child education

Upper, Lower and Middle Concept for Preschoolers

In this article

  • What does top, middle and bottom mean?
  • Top, Middle, and Bottom Examples for Kids
  • Easy Ways to Teach Upper, Middle and Lower Concept to Preschoolers

cBeing aware of the position of things helps children carry out everyday tasks and also makes them more independent. For example, when you ask your child to put a star on the Christmas tree, he will know to place it at the top of the tree and not at the bottom or in the middle.

In this article, we cover the concept of upper, middle, and lower for kids, along with some fun activities to teach this concept to kids. Let's start!

What does top, middle and bottom mean?

Let us understand what top, middle and bottom mean with the help of their definition.

Top means at the highest or superior point, part or surface of something.

Middle means at the point or position that is an equal distance from the sides, edges or ends of something.

Bottom means at the lowest point or part of something.

Top, Middle, and Bottom Examples for Kids

In this section, we will take a look at the top, middle, and bottom examples for kids to help them understand the concept more clearly. Let's start!

Example of top and bottom

1. Look at the image below:

Top-Bottom-Example
Top-Bottom-Example

In the image above, one monkey is sitting at the top of the tree while the other monkey is at the bottom.

2. Look at the image below:

On-Top-Bottom-Example
On-Top-Bottom-Example

In the image above, the girl on the left is at the top of the slide and the girl on the right is at the bottom of the slide.

3. Look at the image below:

Top-Bottom-Example-2
Top-Bottom-Example-2

In the image above, the boy on the left is standing at the bottom of the stairs and the boy on the right is standing at the top of the stairs.

Example of Top, Middle and Bottom

1. Look at the image below:

Top-Middle-Bottom-Example
Top-Middle-Bottom-Example

In the above image, books are kept on the three shelves i.e. top, middle and bottom.

2. Look at the image below:

Top-Middle-Bottom-Example2
Top-Middle-Bottom-Example2

In the image above, the toys are placed on three shelves, that is, top, middle and bottom.

  • The toy plane is on the top shelf.
  • The teddy bear is on the middle shelf.
  • The toy train is on the bottom shelf.

Easy Ways to Teach Upper, Middle and Lower Concept to Preschoolers

It's time to take a look at top, middle, and bottom activities to teach kids this concept while keeping them engaged.

1. Build a tower

Take three different colored building blocks and ask your child to make a tower using them. After they finish making a tower, tell them how the three different blocks are at the top, middle, and bottom of the tower.

2. Mirror Teaching

Stand with your child in front of the full-sized mirror. Point to the top (head), bottom (feet), and middle (stomach) and encourage your child to do the same. You can also ask your child to explain the top, middle, and bottom of their soft toys.

3. Heatless Cooking

Involve your child in heat-free cooking time to teach him this concept. Help them make a sandwich with bread on the bottom, mayonnaise and vegetables in the middle, and another bread on top. Explain it to them while making the sandwich.

4. Observe and count

Take a clear glass, some small stones, water and a tablespoon of oil. Ask your child to add all the things to the cup one by one. Let them observe and explain how the rocks settled at the bottom of the cup, the water in the middle, and the oil at the top.

5. Spreadsheet

On one sheet, print the things placed at the top, middle, and bottom of the page. Print three of these sheets. Ask your child to circle the things that are at the top of the first sheet, the things that are on the middle sheet of a second, and the things that are at the bottom of the third sheet.

6. Look around and explain

Sit with your child in the living room. Ask them to look around and name two things that are placed at the top, middle and bottom of the room. For example, the clock is at the top, the TV is in the middle, and the rug is at the bottom.

7. Flashcards

Make a print of a tree with a bird at the top, fruit in the middle, and a squirrel at the bottom. Show this flashcard to your child and ask him to explain the things at the top, middle and bottom of the tree.

Kids will love these top, middle and bottom games mentioned above and this will give your child a chance to learn the concept while having a lot of fun.

Lívia Biscotto

Hello! My name is Lívia and I have worked in the areas of education and technology for over a decade. I started in the traditional in-person teaching environment, but ended up in the online learning field. I'm here to share with you what I've learned over my years in this field. I hope you enjoy taking a peek into my mind.