How to teach prepositions of place

Introduction

Prepositions of place are essential function words that English language learners need to master for effective communication. While these prepositions are straightforward to teach, a well-structured lesson plan ensures students understand and use them confidently.

This lesson plan begins with a review of key vocabulary, followed by the presentation and practice of prepositions of place, and concludes with activities that allow students to generate their own examples.

Before exploring how to teach prepositions of place, let’s first have a look at the lesson overview!

Lesson Overview

This lesson plan is designed to help students learn and practice prepositions of place in English. It focuses on building students’ understanding of prepositions through vocabulary review, clear examples, and engaging activities.

• The lesson progresses from the introduction of key vocabulary related to common objects to the presentation of prepositions of place.
• Students will then practice using these prepositions in various contexts, including command drills, picture dictation, and pair work.
• By the end of the lesson, students will be able to confidently use prepositions of place in their own sentences and describe the location of objects accurately.

This lesson is suitable for learners at the elementary to intermediate level and can be adapted to fit different classroom settings.

Lesson Plan: How to Teach Prepositions of Place

1. Vocabulary Review

Start by reviewing vocabulary that may be relevant when teaching prepositions of place. The specific items can be chosen based on the units covered in your textbook. Common vocabulary might include:

• Book
• Bag
• Pen
• Pencil
• Desk
• Window
• …

2. Presentation and Pronunciation Practice

Introduce important prepositions of place, ensuring correct pronunciation. Focus on prepositions such as:

• In
• On
• Under
• In front of
• Behind
• Between
• Next to
• …

3. Introduction to Meaning

Provide clear examples to demonstrate the meaning of each preposition:

• “I am in front of the board.”
• “The board is behind me.”
• “My pen is in the pencil case.”
• “My book is on the desk.”
• …

4. Comprehension Check

Assess understanding by asking questions like:

• “Where is my pen?”
• “Where is my book?”
• “Where am I?”
• …

5. Command Drills

Reinforce learning through command drills:

• “Put your hand on your head.”
• “Put your hand under the desk.”
• “Put your pen on the desk.”
• “Put your pen in the pencil case.”
• …

6. Picture Dictation

Engage students with a “picture dictation” activity. Instruct them to draw a picture based on your descriptions. Ask a volunteer to draw on the board while others draw on paper:

• “Draw a table.”
• “Draw a ball on the table.”
• “Draw a cat under the table.”
• …
• Class correction: Review and correct the drawings together.

7. Pair Practice

Have students practice in pairs using a model conversation written on the board:

• A: “Where is the…?”
• B: “It’s… the…” Example:
• A: “Where is the book?”
• B: “It’s on the desk.”

8. Sentence Writing

Ask students to write sentences to describe a picture using prepositions of place:

• “The cat is under the bed.”
• “The phone is on the bed.”
• …

9. Student Examples

Conclude by asking students to write their own examples using the prepositions learned.

Follow-Up Activities

Here are five follow-up activities to enhance students’ learning of prepositions of place:

1. Classroom Scavenger Hunt:
   • Organize a scavenger hunt where students must find objects in the classroom based on clues that use prepositions of place. For example, “Find the book under the teacher’s desk” or “Locate the pencil next to the window.”
   • This activity encourages students to apply their knowledge in a real-world context while making the learning experience interactive and fun.
2. Create a Mini-Map:
   • Have students draw a mini-map of a room, such as their bedroom or a classroom, and then write sentences describing the locations of various items using prepositions of place. For example, “The lamp is on the nightstand” or “The chair is next to the desk.”
   • This task helps students visualize and reinforce the spatial relationships between objects.
3. Role-Playing Game:
   • Pair up students and give them a scenario where one plays the role of a lost person asking for directions, and the other provides directions using prepositions of place. For instance, “The library is between the bank and the post office” or “The cafeteria is behind the main building.”
   • This activity enhances speaking skills and practical usage of prepositions in everyday conversations.
4. Prepositions of Place Picture Book:
   • Have students create a simple picture book that illustrates various prepositions of place. Each page should include a drawing with a sentence describing the location of objects using a preposition, such as “The cat is under the table.”
   • This creative project encourages students to think critically about how to represent spatial relationships visually and textually.
5. Online Quiz or Interactive Game:
   • Use an online platform or app that offers interactive games or quizzes focused on prepositions of place. Students can play these games individually or in pairs, practicing and reinforcing their understanding in a digital format.
   • This activity is especially effective for tech-savvy students and provides immediate feedback, helping them to identify and correct mistakes in real-time.

Considerations When Teaching Prepositions of Place

When teaching prepositions of place, it’s important to consider the following:

1. Clarity of Explanation:
   • Use clear and simple language to explain the prepositions.
   • Provide visual aids or real-life examples to help students understand the spatial relationships.
2. Student Engagement:
   • Use interactive and hands-on activities to keep students engaged, such as physically placing objects or using students themselves as examples.
   • Incorporate games, like “Simon Says,” to make learning fun and memorable.
3. Repetition and Practice:
   • Provide plenty of opportunities for students to practice using prepositions of place in different contexts.
   • Include activities like command drills, pair work, and writing exercises to reinforce the prepositions.
4. Visual Support:
   • Utilize visuals like drawings, flashcards, or objects in the classroom to demonstrate the prepositions.
   • Picture dictation activities can be particularly effective in reinforcing spatial relationships.
5. Error Correction:
   • Gently correct mistakes and provide examples of correct usage to reinforce learning.
   • Encourage peer correction during pair or group activities to build collaborative skills.
6. Contextualization:
   • Teach prepositions of place within meaningful contexts, such as describing a room, a scene, or a classroom layout.
   • Relate the prepositions to the students’ immediate environment to make the lesson more relevant.
7. Language Level:
   • Adjust the complexity of the activities and examples based on the students’ language proficiency level.
   • For beginners, start with basic prepositions like “in,” “on,” and “under,” gradually introducing more complex ones.
8. Assessment and Feedback:
   • Regularly assess students’ understanding through quizzes, oral questioning, or written exercises.
   • Provide constructive feedback to guide improvement and ensure mastery of the prepositions.
9. Variety of Activities:
   • Use a mix of individual, pair, and group activities to cater to different learning styles.
   • Incorporate both listening and speaking components to ensure comprehensive learning.

Illustrative Prepositions of Place Activity Presentation

Related Pages:

• PPP Approach
• PPP approach to teach “Used to”