DIRECTIONALITY ACTIVITIES
Have you been looking for some fun and engaging ways to help your students learn about directional concepts? If so, you’ll want to check out the directionality activities we’ve compiled! From fun songs to maze games, these lessons will help your students become more familiar with cardinal directions, left-to-right directionality, and more.
WHAT IS DIRECTIONALITY?
Directionality is the ability to understand and use information related to direction and space. This includes understanding concepts like left/right, up/down, in front of/behind, above/below, inside/outside, etc. Directionality skills are important for success in a variety of academic areas, including reading (e.g., being able to follow directions), math (e.g., being able to understand and use spatial relationships), and science (e.g., being able to describe experiments).
Directionality is important for visual spatial skills and body awareness.
WHY DIRECTIONALITY ACTIVITIES?
Directionality activities are a great way to help your students develop their directional skills. They help students learn spatial awareness. Not only are they fun, but they also provide an opportunity for students to practice using directional language in a variety of contexts. These activities can be used in the classroom, at home, or even on the go!
HOW DO YOU TEACH LEFT TO RIGHT DIRECTIONALITY?
You can teach left-to-right directionality using a number of different tools in the classroom. Students can use books to follow along with the words on the page from left to right so they learn the direction of print in the English language. Practicing handwriting can help with the concept of left to right. Another way to teach left-to-right directionality is through the use of songs and rhymes that talk about directions. You can use physical activities to help with directional skills. Finally, you can teach left-to-right directionality through the use of games and puzzles. There are many online games and apps that focus on this concept as well.
DIRECTIONALITY ACTIVITIES WITH SONGS AND RHYMES
Songs and rhymes help students with their directionality skills in a fun, catchy way. They help the words and concepts stick in their heads.
YouTube Videos
If you want to jazz up your classroom, there are plenty of songs and dance videos with directional activities. This one has a great tune and includes full body motions and even eye directions (a great warm-up exercise for reading).
“Five Little Monkeys”
This fun rhyme is a great way to introduce students to the concept of ordinal numbers. As you recite the rhyme, point out how the monkeys are jumping one by one from left to right. You can also have students count along with the rhyme.
“The Hokey Pokey”
This classic dance song is a great way to introduce students to the concept of following directions. As you dance along to the song, point out how you are following each direction that is being called out. You can also have students call out the directions as you dance.
Movement Songs
DIRECTIONALITY ACTIVITIES WITH GAMES AND PUZZLES
There are many online games and apps that focus on left-to-right directionality. Students are also doing some great thinking during puzzles and games. A few of our favorites include:
Left and Right Worksheets and Games
Teach these concepts using games that address the concepts of left and right such as Left or Right Worksheets or Right or Left Games packet.
Word Searches
These are great for helping students to identify words that are read from left to right. Choose a theme that your students are interested in such as:
Maze Games
These are great for helping students to navigate their way through a series of twists and turns. Mazes reinforce left to right concepts and require fine-tuning of visual-spatial skills.
“Simon Says”
This classic game is a great way to introduce students to the concept of following directions. In the game, students must follow the directions that Simon gives, such as “Jump up and down” or “Spin around.” Need ideas? Here are 100 Simon Says Game Ideas.
Crossword Puzzles
These puzzles are a great way to review direction words with your students.
PHYSICAL DIRECTIONALITY ACTIVITIES
Using physical activities is another excellent approach used to help students develop left-to-right directionality. A few of our favorites include:
Hopscotch
This classic game is a great way to help students practice moving from left to right. To play, students will need to draw a hopscotch board on the ground. Once the board is drawn, students will take turns throwing a stone or bean bag into each square, starting with the first square on the left. After their stone or bean bag lands in a square, they will hop through the board, picking up their stone or bean bag as they go. If they are able to make it all the way to the end of the board without making a mistake, they can start over again from the beginning. Hopscotch promotes great motor planning skills as well.
Which Way?
Hula Hooping
This fun activity is a great way to help students left to right, through, in and out. Give each student a hula hoop and call out different directions such as:
- Hold the hoop in your right hand.
- Hold the hoop in your left hand.
- Put the hoop on the ground and step into the hoop.
