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Kindergarten Following Directions Resources

21 kindergarten following directions resources: 11 worksheets, 8 activities, 2 songs and more. How teachers use these

Kindergarten Following Directions Resources

21 kindergarten following directions resources: 11 worksheets, 8 activities, 2 songs and more. How teachers use these

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenFollowing Directions Coloring Worksheet

This Following Directions Coloring Worksheet has Kindergarten students color a farm scene by reading six simple color directions. Includes an answer key — a no-prep way to build listening and direction-following skills.

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenFollowing Directions Tasks Worksheet

This Following Directions Tasks Worksheet gives Kindergarten students four short one-step directions to read and carry out, using animals, shapes, letters, and numbers. An answer key is included, so checking is quick.

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenIdentifying Top or Bottom Worksheet

This Identifying Top or Bottom Worksheet helps kindergarten students practice position words by finding a ladybug and circling whether it sits at the top or the bottom. Includes an answer key for fast, no-prep practice.

Video
VideoKindergartenWheels on the Bus Song (Animated Music Video)

The Wheels on the Bus Song will help students learn in a fun way. This is the classic nursery rhyme that kids love to sing and do the motions.

Activity
ActivityKindergartenPosition Words Activity

In this position words activity, preschool to 1st grade children match butterfly pictures to above, below, next to, in front of, and behind. Answer key included.

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenLeft or Right Drawing Worksheet

This Left or Right Drawing Worksheet gives Kindergarten students four picture directions to follow and two boxes to draw in. An answer key is included, so left and right practice takes no prep at all.

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenBetween Below Above Next To Fill in Blank Worksheet

Students name where each object is on this Between Below Above Next To Fill in Blank Worksheet, writing above, below, between, or next to on the line. Kindergarten, answer key included, and picture support on every item.

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenTop or Bottom Pictures Worksheet

The Top or Bottom Pictures Worksheet gives kindergarten students six picture cards with a box split into a top half and a bottom half. They circle the word that tells where each object is. Answer key included.

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenCircle Left or Right Worksheet

This circle left or right worksheet gives Kindergarten students eight picture cards for practicing left and right, with an answer key included so checking work is quick.

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenWhich Way is That Reading Comprehension Worksheet

In this which way is that reading comprehension worksheet, kindergarten students read a park story, answer five questions about up, down, left, right, front and back, and check work with the answer key.

Activity
ActivityKindergartenTreasure Hunt Directions Activity Board Game

This treasure hunt directions activity board game helps K-2nd grade students follow spoken and written directions as they race to Treasure Island. Answer key included.

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenLocation Words Worksheet

This location words worksheet has kindergarten students circle on, above, beside, or behind to show where a ball is. An answer key is included, making it a quick way to build position vocabulary.

Activity
ActivityKindergartenRoll A Turkey Thanksgiving Activity

In this roll a turkey thanksgiving activity, Preschool to 1st Grade children roll a die, count the dots and color the matching turkey part to win. Answer key included.

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenTake Your Positions Worksheet

This take your positions worksheet helps kindergarten students practice left and right by circling where each picture sits in its box. An answer key is included for fast, easy checking.

Worksheet
WorksheetKindergartenBetween Below Above Next To Drawing Worksheet

This between below above next to drawing worksheet has kindergarten students draw shapes in the right place using position words. An answer key is included, so checking the drawings is quick and easy.

Activity
ActivityKindergartenLucky Charms Before and After Activity

Using Lucky Charms Before and After Activity, studentsplay this fun game to practice identifying before and after.

Activity
ActivityKindergartenDrawing Details Activity

This drawing details activity lets kindergarten to 2nd grade students read describing sentences and add the missing details to each picture. Answer key included for quick checking.

Activity
ActivityKindergartenLeft and Right Simon Says Opposites Activity

Play the Left and Right Simon Says Opposites Activity with preschool to 1st grade: move picture cards to the correct side of the mat. Practice page and answer key included.

Activity
ActivityKindergartenGingerbread House Decorating Following Directions Activity

This gingerbread house decorating following directions activity lets preschool to 1st grade children follow three-step cards to color a holiday house. Answer key included for quick, independent checking.

From our teachers' playbook

Listen, think, then go!

What do kindergarteners learn about following directions?

Following directions is a big kindergarten skill, and it gets used all day. Kids learn to listen to one-step, then two-step and three-step directions: "Get your crayons, color the sun yellow, then put your name on top." They learn position words like top, bottom, above, below, between and next to, and start telling left from right. They also follow routines in order, like washing hands. The click moment is when a child finishes a three-step direction without needing a reminder.

Our favorite ways to teach following directions

Listening skills grow with practice that feels like play. Here's how we build them.

Color by direction

Give kids a picture and read one direction at a time: "Color the tree green. Draw a sun in the top corner." Wait until everyone is done before the next step. Then add two steps at once when they're ready.

Why it works: children learn more from words and pictures together than from words alone (Mayer, 2009).

Following Directions Coloring WorksheetTry it withFollowing Directions Coloring WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →

Left and right Simon Says

"Simon says touch your left ear. Simon says hop on your right foot." A sticker on the right hand helps at first. Kids love the giggles, and left and right get practiced dozens of times.

Why it works: in a well-known study, a few short sessions of a simple number board game measurably boosted young children's number skills (Ramani and Siegler, 2008).

Left and Right Simon Says Opposites ActivityTry it withLeft and Right Simon Says Opposites ActivityActivitiesOpen it →

Sing the steps

A handwashing song teaches a routine in order: wet, soap, scrub, rinse, dry. Singing the steps helps kids remember the sequence for any routine.

Why it works: a catchy, repeating tune gives the brain a hook to hang words on, so sung text is remembered better (Wallace, 1994).

Wash My Hands SongTry it withWash My Hands SongSongsOpen it →

Questions teachers and parents ask about following directions

How many steps should a kindergartener follow?

Most kindergarteners can follow two-step directions and many grow to three steps during the year. Start with one step and build up slowly.

How do I help my child follow directions?

Get their attention first, give the directions slowly and ask them to repeat back what they'll do. Praise them when they finish every step.

How do kids learn left and right?

Make an "L" with the left thumb and pointer finger. Games like Simon Says and putting a sticker on one hand also help. Many kids are still learning left and right in first grade.

What are position words?

Words that tell where something is, like above, below, between, next to, top, bottom, in front of and behind. Practicing with a toy and a box makes them easy to learn.