Front and Behind Animals Worksheet: Identify Positions!
Preschoolers ages 3-5 build early spatial reasoning by identifying which pictured animals are positioned 'in front of' an object, a positional concept that requires comparing the relative location of two things in a scene. Understanding front-and-behind relationships lays groundwork for later concepts like map reading, following multi-step directions, and geometry. Circling only the correctly positioned animals also sharpens visual attention and careful looking.
Part of the pack
Month 8: English, Math, Science Foundations | Ages 4-5
This is page 20 of the pack. Ages 4-5 · Pre-KAges 4-5 · ReceptionAges 4-5 · LKGAges 4-5
Curriculum
- Spatial Sense > Spatial Concepts
How to use this worksheet
Look at the first picture together and identify both the object and the animal in the scene, describing their positions out loud. Ask your child whether the animal is in front of or behind the object, and have them circle the picture only if the animal is clearly positioned in front. Continue through each picture on the page, discussing the reasoning for each choice as you go. Once finished, review the circled pictures together to confirm every choice makes sense.
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Crayons
Extension activities
- 1Use toy animals and household objects to physically act out 'in front of' and 'behind' positions.
- 2Play a following-directions game asking your child to stand in front of or behind a chair.
- 3Draw a simple scene with an object and have your child draw an animal in front of it.
- 4Take a short walk and point out real objects that are in front of or behind other things.
- 5Set up a small obstacle course and describe which items are in front of or behind each other.
Written by
Hemsweta Jain · Teacher Cheena
MBA and Early Childhood Educator, teaching since 2014 · Founder of RaisoActive, Mumbai
Every RaisoActive worksheet is designed and checked by the founder before publishing.
Published · Last reviewed
Related worksheets
Positional Words Worksheet: Before, You, and After!
Ages 3-5 · Preschool–Pre-KAges 3-5 · Nursery–ReceptionAges 3-5 · Nursery–LKGAges 3-5
This cut-and-paste worksheet teaches children ages 3-5 to apply the positional words 'before' and 'after' to a sequence of objects or people, connecting an abstract language concept to a visual, hands-on task. Understanding order words like these is an important building block for later skills such as retelling stories in sequence and understanding time concepts like yesterday and tomorrow. Choosing and placing the correct picture also reinforces careful listening and following two-step directions.
Positional Words Worksheet: Near and Far
Ages 3-5 · Preschool–Pre-KAges 3-5 · Nursery–ReceptionAges 3-5 · Nursery–LKGAges 3-5
This worksheet introduces children ages 3-5 to the positional concepts of 'near' and 'far,' asking them to look at a picture and tick the word that correctly describes an object's distance from a reference point. Positional vocabulary like this is an important building block for spatial reasoning and later geometry and direction-following skills. Because near and far are relative concepts rather than fixed labels, this practice also builds flexible thinking about how position depends on comparison.
Above or Below Worksheet: Draw and Color!
Ages 3-5 · Preschool–Pre-KAges 3-5 · Nursery–ReceptionAges 3-5 · Nursery–LKGAges 3-5
This worksheet asks children ages 3-5 to apply the positional concepts of 'above,' 'below,' and 'on' by actively drawing new objects into a scene rather than simply pointing or circling. Drawing an item in a specific spatial position, like a bird above a boat, requires children to translate a verbal instruction into an accurate visual placement, which is a more demanding test of spatial understanding than passive matching. Coloring the finished scene afterward adds a satisfying creative finish to the activity.
Inside or Outside Sorting Worksheet for Preschoolers
Ages 3-5 · Preschool–Pre-KAges 3-5 · Nursery–ReceptionAges 3-5 · Nursery–LKGAges 3-5
This worksheet teaches children ages 3-5 to apply the spatial concepts of 'inside' and 'outside' by sorting pictures of objects into the location where they typically belong. Deciding where an object usually belongs requires children to draw on their own real-world experience and apply it to a new sorting task, strengthening both spatial vocabulary and everyday reasoning. This kind of applied sorting is more demanding than simply naming inside or outside items when shown a single picture.
Near or Far Worksheet: Following Instructions for Preschoolers
Ages 3-5 · Preschool–Pre-KAges 3-5 · Nursery–ReceptionAges 3-5 · Nursery–LKGAges 3-5
Reading an instruction and circling the object that is either near or far teaches children ages 3-5 relative distance vocabulary, helping them understand that 'near' and 'far' describe a relationship between two things rather than a fixed property of a single object. Following a written or spoken instruction to complete each picture also builds listening comprehension and the ability to carry out a one-step direction independently. This combination of spatial concept and instruction-following prepares children for the kind of directions they'll regularly encounter in a classroom setting.
On or Under Worksheet: Where is the Object?
Ages 3-5 · Preschool–Pre-KAges 3-5 · Nursery–ReceptionAges 3-5 · Nursery–LKGAges 3-5
Reading a short sentence describing an object's location and then ticking the picture that matches teaches children ages 3-5 to connect spoken or written prepositions, 'on' and 'under,' to a visual representation, strengthening both listening comprehension and spatial vocabulary. This worksheet requires children to hold a sentence in mind and compare it against a picture, which is a slightly more advanced skill than simply naming a position they can already see. Understanding prepositions like these supports later reading comprehension, since so many simple stories depend on describing where things are.
Top or Bottom? Fun Worksheet for Kids!
Ages 3-5 · Preschool–Pre-KAges 3-5 · Nursery–ReceptionAges 3-5 · Nursery–LKGAges 3-5
Deciding whether a ball is positioned at the top or bottom of another object teaches children ages 3-5 the spatial concepts of 'top' and 'bottom,' foundational positional vocabulary that supports later skills like reading a page from top to bottom or following multi-step directions. This worksheet asks children to look carefully at a picture and make a judgment about relative position, which strengthens visual-spatial reasoning alongside vocabulary development. Positional words like these are often first understood through pictures before children can reliably use them in their own speech.
Near and Far Worksheet: Identifying and Connecting Objects
Ages 3-5 · Preschool–Pre-KAges 3-5 · Nursery–ReceptionAges 3-5 · Nursery–LKGAges 3-5
This worksheet introduces children ages 3-5 to the comparative spatial concepts of 'near' and 'far' by having them draw connecting lines based on relative distance in a picture. Understanding proximity words builds an early vocabulary foundation for describing the physical world, which later supports map reading and measurement concepts. The connect-the-line format also reinforces visual tracking and following printed instructions accurately.
Guides for this topic
Age-Appropriate Problem-Solving Activities: Building Critical Thinkers from the Ground Up
Discover fun, age-appropriate problem-solving activities for children ages 1-8. Build critical thinking, logic, and reasoning skills through play-based learning.
Critical Thinking Activities That Actually Work for Young Children: Building Tomorrow's Thinkers Today
Discover proven critical thinking activities for young children. Age-wise logic games, questioning techniques, and hands-on ideas to build thinking skills at home.
Preparing Your Child for a Rapidly Changing World: Essential Skills for Future Success
Discover the essential 21st century skills your child needs for future success. Practical tips on creativity, critical thinking, digital literacy & emotional intelligence for ages 1-8.
Reviews
Every worksheet for ages 3–5, no watermark
Members download the full library of 1,000+ worksheets and every activity pack without watermarks or daily limits. One year costs ₹999 in India or $20 elsewhere.
See membership plansOr download any worksheet free with a watermark (5 a day).