Reception maths question

[Peanuts33]

We got a note home from school saying the focus for maths next week will be positional language as in next to, under and over. I have no idea what this means in maths terms. Cd anyone shed some light please?

Thank you

[mrscolour]

It literally means using words to describe position: on top of, under, between, behind, in front of etc. It comes under shape and space but I can understand why it doesn't obviously seem mathsy.

[Pterosaur]

I'm no teacher, but I'd imagine the words will mean what they always do, 'The mouse is under the chair' and so on.

[wheelsonthebus]

Doesn't it mean that on a number line, for example, 7 is "next to six" and 7 is "above" six in value terms. That kind of thing?

[mrz]

No it means that the child can describe where an object is in relation to another. So she might place a teddy bear in a box and ask where is the bear? In the box ... moving the bear "where is the bear?" ... behind/next to /on top/in front of ect It's part of the shape space measure aspect.