Positional Words & Map Directions Lab
Pick an animal on the map and a direction word like above, below, left, or right. Check which animal is there, record your findings, and discover how spatial words help describe exactly where things are.
Guided Experiment: Spatial Words Investigation
Look at the map. Do you think every animal has a neighbor in all four directions (above, below, left, and right)? Write your prediction.
Write your hypothesis in the Lab Report panel, then click Next.
Pick a Scene
Pick a Reference Animal
Pick a Direction
Animal Map
Controls
Reference Guide
What Are Positional Words
Positional words tell us where one thing is compared to another. They help us talk about space without pointing.
Using the Grid
The map is a grid with 3 rows and 3 columns. Every cell has a row number and a column number.
When you pick a reference animal, the lab highlights the cell you are checking in the direction you picked.
Edges and Corners
Animals on the edges of the grid have fewer neighbors. An animal in a corner can only have neighbors in two directions.
When a cell in the chosen direction is empty or off the grid, the lab records Found as No.
Why Spatial Words Matter
Spatial words let you describe a location without needing to point or touch. They help with giving directions, reading maps, and following instructions.
Learning these words builds map skills and helps young scientists describe the positions of objects in experiments.