Preposition Cards — In On Under

Practice in, on and under with sentence cards.

Use with a student — free
Card 1 of 12
The cat is in the box.
Say it out loud
This pass0 correct · 0 cued · 0 incorrect · 0/12
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Session summary (SOAP)

Stays on this screen. Nothing is saved or sent.

Mark a card Correct, Correct with cue or Incorrect and the summary writes itself here.

How to run it

Do it with real objects before the cards. Put something in, on and under a box while saying it, then ask the child to do it, then ask them to say it — the physical version is comprehension and the spoken version is production, and they need to happen in that order. Eight minutes covers the twelve with real objects for the first few.

Cueing ladder

Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.

  1. Step 1IndependentPresent the item and wait 5 seconds of quiet before helping.Log as correct
  2. Step 2HintStress the part of the sentence that changes, or point to the word ending.Log as cued
  3. Step 3Sentence starterSay the first half of the sentence and let the student finish it.Log as cued
  4. Step 4ModelSay the correct form in the whole sentence; the student repeats it.Log as cued

Adjust it

Easier

Give a sentence starter every time, and do fewer cards.

Harder

Ask for a new sentence of the student's own with the same form, with no card to lean on.

Matching IEP goal

Given sentence cards, Student will produce prepositions in sentences in 8 of 10 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions, given no more than an indirect cue.

Send it home through the parent portal →

About this activity

Twelve sentences covering three prepositions: the cat is in the box, on the box, under the box; the ball is in the basket, on the table, under the chair; the shoes are in the closet, the book is on the shelf, the dog is under the bed. The first three use the same object and the same container, which is the design — only the preposition changes, so it is the only thing that can carry the meaning.

What to listen for

Watch the receptive half first. A child who puts the object in the right place understands the preposition; one who names it correctly may be relying on the printed sentence. In is usually acquired first, on second and under third, so a child accurate on in and not under is on the expected path rather than behind.

Carrying it home

Prepositions are in every instruction at home: put it on the table, look under the bed, it's in the drawer. Emphasising the preposition slightly, and pausing after it, is a small change that helps a lot.

What's in this activity

  • The cat is in the box.
  • The cat is on the box.
  • The cat is under the box.
  • The ball is in the basket.
  • The ball is on the table.
  • The ball is under the chair.
  • The shoes are in the closet.
  • The book is on the shelf.
  • The dog is under the bed.
  • The spoon is in the cup.
  • The hat is on his head.
  • The bag is under the desk.

Questions

What ages is this for?
Kindergarten through second grade, and it works for preschoolers with real objects.
Do I need an account?
No, all twelve sentences play free.
Which preposition should I teach first?
In, then on, then under. That is the usual order of acquisition, and teaching them in that order means each new one contrasts with something already known.

Use this board with your caseload

With a free account, every correct, cued and incorrect mark is saved to the student and scored against their IEP goal, with the data written up for you. Assign it as home practice through the parent portal.

Track progress free

Free for SLPs. No card, no trial clock.