Give your students the opportunity to practise positional language and direction-following skills with the engaging Listen & Draw: On the Farm activity. This farm-themed resource combines listening or reading comprehension with spatial awareness and fine motor skills, all within a fun and familiar setting. Students are asked to follow a sequence of instructions that guide them in drawing specific objects in particular locations on a farm grid scene.

Designed for flexibility, this activity can be used in two ways: the teacher reads the instructions aloud while students listen and draw, or students can read a written version of the instructions and follow them independently. The step-by-step format encourages students to slow down, listen carefully or read closely, and think about where and how to represent each item. It’s a great way to reinforce vocabulary such as above, below, next to, in front, behind, and between in a meaningful and visual way.

With a farm setting as the backdrop, students will enjoy drawing animals, objects, and scenes commonly found in rural environments. The activity promotes careful observation and direction-following, helping to build student confidence in both oral and written comprehension. It can be used as part of a whole-class listening task, a literacy centre rotation, or an independent drawing and reading station.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Follow verbal or written instructions using positional and directional language
• ✅ Demonstrate understanding of location-based vocabulary such as next to, under, above, and behind
• ✅ Strengthen listening and/or reading comprehension skills
• ✅ Develop spatial reasoning through visual representation
• ✅ Build confidence in sequencing and attention to detail

What’s Included:

• Two sets of instructions:
  • Teacher read-aloud version
  • Student independent reading version
• Teacher guide with tips for delivery and differentiation

Materials Needed:

• Printed grid pages
• Pencils, crayons, or markers for drawing
• Optional: clipboard or firm surface for drawing support

How to Use:

1. Introduce or revise key directional terms before beginning the activity.
2. Decide whether students will follow the teacher’s verbal instructions or read them independently.
3. Provide each student with a farm grid page and drawing materials.
4. Read or display each instruction one at a time, giving students time to draw each item in the correct location.
5. Check responses together or allow students to compare their completed grids with a model version.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as part of a listening and speaking rotation during literacy sessions
• 💡 Include in a farm-themed unit to support vocabulary integration
• 💡 Assign as an independent reading and drawing task during quiet work time
• 💡 Pair students to take turns giving and following directions

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Pre-teach key vocabulary using images or real-world examples from farm settings
• 💛 Allow students to colour and personalise their farm scenes once completed
• 💛 Use this task as a formative assessment of listening and comprehension
• 💛 Encourage students to write their own farm-themed instructions for a peer to follow

Listen & Draw: On the Farm is a creative and flexible resource that supports direction-following, vocabulary development, and listening or reading comprehension in an engaging, visual way. It’s an ideal addition to your farm unit or positional language program.