Prepositions Activity Guide and Free Downloadable Flashcards

How to teach inside, in front, on top and next to

Students often struggle with learning prepositions because of their abstract nature. To support the process of teaching them we have put together an easy to use step by step guide that is detailed in the sections below. To complete the activities you’ll need our four free downloadable flashcards which we have provided in both A4 and US Letter format. Click on the image below to download the flashcards.

There are five activities that you’ll work through. These are listed below:

1. Touching the Preposition
2. Saying the Preposition
3. Answering Yes/No Questions
4. Placing an Object in Space
5. Placing Themselves in Space

Tip

To prevent your cards from wear and tear, print them on thick card stock and laminate them

Structure and Order: The Secret to Success

For each activity we are going to teach the four prepositions in the same order. The order is: 1.Inside 2. On Top 3. In front 4. Next To.

A consistent and structured approach is helpful, both for you and your student. The process of teaching will flow and feel productive. Plus, it will encourage your student to learn at a faster pace and with greater ease.

Step 1. Touching the Preposition

  • First Stage – Inside
    The first stage is for your student to touch the inside card when asked to do so, irrespective of where it is placed among four cards on the table.

  • Activity – Inside

    • Place the 4 cards on the table in front of your student
      • Point to the inside card and say “Inside.”
    • Then rearrange the cards on the table
      • Once again, point to the inside card and say “Inside.”
    • Now, ask your student to “Touch inside”
      • Your student is expected to touch the inside card
        • If they are correct provide them with this feedback “Yes! Correct. That’s inside.”
        • If they are incorrect, gently guide their hand to touch the correct card and say “Inside.” Then repeat the request again “Touch inside.”
      • Once successful, vary the position of the cards on the table and again ask your student to “Touch inside.”

  • Activity Repeat – On Top, In Front and Next To
    Once your student is successful with inside, focus on on top and repeat the same process starting at the first stage. Then move on to in front and finally next to.

  • Step 2 Outcome – Inside, On Top, In Front and Next to
    Your student should be able to touch the inside, on top, in front and next to cards when asked to do so. You should be able to rearrange the order of the cards on the table and the order in which you ask them to touch each of the cards.

Step 2. Saying the Preposition

  • First Stage – Inside
    The first stage is for your student to say “inside” when shown the inside card.

  • Activity – Inside

    • Hold up the inside card and ask your student “Where is the cookie?”
      • If they answer correctly, let them know “Correct! The cookie is inside.”
      • If they are incorrect, say the first part of the word “In…” to see if they can complete the word by saying “side”
        • If they can’t, say the whole word for them “Inside.” And then repeat the question “Where is the cookie?”
  • Activity Repeat – On Top, In Front and Next To
    Once your student can name the inside card, repeat the activity for on top, then in front and lastly next to.
  • Step 2 Outcome – Inside, On Top, In Front and Next To
    Your student should be able to name all four preposition cards. You should be able to vary the order in which you show your student each of the cards.

Step 3. Answering Yes/No Questions

  • Can your Student Answer Simple Yes/No Questions?

    • To be able to complete Step 3 your student needs to be able to answer simple yes/no questions
    • You can check this by asking a few simple yes/no questions
      • Example: Show your student an apple and ask “Is this an apple?” “Is the apple blue?
  • First Stage – Inside
    The first stage is for your student to answer “yes” when shown a card with the cookie inside the jar and “no” when the shown a card with the cookie in another position.
  • Activity – Inside

    • Show your student the inside card and ask “Is the cookie inside?”
      • If they are successful, let them know “Well done. That’s inside.”
      • If they are incorrect, explain “No. This is inside. The cookie is inside the jar.” And then reattempt the question.
    • Now, show them another card (not the inside card) and ask “Is the cookie inside?” The expected response would be “No.”

  • Activity Repeat – On Top, In Front and Next To
    Once your student is successful with inside, repeat the activity for on top, then in front and lastly next to.

  • Step 3 Outcome – Inside, On Top, In Front and Next to
    Your student should be able to answer “yes” when shown the cookie in the correct position and “no” when the shown the cookie in an incorrect position.

Prepositions Flashcards Set

You can consolidate and extend your student’s understanding of these lessons with our Prepositions Flashcards Set.

  • 40 clear and captivating cards
    That will keep your student engaged

  • 7 prepositions
    In front, on top, behind, under,, next to, inside and between

  • 3 buying options
    Click here to view

  • The name of the preposition is on the reverse side of each card
    To keep you on track with your teaching

  • A user friendly step by step activity guide is included
    That encourages you to use the cards in a variety of ways

Step 4. Placing an Object in Space

  • About
    Step 4 involves applying the learnings from the flashcards to everyday life and requires two objects – one that remains in the same position and one that moves. Examples are:

    • Washing machine and shirt
    • Microwave and non-breakable cup or plate
    • Toy chest (with a lid) and any toy
  • First Stage – Inside

    The first stage is for your student to be able to place an everyday object inside another object when asked to do so.

  • Activity – Inside
    Take the example of the washing machine and shirt:

    • Ask your student to place the shirt inside the washing machine
      • If they do, that’s great! Let them know “Well done! Inside. The shirt is inside”
      • If they don’t, show them what to do. Place the shirt inside the washing machine and say “Inside. The shirt is inside” and then repeat the request.

  • Activity Repeat – On Top, In Front and Next To
    Once your student can successfully place the item inside the object, repeat the activity for on top, then in front and lastly next to.

  • Step 4 Outcome
    Your student should be able to place an everyday object inside, on top, in front and next to another object, no matter the order of the request.

Step 5. Placing Themselves in Space

  • About
    Step 5 also involves applying the learnings from the flashcards to everyday life. You will be asking your student to correctly position themselves in space. There are 2 household objects that work well for teaching inside, on top, in front and next to, these are:

    • A sleeping bag
    • A duvet (doona) cover
  • First Stage
    The first stage is for your student to place themselves inside an object when asked to do so.

  • Activity – Inside
    Take the example of the sleeping bag:

    • Ask your student to “Climb inside”
      • If your student does, let them know “Correct! Inside. You’re inside the sleeping bag.”
      • If your student doesn’t show them what to do. Climb inside the sleeping bag and say “Inside. Inside the sleeping bag.” Then repeat the request “Climb inside.”
  • Activity Repeat – On Top, In Front and Next To
    Once your student can successfully place themselves inside an object when asked to do so, repeat the activity for on top, then in front and lastly next to.

  • Step 6 Outcome – Inside, On top, In Front and Next To
    Your student should be able to place themselves inside, on top, in front and next to an object when asked to do so.

Prepositions Flashcards Buying Options

Our Prepositions Set was designed to assist with teaching 7 spatial concepts – in front, behind, on top, under, next to, inside and between. There are a range of different scenarios (such as a bird and its cage and a cup and a microwave) that clearly and purposefully show the difference between each position. You can purchase our Prepositions Set separately or as part of a larger language pack. Our larger language packs are the Language Flashcard Set (containing 200 cards) and the Language Flashcard Library (containing 320 cards).

Prepositions
Conveying 7 prepositions across 40 images – in front, behind, on top, under, next to, inside and between. This set depicts abstract language concepts in a clever way.

Language Flashcard Set
Our five sets in one box option . The five sets are Prepositions, Categories, Go Togethers, Emotions (Vol 1)  and Verbs (Vol 1). There are dividers which carefully organise each set.

Language Flashcard Library
Our eight sets in one box option. The eight sets are Prepositions, Emotions (Vol 1 and 2), Categories, Go Togethers, Opposites and Verbs (Vol 1 and Vol 2). Buy this product and our Nouns Set to purchase our entire range.

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