Corner Photos: Where Is This?
Using photos of classroom details, children work out which spot each one shows and go there. It builds perception of the nearby space, visual memory, and position vocabulary.
How to play
- The teacher shows a photo of a classroom detail (the doorknob, the corner of the rug, the crayon drawer) and asks, "Where is this?" (2 min).
- Everyone gets up and walks to that spot; when they arrive, they get in the position the teacher calls: next to, in front of, or under (4 min).
- In pairs, each pair pulls a photo from the basket, finds the spot, and waits there for the teacher to come check (5 min).
- Pairs tell where they were in one sentence: "We were under the sink" (2 min).
- To finish, the teacher shows a photo of the rug, and everyone comes back and sits on it (1 min).
Rules
- I walk, holding my partner's hand.
- If I'm not sure, I look closely at the photo with my partner.
- When I get there, I stay put.
- I put the photo back in the basket when I return.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use photos of whole, familiar objects (the door, the coat rack) and go all together.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, use detail photos and work in pairs.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, use tiny details or photos taken from down low, the way a mouse would see them.
Adaptations
- Visual impairment: swap the photo for an object or texture from that spot (a piece of the rug, a hook from the coat rack).
- Autism: start with their favorite spot and give a heads-up before each new photo.
- Limited mobility: choose accessible spots and have the partner describe the route.
Learning goals
- Recognize classroom spots from a partial image.
- Find one's way around a familiar space.
- Work with a partner to solve a challenge.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Printed photos of classroom spots: 12
- Basket: 1
Teacher tip
Take the photos yourself on your phone the afternoon before, at the children's eye level. Laminate them. Kids often dash off without looking, so count to three quietly before letting them go.
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