About this activity
Twelve sentences with prepositional phrases beyond the basic three: the cat is under the table; he walked into the room; the ball rolled behind the couch; they sat beside the fireplace; the bird flew over the house; the keys fell between the cushions; we waited in front of the store; she jumped off the step. Behind, between, beside, across and in front of are the second wave, and they arrive later.
How to use it in a session
Act out the ones that involve movement. Into, across, over and off describe a path rather than a position, and a student who has learned in, on and under as static locations often misreads them. Between is worth its own moment, since it needs two reference objects rather than one. Eight minutes covers the twelve with some acting out.
What to listen for
Listen for in standing in for into. He walked in the room and he walked into the room mean slightly different things, and students who have only the static prepositions will use in for both. Watch in front of, which is three words doing one job and is often reduced to front of or dropped entirely.
Carrying it home
Giving directions with varied prepositions is free practice. It's behind the sofa, between the books, in front of the door — using the precise word rather than a vague there builds the vocabulary.
Questions
- What grades is this for?
- Kindergarten through third, after in, on and under are secure.
- Is it free?
- Yes, all twelve sentences play with no account.
- Why is 'between' harder than 'under'?
- Because it needs two reference points rather than one. Under relates an object to a single thing; between requires holding two and locating something relative to both.