How to Teach Top, Middle and Bottom

With 3 different color blocks, make a tower. Begin by talking to the child about which color is on the top, bottom and in the middle. Don't begin by quizzing the child, just talk to him, or her, about it. Rearrange the blocks and discusses how this has changed the color that is on the top, middle and bottom.

Write the words top, middle and bottom on 3 separate index cards. Use these cards to label something such as a cup, or doll, that will stand on it's own. Talk to the child about which is the top, middle and bottom. Do this with the object both standing and lying on the table.

Photo by HSSchulte

Point to your own top (top of head), bottom (feet), middle (stomach). You can take this a step further and do this in front of the mirror, or have the child trace themselves on a large sheet of paper and label their top, bottom and middle.

Using snack food, let the child arrange it from top to bottom. Crackers and cheese make good practice foods. Ask the child to place a cracker on the bottom, cheese in the middle and another cracker on top. This idea can be used with bread and lunch meat to make a sandwich also. Allowing the child to manipulate objects on his own will help them retain the concept of top, middle and bottom.

Photo by StevenDepolo

After you child has the concept of top, middle and bottom, let them practice and reinforce it by doing worksheets. Here are some free ones available online:

Top, Middle and Bottom Worksheets - Free

When teaching children that struggle with the concept of top, middle and bottom, sign language can be very helpful. Sign language and PECS are often used to teach abstract concepts to children with special-needs. Here is the sign for Top, Middle and Bottom in American Sign Language. There are also some links to Picture Exchange System (PECS) photos of top, middle and bottom to help children visualize the concept.

The sign can be used whenever the word is spoken to reinforce the idea. The PECS can be pulled out and viewed daily, colored, and discussed to help the child grasp the concepts. Repeat the activity of viewing the PECS until the child has a good understanding of top, middle, bottom.

Photos by HSSchulte