Prepositional Phrases: What Direction Can They Take You?

This activity is designed to introduce students to prepositions and prepositional phrases.  The activity will begin with students drawing a large square (box) on their paper (the teacher will draw a square on the board). The teacher will ask students to write on or around the box everything a mouse can do to, on, or with the box. Students will take about three minutes to complete this introductory activity. Once students are stopped, they will be encouraged to share some of their answers as the teacher writes the answers in the appropriate location on the box drawn on the board. The teacher will identify the prepositions and share their relationship with the box. The teacher will then show a short Prepositional Phrase video. This video will provide students with a brief overview of what prepositional phrases are and what they do within a sentence. To provide a more solid foundation, students will view a Powerpoint presentation on Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases and also be provided with a list of common Prepositions. Once the presentation is done, students will complete a two-part practice on prepositions, prepositional phrases, and the object of the preposition. Here is a copy of an acceptable Preposition Practice Handout with an answer key. To culminate this activity students will complete an exit slip where they create three sentences using two or more prepositional phrases in each sentence. With each prepositional phrase, students must identify the preposition and the object of the preposition.