Learning about prepositions of place is an exciting milestone for kindergarteners! It’s the key to helping children describe the world around them—from explaining where their favorite toy is to describing where they are sitting in the classroom.
At Mr. Greg – English Teacher, we specialize in creating printable preposition worksheets that make grammar simple, visual, and fun for little learners and ESL students alike.
Table of Contents
What are Prepositions of Place?
Prepositions are “position words.” They tell us the relationship between two things—usually where one object is located in relation to another. For kindergarteners, we focus on the most common “location words” that they use in everyday life.
The Basic Prepositions Every Child Should Know:
- In: The cat is in the box.
- On: The apple is on the table.
- Under: The shoes are under the bed.
- Next to / Beside: The ball is next to the chair.
- Behind: The boy is behind the tree.
- In Front Of: The dog is in front of the house.
Why Are Prepositions Important for Early Learners?
Mastering prepositions helps children with more than just grammar; it builds foundational cognitive skills:
- Spatial Awareness: It helps kids understand how objects relate to each other in physical space.
- Clear Communication: Instead of pointing and saying “it’s there,” kids can give specific directions, such as “it is under the desk.”
- Reading Comprehension: Most early reader books rely heavily on prepositions to drive the story. Recognizing these words helps kids follow the plot of a book more easily.
Inside Mr. Greg’s Preposition Worksheet Pack
Our ESL preposition activities are designed with a “look and learn” approach. We use high-contrast illustrations and simple fonts to keep the focus on the grammar. When you download the PDF, you’ll find:
- Circle the Correct Word: A visual exercise where kids look at a picture and choose the correct preposition from a pair of options.
- Draw the Object: A fun, creative prompt where kids must follow directions, like “Draw a ball in the basket.”
- Matching Games: Draw lines to connect the prepositional word (like “under”) to the matching picture.
5 Creative Ways to Teach Prepositions (No Worksheets Required!)
To help the lessons stick, try combining our worksheets with these active, movement-based learning games:
- Simon Says (Preposition Edition): Give commands like, “Simon says, put your hands on your head” or “Simon says, put your feet under your chair.”
- The Hiding Game: Hide a stuffed animal in the room. When a student finds it, they must use a full sentence to describe the location: “The teddy is behind the curtain!”
- The Human Preposition: Use a large cardboard box or a hula hoop. Ask students to stand in the hoop, next to the hoop, or hold their hands over the hoop.
- Picture Book Hunt: Open any picture book and ask, “Where is the character?” Encourage the student to respond: “The bear is on the chair.”
- Classroom Scavenger Hunt: Give students a list of items to find based on their position, such as “Find something that is under a desk” or “Find something next to the door.”
Download Your Free Preposition Resources Today
Ready to help your students master “in, on, and under”? Our worksheets are free to download, easy to print, and perfect for ESL teachers, parents, and homeschoolers.
Visit the rest of my website for more tips, or browse our worksheets category for more kindergarten essentials. Let’s make learning an adventure together!
