Near and far — Geography, 4–6 years
Places can be compared by how much we need to travel to reach them. Near and far depend on the starting point, not only on the place itself.
Distance between places
A place is near when it takes only a short journey to reach it. A place is far when the journey takes much longer. We can compare distance by looking, counting steps, or thinking about how long the trip takes.
Why compare distance?
Before going somewhere, people need to know whether they can walk there or need a car, bus or train. Comparing near and far helps us choose a route, allow enough time and take what we need. It turns a vague question—“Is it far?”—into a useful plan.
Which place is nearer?
Mia is at the front door. The kitchen is 6 steps away, the garden is 14 steps away and the shop is 40 steps away. The kitchen is nearest because 6 is the smallest number; the shop is farthest because 40 is the largest.
Near to whom?
A place is not always simply near or far. The same park may be near your house but far from your grandparent’s house. This feels confusing because we often leave out the starting point, but distance always compares two places.
Choosing a journey
Near and far help when choosing where to play, shop or visit. You might walk to a nearby bakery, but take a bus to a faraway beach. Families and delivery workers use distance to decide how to travel and how much time to allow.
Keep exploring
Other languages
Loading MyLeoNes™…