Free Printable Position Words Worksheets

Positional words for preschool and kindergarten: above, below, next to, in front of, behind and between. A picture chart, three circle-the-picture worksheets and a draw-it sheet. An adult reads each direction aloud.

Position Words Chart printable preview

Position Words Chart

PreK–K

Above, below, next to, in front of, behind and between, each shown with a box, a table and a ball.

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Above and Below printable preview

Above and Below

PreK–K

Six tables. Circle the picture above the table, then the picture below it.

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In Front of and Behind printable preview

In Front of and Behind

Kindergarten

Six boxes with an animal or toy on each side. Circle the one in front, then the one behind.

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Next to and Between printable preview

Next to and Between

Kindergarten

Six rows of pictures. Circle the one between two things, or next to one.

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Draw It: Position Words printable preview

Draw It: Position Words

Kindergarten

Draw a sun above a house, a ball under a table, a flower next to a tree and a bird between trees.

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About the Position Words Worksheets

Position words say where something is: above, below, next to, in front of, behind and between. They are part of kindergarten geometry because describing where a shape is comes before describing the shape. They are also the words children need to follow directions in class.

The chart shows each word with the same few things, a box, a table and a ball, so only the position changes. Act the words out first with a toy and a real box: put the toy above the box, behind it, next to it.

In In Front of and Behind the one behind the box is partly hidden. Children who are new to the idea often say "on top," so ask them which one the box covers up. Next to and Between has a direction for each row that names the pictures, so read it out loud. Beside means the same as next to, and one row uses it.

Draw It turns the words around: the child hears the direction and puts the picture in the right place. Drawings will be different, so check the place, not the picture. Every worksheet has an answer key on its second page. The rest of the year is on the kindergarten math page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are position words?
Position words, also called positional words or spatial words, tell where something is. The kindergarten list is above, below, beside, next to, in front of, behind and between. Many classrooms add on, under, in, out, over and near.
What grade learns position words?
Preschool and kindergarten. Describing where an object is, using words such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind and next to, is a kindergarten geometry standard.
What is the difference between below and under?
They mean almost the same. Below means lower than something. Under usually means right below it and covered by it, like a ball under a table. Kindergarten uses both.
How do I teach position words at home?
Play a hiding game with a toy: hide it behind the couch, under a chair or between two pillows, and have your child say where it is. Then swap, and you follow their directions.