What is Position? — Reading Comprehension

Position tells us where something is. It is the exact place an object is located. If you point to your backpack on the floor and say, “It’s next to the chair,” you are describing its position.

To talk about position, we often compare it to other objects. For example, you might say:

• -The ball is under the table.
• -The book is on top of the desk.
• -The cat is behind the couch.

These words—like next to, under, on top of, behind—are ways to describe position. Without comparing to another object, it would be hard to explain exactly where something is.

Position can change when something moves. If you walk from the front of the classroom to the back, your position has changed. But if you are sitting in the same seat, your position has stayed the same.

Scientists use reference points to describe position. A reference point is something still and easy to compare to, like the ground, a desk, or a tree. If you say, “The kite is above the tree,” the tree is your reference point.
Understanding position helps us describe, measure, and predict motion. Knowing “where” something is comes before figuring out “how it moves.”

Fun Fact: Did you know that GPS satellites in space help us find our position anywhere on Earth? That’s how maps on your phone know exactly where you are!

What does position tell us?

What word describes position?

Why do we use reference points?

A cat moves from under the table to on the chair. What changed?

Why is “next to” useful?

If a ball is above a box, what is the box?

You walk from front to back of class. What happened?

How does GPS help us?