Position — Tasmanian Year 3 Maths
Position and direction words, following and giving directions on a grid map, and quarter and half turns, clockwise and anticlockwise. One subtopic and 20 practice questions, aligned to AC9M3SP02.
Position in Tasmanian Year 3
Position is about saying where things are and how to get from one place to another. In this topic students use words such as left, right, above, below, between, forwards and backwards, follow and write directions on a grid map, and describe quarter and half turns, clockwise or anticlockwise.
The one subtopic below is Use directional language. Position is one of the 18 topics in Tasmanian Year 3 Maths and belongs to the Space strand. It comes under Australian Curriculum code AC9M3SP02. These skills lead on to more map work in later years.
Subtopics
Position: common questions
How do you teach left and right?
Practise with the body first: wave your right hand, hop on your left foot. Then describe pictures from the viewer's side: in a row of toys, the one to the right of the teddy is the next one along on your right-hand side.
How do you give directions on a grid map?
Count the squares and name the direction for each step, such as 3 squares up, then 4 squares left. To come back, reverse the order and the directions: 4 squares right, then 3 squares down.
What are clockwise and anticlockwise turns?
Clockwise is the way the hands of a clock move; anticlockwise is the other way. A quarter turn is a square corner of turn, and a half turn leaves you facing the opposite way, so if you face the door and make a half turn you face the far wall.
How can we practise position at home?
Hide a toy and give directions to find it, then swap roles. Draw a simple map of a room or the backyard on squared paper and take turns writing routes. Common mistakes are mixing up left and right when facing someone and forgetting to reverse the directions on the way back.
Which curriculum codes cover Position in Tasmanian Year 3?
Use directional language comes under Australian Curriculum v9 code AC9M3SP02, which is about reading and making simple maps of familiar places and describing where things are in relation to one another.