Geometry — shape, position & direction
Position & Direction: Turns and Movement
Year 1 · Year 2
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to describe and make whole, half, and quarter turns.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to use the terms 'left', 'right', 'forwards', and 'backwards' to describe movement.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to follow and give simple instructions involving position and direction.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to describe the position of objects using directional language.
Key concepts
A whole turn means you turn all the way around until you are facing the exact same way you started. It's like doing a full circle.
A half turn means you turn around to face the opposite direction from where you started. It's half of a whole turn.
A quarter turn means you turn just a little bit, like turning a corner. You can make a quarter turn to your left or a quarter turn to your right. It's one quarter of a whole turn.
These words tell us which side something is on, or which way to turn. Your left hand is on one side, and your right hand is on the other. It's important to know the difference!
These words tell us which way to move. 'Forwards' means moving ahead, in front of you. 'Backwards' means moving behind you.
Key facts to remember
- 1A whole turn means you end up facing the same way you started.
- 2A half turn means you turn to face the exact opposite direction.
- 3A quarter turn is like turning a corner; it can be a left quarter turn or a right quarter turn.
- 4We use 'left' and 'right' to describe sides and directions.
- 5'Forwards' means moving ahead, and 'backwards' means moving behind.
- 6These words help us understand where things are and how to move around.
Worked examples
Example 1
A toy car is facing the door. The child turns the car so it is now facing the window, which is directly opposite the door. What kind of turn did the child make?
Answer
A half turn.
A half turn always makes you face the opposite direction.
Example 2
You are standing in the playground. Take 2 steps forwards. Then make a quarter turn to your right. Now take 1 step forwards. Describe your movement and final direction.
Answer
You moved 2 steps forwards, then turned to your right, and then moved 1 step forwards in that new direction. You are now facing to your right.
Always do the turn before taking steps in the new direction.
Example 3
Look at the picture of a table. There is a red apple and a green apple. The red apple is on the side of the table where your right hand would be if you were sitting at it. Describe the position of the red apple.
Answer
The red apple is to the right of the table.
Always think about 'your' left or right when describing positions.
Common mistakes
- ✗Confusing 'left' and 'right' when giving or following instructions.
- ✗Making a whole turn instead of a half turn, or a half turn instead of a quarter turn.
- ✗Mixing up 'forwards' and 'backwards' when moving.
- ✗Not understanding that a turn changes the direction you are facing before you take new steps.
Exam tips
- ★When asked to make a turn, try to physically make the turn yourself to help you understand.
- ★Use your hands to remember left and right: hold up both hands, the one that makes an 'L' shape (without reversing it) is your left hand.
- ★Listen very carefully to all the words in the instruction, especially 'and' or 'then' to know when to do the next part.
- ★If you have a problem with a picture, imagine yourself in the picture to work out left and right.
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