Drawing Follow Directions Worksheet

Following a direction is a whole chain of small skills: listen or read, hold the words in mind, work out where they point, and only then act. This drawing follow directions worksheet puts that chain on one page. A picture of a school bus sits in the middle box of a nine box grid, and six written directions ask children to draw a shape in the box the words describe, using position words like above, under, to the left of and to the right of. Because the grid gives every direction exactly one correct box, children get instant, honest feedback about whether they followed the words or guessed.

The page works for independent practice, for a small group, or read aloud with the whole class. Print it, read the sentence at the top together, then let children work down the list in order. Two boxes are left over on purpose, so a child who fills every box knows something has gone wrong and can go back and check. The shapes asked for are the ones first graders already know by name, so the thinking goes into the position words rather than into the drawing. A complete answer key is included on the second page.

What’s Included

• A printable two page PDF worksheet, sized for standard letter paper
• A nine box grid with a school bus picture in the centre box
• Six written directions using above, under, left, right, top left and bottom right
• Roomy boxes so young children have real space to draw in
• A full answer key on the final page

Three Reasons This Helps Kids

• It makes position words concrete. Children act on above, under, left and right instead of only reading them, which is how the words stick.
• It rewards reading the whole sentence. Each direction has one correct box, so skimming the first few words lands the shape in the wrong place.
• It builds independent work habits. Six short steps in order give children practice at starting, keeping their place and finishing on their own.

Ideas for Teachers and Parents

Use this 1st grade following directions worksheet at the start of the year while you are teaching classroom routines, or any time you want a quick check on listening and position vocabulary. Read the six directions aloud one at a time, pausing after each, and the same page becomes a listening activity instead of a reading one. Ask children to point to the box before they draw and say the position word out loud. Finishers can write a seventh direction of their own for a partner to follow, or trade papers and check each other against the key. Because the whole page is a drawing follow directions worksheet, it also works well as a first day activity, a substitute plan or a quick review before a test.

Related Resources

• Following Directions Tasks Worksheet
• Following Directions Coloring Worksheet
• Circle Left or Right Worksheet
• Shape Song