Space Themed Prepositions Activities for Speech Therapy – Spatial Concepts Activities

Space Prepositions Activities for Speech Therapy

Make learning spatial concepts fun with these Space Prepositions Activities for Speech Therapy! Featuring an engaging astronaut theme, this comprehensive resource provides a variety of interactive, hands-on, and printable activities to help children understand and use eight common prepositions.

With 64 picture cards, an interactive book, clip cards, foldable books, play dough mats, worksheets, and hands-on activities, you can target the same language concepts in different ways while keeping practice familiar and engaging.

Perfect for preschool Speech Therapy, receptive and expressive language intervention, individual sessions, small groups, and home practice.

⭐ Also Available in Our Money-Saving Prepositions Bundle

This Space Prepositions resource is included in our larger Themed Prepositions Activities Bundle!

The complete bundle contains 15 themed resources, giving you a wide selection of spatial concepts activities for Speech Therapy throughout the year.

Explore the Prepositions Activities Bundle →

Already own the complete bundle? There’s no need to purchase this Space pack separately, as it’s already included.

⭐ Why Therapists Love These Space Prepositions Activities

• Targets eight important prepositions and spatial concepts
• Engaging space and astronaut theme
• Supports both understanding and use of spatial language
• Includes a variety of interactive and printable activities
• Provides repeated opportunities to hear and use target prepositions
• Consistent illustrations help maintain focus on spatial relationships
• Includes ideas for adapting and extending activities
• Suitable for individual sessions and small groups
• Caregiver-friendly home practice handout included
• US and UK/AUS English versions included

⭐ Prepositions and Spatial Concepts Targeted

This resource focuses on eight prepositions:

• In
• On
• Under
• Behind
• In front of
• Next to
• Above
• Between

The activities provide opportunities to practise understanding and using these concepts through listening, identifying pictures, manipulating objects, and producing spoken language.

Depending on the child’s needs, activities can be adapted to target individual words, phrases, or sentences.

⭐ What’s Included?

1. Sentence Strip and Visuals

Printable visual supports to help students understand and use prepositions within phrases and sentences.

2. Preposition Stimulus Cards

64 picture cards, including eight cards for each target preposition.

These versatile cards can be used for:

• Receptive identification
• Expressive naming and describing
• Following directions
• Matching and sorting
• Sentence formulation
• Repeated practice of individual prepositions

Also includes 10 activity ideas to help you use the stimulus cards in different ways.

3. “Where Is the Astronaut?” Interactive Book

A printable interactive book designed to provide engaging opportunities to practise spatial concepts using a consistent astronaut character.

Includes instructions for preparing and using the activity.

4. Preposition Clip Cards

32 clip cards, with four cards for each preposition.

Students identify the correct spatial relationship, making these useful for structured receptive language practice.

Instructions and additional activity ideas are included.

5. Repetitive Foldable Books

Eight foldable books, one for each target preposition.

The repetitive structure provides opportunities for students to hear and use the same spatial vocabulary multiple times.

6. Preposition Play Dough Mats

Nine play dough mats in total:

• Eight individual mats, one for each preposition
• One mixed-prepositions mat

These hands-on activities can be used to practise spatial vocabulary while manipulating play dough.

Includes instructions and additional ideas for use.

Play dough is not included.

7. Printable Worksheets

Six printable worksheets for additional practice and reinforcement of spatial concepts.

These are useful for structured Speech Therapy activities and home practice.

8. Hands-On Astronaut Activities

Includes instructions, activity ideas, and six printable astronauts for interactive practice.

These activities provide opportunities to demonstrate and practise prepositions using moveable pieces.

9. Caregiver-Friendly Home Practice Handout

Practical ideas to help parents and caregivers support preposition learning outside therapy sessions.

This handout can be shared to encourage additional opportunities to practise spatial concepts in everyday activities.

⭐ Designed for Repeated Language Practice

The activities in this resource are intentionally repetitive, providing children with multiple opportunities to hear, understand, and use the target prepositions.

The astronaut remains the consistent subject throughout the materials, while other objects and vocabulary are kept relatively consistent.

This approach helps reduce unnecessary changes in vocabulary so that children can concentrate on the spatial relationships being taught.

You can also adapt the materials by reducing the number of objects or prepositions presented at once, depending on the child’s current understanding and therapy goals.

As children become more familiar with the target concepts, you can introduce additional examples and contexts to support generalisation.

⭐ Informed by Research

The design of this resource was informed by research investigating how variability in language input can influence preposition learning.

Nicholas, Alt, and Hauwiller (2019) explored the role of input variability in preschool children’s learning of prepositions, including children with developmental language disorder.

This research informed the decision to use a consistent astronaut character and familiar objects throughout the activities, rather than introducing unnecessary vocabulary changes during initial practice.

Reference:

Nicholas, K., Alt, M., & Hauwiller, E. (2019). Variability of input in preposition learning by preschoolers with developmental language disorder and typically-developing language. Child Language Teaching and Therapy, 35(1), 55–74.

⭐ Perfect for:

• Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs)
• Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)
• Preschool and early elementary Speech Therapy
• Receptive language intervention
• Expressive language intervention
• Spatial concepts and prepositions goals
• Individual therapy sessions
• Small-group language activities
• Space-themed therapy sessions
• Home practice and caregiver carryover

⭐ Looking for More Prepositions Activities?

If you regularly work on spatial concepts, our Prepositions Activities Bundle includes 15 themed resources, including this Space pack.

The bundle provides a wider variety of familiar activities with different themes, making it easy to revisit prepositions throughout the year.

You may also enjoy our Jungle Prepositions Activities, which target the same eight spatial concepts using a jungle theme.

For more resources supporting young children’s communication, explore our Early Intervention Speech Therapy Resources.

⭐ Additional Information

This resource was created by a qualified and certified paediatric Speech and Language Therapist based in the UK.

The information, strategies, and activities included within this resource are based on current knowledge, evidence-informed practice, and clinical experience at the time of writing. While every effort has been made to ensure the content is accurate and up to date, research and best practice recommendations continue to evolve over time.

This resource is intended to provide practical ideas and support for therapists, educators, and caregivers. It is not intended to replace direct Speech and Language Therapy assessment, intervention, diagnosis, or professional advice.

Practitioners should always use their professional judgement when selecting, adapting, and implementing activities to meet the individual needs of the children they support. Not all strategies or activities will be suitable for every child or setting.

This resource may be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect new evidence, feedback, and best practice recommendations.

Additional Product Information

• Digital download only
• Supplied as a ZIP file
• US English version included
• UK/AUS English version included
• Printable materials
• No physical product will be shipped
• Play dough, clips, and other physical materials are not included

Make spatial concepts practice engaging with these versatile, space-themed Speech Therapy activities that provide repeated opportunities to understand and use prepositions.