Understand the idea.
Name what you compare with
Position words describe a relationship. “The bench is right of the gate” names the object and the place used for comparison. Saying only “on the right” may leave the reader unsure what you mean.
Keep the map in one position as you read it. Use left, right, above, below, beside and between from that same viewpoint. Turning the page halfway through can change your left-right description.
Reverse the relationship
Swapping the two places reverses some position words. If the bench is right of the gate, then the gate is left of the bench. Both sentences describe the same arrangement from opposite reference places.
Between needs two other places. The pond is between the playground and garden because they lie on opposite sides of it in the top row. Check all three labels before using the word.
See the method in action.
Swap the reference place
The kiosk is right of the bench. Where is the bench compared with the kiosk?
Worked solution
- 1
Keep the map facing the same way.
Changing the reference place does not mean rotating the drawing.
- 2
Use the kiosk as the reference.
The stated arrangement places the kiosk to the right of the bench.
- 3
Reverse the relationship.
Looking from the kiosk to the bench goes left, so the bench is left of the kiosk.
The bench is left of the kiosk.
A classroom relationship
Where is the reading corner compared with the table?
Worked solution
- 1
Find the table as the reference place.
The question asks for the reading corner’s position compared with the table.
- 2
Locate the reading corner without turning the plan.
Its labelled area lies to the left of the table’s labelled rectangle.
- 3
Name both places in the answer.
The reading corner is left of the table; naming the table makes the comparison clear.
The reading corner is left of the table.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
The pond is above the bench. Where is the bench compared with the pond?
Show answer & reasoning
Below the pond.
The bench is below the pond. Swapping the named places changes above to below while describing the same fixed arrangement.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- Complete: The bench is ___ the gate and kiosk.
- Is the playground left or right of the pond?
- What is directly below the garden?
- Give two true position statements about the pond.
- The reading corner is left of the table. Complete: The table is ___ of the reading corner.
- Why is “the gate is below” less clear than “the gate is below the playground”?
Read the worked solutions
- Complete: The bench is ___ the gate and kiosk.
A named place is on each side.
Between. - Is the playground left or right of the pond?
Read the top row without rotating it.
Left. - What is directly below the garden?
They are in the right-hand column.
The kiosk. - Give two true position statements about the pond.
Check each statement on the labelled map.
Example: It is above the bench and between the playground and garden. - The reading corner is left of the table. Complete: The table is ___ of the reading corner.
The direction reverses when the reference places swap.
Right. - Why is “the gate is below” less clear than “the gate is below the playground”?
Below describes a relationship between two places.
It does not name the reference place.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum
Bird's-eye representations; landmarks; relative position; making plans.
Official curriculum source ↗