- Definition
Something is "horizontal" when it lies flat, like the ground or the bottom of a book page.
The line where the ocean meets the sky in a seascape painting is a horizontal line.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A horizontal line is like a person lying down for a nap, stretching out from side to side.
Ask your child: What feeling does a long, flat horizontal line give a picture?
Common mix-up: Kids often confuse horizontal with vertical. Remember that horizontal lines are flat like the horizon, while vertical lines go up and down.
Examples
- In a drawing of a house, the lines for the floor and a flat roof are horizontal.
- The shelves of a bookshelf are horizontal lines.
horizontal is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
