Left and Right: A First Grade Adventure in Direction!

Math Grades 1st Grade 2:41 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn about left and right directions through fun activities and examples!

Video Resource

Learn Grade 1 - Maths - Left and Right

KidsClassroom - Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs

Duration: 2:41
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Left direction
  • Right direction
  • Relative position

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify their left and right hands.
  • Students will be able to determine the position of objects to the left or right of a reference point.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Start by asking students which hand they use to write or draw. Explain that for most people, one hand is dominant. Show your left and right hand, and have the students do the same. Briefly introduce the concept of left and right.
  • Video Viewing (3 mins)
    Play the YouTube video: Learn Grade 1 - Maths - Left and Right. Ask the students to watch carefully and pay attention to how the video explains left and right.
  • Group Activity: Simon Says (7 mins)
    Play a game of "Simon Says" using left and right directions (e.g., "Simon says touch your left ear," "Simon says raise your right hand"). This reinforces the concept in a fun and interactive way.
  • Classroom Positioning (10 mins)
    Have the students stand up. Choose a reference point in the classroom (e.g., the teacher's desk, the door). Ask students to identify objects to the left and right of that reference point. For example: "What is to the left of my desk?" "What is to the right of the door?"
  • Worksheet Activity (10 mins)
    Distribute a worksheet with pictures of objects. In each question, have the students circle the object that is to the left or right of a given item. For example, a picture of a cat, and to the left and right of the cat, are a ball and a toy mouse. The question would be: Circle the object to the LEFT of the cat.

Interactive Exercises

  • Left and Right Scavenger Hunt
    Hide objects around the classroom. Give students clues that involve left and right directions to find the hidden objects. (e.g., "Go to the left of the bookshelf", "Look to the right of the window")

Discussion Questions

  • Can you think of any times you need to know your left and right?
  • How can you help someone who is having trouble remembering which side is left or right?

Skills Developed

  • Spatial reasoning
  • Directional awareness
  • Following instructions

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which hand is usually on the same side as your heart?

Correct Answer: Left

Question 2:

If you are facing the door, and the window is on your left, what is on your right?

Correct Answer: Maybe a desk!

Question 3:

Which direction does the arrow point: <-- ?

Correct Answer: Left

Question 4:

If your friend is standing to your RIGHT, which way should you turn to face them?

Correct Answer: Turn to your right

Question 5:

If a book is on the LEFT side of the table, which side is it on?

Correct Answer: The left side

Question 6:

What is on the opposite side of right?

Correct Answer: Left

Question 7:

When you march like a soldier, which direction do you go?

Correct Answer: Left and Right

Question 8:

Which of these is something you might do with your RIGHT hand?

Correct Answer: All of these

Question 9:

If you are standing in a line, who is on your LEFT side?

Correct Answer: The person to your left

Question 10:

If the sun rises on your right, what direction are you facing?

Correct Answer: North

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

My ______ hand is the one I use to write with.

Correct Answer: right

Question 2:

The opposite of right is ______.

Correct Answer: left

Question 3:

When you march, you step with your left foot and then your ______ foot.

Correct Answer: right

Question 4:

If the door is on my left, the window might be on my ______.

Correct Answer: right

Question 5:

To turn to my left, I move in the ______ direction.

Correct Answer: left

Question 6:

If I'm standing in the middle, things are either to my left or to my ______.

Correct Answer: right

Question 7:

If a car turns ______, it goes the opposite way.

Correct Answer: left

Question 8:

The direction you turn when you turn a page is ______.

Correct Answer: right

Question 9:

When you face forward, the opposite of forward is ______.

Correct Answer: left

Question 10:

My ______ shoe goes on my left foot.

Correct Answer: left

Educational Standards

1.G.A.1:Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size); build and draw shapes to possess defining attributes. 1.MD.C.4:Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another.

Teaching Materials

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