- Jump over the hoop.
- Hold the hoop and move through the hoop.
- Put your right leg in the hoop and more!
Need more ideas? Read Hula Hoop Games for Kids.
Direction Relay Race
This fun activity is a great way to help students practice following directions. To play, students will need to divide into two teams and line up behind each other. One person from each team will start at the front of the line and the other people will be at the back of the line. The first person in each line will be given a direction card. On their turn, they will need to follow the directions on their card and then run to the end of the line and tag the next person in line. The first team to have all of their players finish the race wins!
Ideas for directions can include ideas such as:
- Touch a pencil on the right side of the room.
- Put your left hand on the board in the front of the room.
- Touch your right foot to the bottom of the classroom door.
Obstacle Course
An obstacle course is great for teaching students which direction they need to proceed in order to make it to the end of the course. Students also develop their visual-spatial skills, motor planning, and body awareness as they work their way through the obstacles. Obstacle courses are fantastic for indoor recess too! Run around chairs, under desks, and more!
Try creating a sidewalk chalk obstacle course. It is cheap to make and you can add many different options. Try arrows for the children to follow along a path.
WHAT DIRECTIONALITY ACTIVITIES PROMOTE DIRECTION IN HANDWRITING?
One way to help children with the directionality of their handwriting is to use a multi-sensory approach. This means using a combination of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (movement-based) activities.
Here are a few ideas:
Visual Cues
You can use start dots to indicate where to start with letter formation or where to start writing on the lines (download a FREE alphabet pack with start dots and arrows here). Drawing a green vertical line on the leftt hand side of the paper and a red vertical line on the right hand side of the paper can provide visual cues to write from left to right.
Use direction words cards (or make your own!) to help students remember which way to form each letter. As they trace each letter, have them say the direction word out loud. You can write words on a whiteboard or chalkboard as well.
Handwriting Templates with Alphabet Guides
Auditory
Record yourself saying the direction words for each letter. Play the recording for your child as they trace each letter. They can say the direction words along with you, or just listen and try to remember them.
Kinesthetic
Air write the letters using your whole arm. Remember to use the correct letter formation. Try this Air Drawing Brain Break too!
DIRECTIONALITY ACTIVITIES WITH BOOKS AND STORIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Reading with your students is already an enriching educational activity, but you can also help students develop directionality simply by having them follow the direction of the print in any book. Here are some examples of stories that make directional terms even more apparent.
“The Ant and the Grasshopper” by Aesop
This classic fable is a great way to introduce students to the concept of left-to-right directionality. As you read the story, point out how the ants are working from left to right on each page. You can also have students trace their finger under the words as they read to help their visual perception.
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
This beloved children’s book is another great way to introduce students to the concept of left-to-right directionality. As the caterpillar eats his way through the food on each page, he moves from left to right.
“Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes” by Eric Litwin
This fun book is a great way to introduce students to the concept of direction words. As Pete walks around with his new white shoes, he experiences a variety of directional concepts, such as up, down, over, under, and through.
Imagination Action Journeys
WHAT DIRECTIONALITY ACTIVITIES TEACH CARDINAL DIRECTIONS?
There are a variety of activities that you can do to help students learn about cardinal directions. Here are a few ideas:
Use a globe or map to show students where north, south, east, and west are located. As you point out each direction, have students say the direction word out loud. They can look for the compass rose on the map as well.
Directionality Compass
Make a directionality compass to help students visualize which way is which. As you point to each direction on the compass, have students say the direction word out loud. The students can move around the room following the arrows to add a multisensory component to the lesson.
Create a compass challenge. For example, walk six steps NORTH, jump two times to the EAST, walk 10 steps SOUTH, and hop 2 times to the WEST.
With all of these great directionality activities, your students are sure to be direction experts in no time! These activities are a fun and easy way to help students learn directionality skills. By using them in the classroom, you can help your students develop a better understanding of where they are in relation to other objects and people. As an added bonus, many of these activities enhance many other academic and developmental skills.
RELATED POSTS
Color the Arrows PDF Worksheet Freebie
How to Help Children with Body Mapping
Body Awareness Activities for Children
