MAFS.K.G.1.1: 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.

Cognitive Complexity Level: 1-Recall

[divider] [/divider] Students are able to… 

  • Find and identify shapes in their environment (i.e. squares, circles, triangles, rectangles)
  • Accurately use words that show position such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

[divider] [/divider] Students are able to…because teachers:

  • Reinforce precise vocabulary for shapes by reminding students to use correct mathematical names.
  • Provide opportunities to apply positional words in everyday language about objects in their lives (i.e. my lunch bag is above my cubby)

 [divider] [/divider] Questions to ask students:

  • Ask students to identify common shapes in the classroom (i.e. rectangle for bulletin boards, circle on class carpet etc.)
  • Place a pencil above your head. Ask students,
    • This pencil is below my head. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
    • Where is the pencil?
  • Use two objects (i.e. counting cube and glue stick) Direct to students to position shapes such as,
    • Put the glue stick in front of the cube.
    • Put the cube above the glue stick.
    • Put the cube below the glue stick.

[divider] [/divider] Additional Resources:

Additional in depth content knowledge

Blog Post:

Practicing Positional Words Using Games

Video:

Understand that positional words are used to describe object location

[divider] [/divider] Sample Formative Assessment Tasks:

Standards Toolkit- Where is the Object?

[divider] [/divider] Resources/Tasks to Support Your Child at Home:

  • Have your child make a tower of 3-D shapes found in your home. For example, they may stack a soup can on top of a cereal box. Ask your child use positional vocabulary to describe the objects’ locations (i.e. the cereal box is below the soup can.) Positional vocabulary includes (above, below, beside, in front of, behind, next to, same, different).
  • Khan Academy- Name Shapes
  • Khan Academy- Relative Position