A picture hangs above the table
BELOW Examples:
• The floor is below our feet
• Fish swim below the water surface
• Roots grow below the soil
• Your shoes are below the table
💡 Tip: Imagine a line - things above it are higher, things below it are lower!
2. Beside and Next to
Concept: "Beside" and "Next to" mean the same thing - at the side of something, close by, or alongside.
↔️ BESIDE / NEXT TO
Objects are side by side, at the same level
The blue square is BESIDE/NEXT TO the red and green squares
Understanding "Beside" and "Next to":
Key Features:
• Objects are at the SAME height/level
• They are CLOSE to each other
• One is to the LEFT or RIGHT of the other
• Neither is above or below the other
Real-Life Examples:
• Sit beside your friend in class
• The lamp is next to the bed
• The fork is beside the plate
• Stand next to the door
• The chair is beside the table
• The cat sits next to the dog
💡 Tip: "Beside" and "Next to" mean exactly the same thing - use them interchangeably!
3. Left, Middle and Right
Concept: These words describe horizontal positions - where things are from side to side.
Understanding Left, Middle, and Right
⬅️ LEFT
On your left side when facing forward
◼️ MIDDLE
In the center, between left and right
➡️ RIGHT
On your right side when facing forward
Red is on the LEFT, Orange is in the MIDDLE, Green is on the RIGHT
Real-Life Examples:
• Hold a pencil in your left hand
• The book is in the middle of the shelf
• Turn right at the corner
• The red car is on the left side of the road
• Sit in the middle seat
Helpful Trick:
✓ Make an "L" with your left hand (thumb and pointer finger)
✓ The hand that makes a correct "L" shape is your LEFT hand!
✓ The other hand is your RIGHT hand
💡 Tip: Always face the same direction when deciding left and right!
4. Top, Middle and Bottom
Concept: These words describe vertical positions - where things are from up to down.
Understanding Top, Middle, and Bottom
⬆️ TOP (Highest):
The uppermost part, at the highest point
◼️ MIDDLE (Center):
The center part, between top and bottom
⬇️ BOTTOM (Lowest):
The lowest part, at the base or foundation
Real-Life Examples:
TOP Examples:
• The star is at the top of the Christmas tree
• Books on the top shelf
• The roof is at the top of the house
MIDDLE Examples:
• The teddy bear is on the middle shelf
• Stand in the middle of the line
• The window is in the middle of the wall
BOTTOM Examples:
• The toy train is on the bottom shelf
• The foundation is at the bottom of the building
• Your shoes are at the bottom of the stairs
💡 Tip: Think of a bookshelf or stairs - top is highest, bottom is lowest, middle is in between!
5. Location in a Grid
Concept: A grid is a pattern of squares arranged in rows and columns. We can describe where things are in a grid!
Understanding Grids
What is a Grid?
• A grid has ROWS (going across/horizontal)
• A grid has COLUMNS (going up and down/vertical)
• Rows and columns make SQUARES (or cells)
• Each square has a specific location
Sample Grid (3×3):
| Row 1 Col 1 | Row 1 Col 2 | |
| Row 2 Col 1 | Row 2 Col 3 | |
| Row 3 Col 2 | Row 3 Col 3 |
🟢 Green circle is in Row 1, Column 3 (Top Right)
🔴 Red square is in Row 2, Column 2 (Middle Center)
🔵 Blue triangle is in Row 3, Column 1 (Bottom Left)
How to Describe Location in a Grid:
Method 1: Using Row and Column Numbers
• Find the row number (1, 2, 3...)
• Find the column number (1, 2, 3...)
• Say "Row ___, Column ___"
Method 2: Using Position Words
• Top left, Top middle, Top right
• Middle left, Center, Middle right
• Bottom left, Bottom middle, Bottom right
Grids in Real Life:
• Chessboard or checkerboard
• Calendar (days in rows and columns)
• Seating chart in classroom
• Egg carton (rows and columns of eggs)
• Tic-tac-toe game board
• Spreadsheets on computers
💡 Tip: Always count rows from top to bottom, and columns from left to right!
Spatial Sense Quick Reference
| Position Words | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Above | Higher than, over | The bird is above the tree |
| Below | Lower than, under | The rug is below the table |
| Beside / Next to | At the side of, alongside | The chair is beside the desk |
| Left | On the left side | Turn left at the corner |
| Middle | In the center, between | Stand in the middle of the line |
| Right | On the right side | The door is on your right |
| Top | Highest point, uppermost | The star is at the top |
| Bottom | Lowest point, base | Shoes are at the bottom |
Important Spatial Vocabulary
- Position: The place where something is located
- Location: Where something or someone is placed or found
- Grid: A pattern of rows and columns that make squares
- Row: A line of things going across (horizontal)
- Column: A line of things going up and down (vertical)
- Horizontal: Going from side to side (like the horizon)
- Vertical: Going up and down (standing straight)
- Spatial Sense: Understanding where things are in space
🎯 Tips for Spatial Sense Success 🎯
- ✓ Use position words every day when talking
- ✓ Play "I Spy" games using position words
- ✓ Follow directions using left, right, above, below
- ✓ Practice with toys - place them in different positions
- ✓ Draw grids and place stickers in different locations
- ✓ Make treasure maps using position words!
⭐ You're a Spatial Sense Expert! ⭐
Excellent work learning about position and location! You now know how to describe where things are using above, below, beside, left, right, top, middle, bottom, and grids. These skills will help you every single day!