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One of our favorite concepts to teach is spatial prepositions! There are just so many fun ways to work on this skill plus the benefits are this skills are infinite.
I think maybe my love of spatial concepts stems from my 8th grade ELA teacher who taught us a full blown spatial preposition song to the tune of “Yankee Doodle”…that I still have committed to memory.
I mean we may or may not be huge grammar nerds. We are SLPs after all. 🤓
To share the preposition love, Mandy has created the ultimate back to school resource for you to introduce, review, and target spatial concepts during small groups, classroom based centers, or large class lessons.
With 12 different low prep activities all found in one resource, you will be able to work on spatial concepts during all of your back to school speech and language sessions and beyond!
Check out the videos to see endless ways you can implement our easy and engaging Back To School Spatial Prepositions Activities & Worksheets now!
For all 12 activities, targeted spatial concepts include: IN, UNDER, ON, IN FRONT, NEXT TO, BETWEEN, BEHIND, OVER, AROUND, ABOVE, OUT, THROUGH.
#1 Spatial Preposition Matching
First up, we have a simple matching activity. Students can match each spatial concept to a picture, written word, or symbol. Perfect way to quickly review concepts and see which are lacking!
Just print whichever matching option you would like…pictures, written words, or symbols…then print and cut out the spatial preposition cards. Hide cards in a sensory bin, lay out in a field of three, or simply review each individual card. Then have students match to the corresponding form!
#2 Spatial Preposition Cover Or Clip
Up next, we have a simple spin on concept identification. Have students look at the picture then cover the corresponding answer with a mini-eraser, pom pom, BINGO chip, or any other small manipulative. To incorporate some fine motor skills, have students use a cloth pin to “clip” the correct answer.
#3 Spatial Preposition Punch Cards
Print each individual concept punch card. Find the correct preposition and punch with a hole puncher OR cover with any type of manipulative. These cards are great if a student is struggling with a specific spatial preposition since you punch or cover the same concept multiple times. You can even laminate the cards and cross out the correct response with a dry erase marker!
#4
We love smash mats! They are so easy and so versatile! Print the smash mats and place in a page protector. Use play-doh or any manipulative to cover the correct prepositions.
There are even reinforcing cards include for multiple uses. Leave cards face down and have students flip over and then smash on the mat. Place cards in a sensory bin and then cover on the smash mat. Perfect activities to keep students busy!
#5
This next activity is a fan favorite in our speech sessions! Use a clear overlay spinner or pencil and paper clip to pick a preposition. Use the turtle and bookshelf to show the preposition. Students love being in control of the spinner to determine where to move the turtle.
#6
Want to target spatial concepts within sentences with your older students? We have you covered! Read a sentence with an embedded spatial preposition, and then have the students follow the direction. Use the turtle and bookshelf to match the sentence.
#7
Let’s play BINGO…spatial preposition style! Such a fun way to practice language skills plus game play, turn-taking, and concept identification. Pick a calling card and cover up the correct preposition with BINGO chips. Or print and use the cover up pieces included.
#8
Use this next activity to match pictures to sentences containing embedded spatial concepts. Simply cut cards apart, and have students match the sentence with the correct picture. Laminate and use repeatedly. Or have students cut and paste the sentences and pictures together for a perfect take home carry-over activity!
#9
As your students become more accurate identify and labeling spatial prepositions, we have the coolest interactive book to keep the progress going! Print & laminate the full color pages. Have students place the turtle in the correct place. To help you differentiate during your speech and language sessions, we have two versions available: sentence level and sentence with visuals level.
#10
The next activity is a low ink print option and perfect to send home for skill carry-over. Print the spatial preposition student activity in black and white. Have students place turtles in the correct place. Students can color while practicing for a fun hands-on activity as well. A sentence strip is on the bottom of each page to encourage MLU and help parents continue practice at home.
#11
Check out these colorful back to school scenes to let students play and arrange the pictures while practicing spatial prepositions. These are ideal for projecting onto the large screen for whole group lessons or table led centers. Just print and laminate the classroom or school house scene. Then cut out the turtles to move around each scene.
#12
And last but certainly not least, we have an awesome spatial preposition scavenger hunt to get you and your students up and moving. Hide pictures around the room and have students find the pictures. They can label and identify the prepositions then check each word off the concept list. Students can even find the concept and color it on the corresponding Find & Color page too!
And in case this awesomely jam packed resource leaves you wanting more, we have a set of black and white worksheets to compliment all of the spatial prepositions targeted. These are ideal for sending home for homework, leaving with teachers for centers, or just continuing to review during your sessions. Check them out below!
So that’s a wrap! We hope you LOVED seeing these easy and engaging back to school themed spatial preposition activities in action. If you are liking this resource as much as we are, definitely CLICK HERE or image below to start using it in your speech and language sessions today!
Kate & Mandy
Talking Mama Bears
