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Year 3 Maths Position

Use directional language

20 practice questions 0 video lessons Theory + worked examples
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Theory

Directional language is a Year 3 maths position and space skill: using words like left, right, forwards, backwards, above, below, between and next to, describing quarter and half turns as clockwise or anticlockwise, and giving and following directions on a grid map. Curriculum: VC2M3SP02 / AC9M3SP02.

Directional language is the set of words we use to say where something is and which way to move. Position words tell you where a thing is: left, right, above, below, between and next to.

Direction words tell you which way to move: forwards, backwards, up, down, left and right. When we move on a grid, we count the squares for each step.

A turn changes the way you face. A quarter turn makes a right angle (a square corner), and two quarter turns make a half turn. A turn can go clockwise, the way a clock's hands move, or anticlockwise, the opposite way.

Grid map with a path from Start to the tree A four by four grid map. A red dot marks Start in the bottom-left square. A red arrow goes two squares right, then a red arrow goes two squares up, reaching the tree. Gate Tree Pond Start
A grid map: from Start, go 2 squares right, then 2 squares up, to reach the tree.
Clockwise and anticlockwise turns A circle with a dot at the top. A curved arrow to the right shows a clockwise turn. A curved arrow to the left shows an anticlockwise turn. turn clockwise anticlockwise
Clockwise follows a clock's hands; anticlockwise turns the opposite way.

Turns do not need numbers, but these facts help you name and picture them.

\[ \text{quarter turn} = \dfrac{1}{4}\text{ turn} \]
quarter turn=14 turn
\[ 1 \text{ quarter turn} = 1 \text{ right angle} \]
1 quarter turn =1 right angle
\[ 2 \text{ quarter turns} = 1 \text{ half turn} \]
2 quarter turns =1 half turn
\[ 4 \text{ quarter turns} = 1 \text{ full turn} \]
4 quarter turns =1 full turn
Clockwise and anticlockwise are opposite turns. Clockwise follows the way a clock's hands move (3 to 6 to 9). Anticlockwise goes the other way (3 to 12 to 9). A half turn ends the same way whichever direction you turn.
Start facingQuarter turn clockwiseQuarter turn anticlockwiseHalf turn
UpRightLeftDown
RightDownUpLeft
DownLeftRightUp
LeftUpDownRight
Forwards and backwards. Walking forwards moves you the way you are facing, towards what is in front of you. Walking backwards moves you away from it, towards what is behind you. After a half turn, what was behind you is now in front of you.
Above, below and between. In a picture, directly above means in the same column, higher up, and directly below means in the same column, lower down. Between means in the middle, with one thing on each side.

How to give and follow directions

  1. Find the start. Look for the marked square, dot or object you begin from.
  2. Take one step at a time. Say or read each move in order, such as "2 squares right", then "1 square up".
  3. Count carefully. Move exactly the number of squares in each step and check the direction word before you go.
  4. Check the finish. Name the square or object you land on to make sure you followed every step.

How to go back along a path

  1. Start with the last step. Undo the steps in reverse order.
  2. Swap each direction. Up becomes down, down becomes up, left becomes right and right becomes left. Keep the same number of squares.

How to describe a turn

  1. Say how much. A quarter turn, a half turn (two quarter turns the same way) or a full turn (back to where you started).
  2. Say which way. Clockwise or anticlockwise. A half turn ends facing the same way whichever way you turn.
Example 1 — Left and right
Four things sit in a row. Which object is directly to the left of the key?
A row of four objects: cap, cup, key, pen Four labelled squares in a row from left to right: cap, cup, key, pen. The cup is directly to the left of the key. capcupkeypen left right
Solution

Read the row from left to right: cap, cup, key, pen. The object just before the key is the cup. The pen is to the right of the key.

The answer is the cup.

Example 2 — A quarter turn
You are facing right. You make a quarter turn clockwise. Which way do you face now?
A quarter turn clockwise from right to down A red arrow points to the right. A grey curved arrow shows a clockwise quarter turn. A red dashed arrow then points down. right down
Solution

A quarter turn clockwise moves you one step around, like a clock hand moving from 3 to 6. From right, you now face down.

The answer is down.

Example 3 — Follow directions
Start at the dot. Move 3 squares right, then 1 square up. Which square do you land on?
A grid with a start dot and a star A four by three grid. A red dot marks the start in the bottom-left square. The star is three squares right and one square up from the dot. Start Star
Solution

From the dot, count 3 squares to the right, then 1 square up. You land on the star.

The answer is the star.

Example 4 — Describe a path
A path goes from Start to Finish. Write the two directions the path travels, in order.
A grid path that goes left then up A four by four grid. From Start in the bottom-right square, a red arrow goes three squares left, then a red arrow goes two squares up to Finish. Start Finish
Solution

Follow the arrows from Start. The path goes left first, then turns and goes up to the Finish.

The answer is left, then up.

Example 5 — Going back
A path goes 3 squares up, then 1 square right. Write the directions to walk back to the start.
Solution
last step: 1 right\(\to\)first back: 1 left
first step: 3 up\(\to\)last back: 3 down

Reverse the order and swap each direction: 1 square left, then 3 squares down.

Example 6 — In front or behind?
Ella faces the board. The door is behind her. She makes a half turn.
(i) Is the door in front of her or behind her now?
(ii) If she walks forwards, does she move towards the door or away from it?
Solution
before the turn:board in front, door behind
after a half turn:door in front, board behind

(i) The door is now in front of her. (ii) Walking forwards, she moves towards the door.

Common pitfalls

Left and right depend on which way you face. Watch out when you turn your body: left and right swap over. Picture yourself standing in the picture before you choose.
Clockwise is not the same as anticlockwise. Clockwise follows a clock's hands; anticlockwise goes the other way. A quarter turn each way ends facing a different direction.
Keep each number with its direction. "3 squares right, then 1 square up" is not the same as "1 square right, then 3 squares up". Count each square and follow one step at a time, in order.

Frequently asked questions

What does directional language mean?

Directional language is the set of words that describe position and movement, such as left, right, up, down, forwards, backwards, above, below, between and next to.

What is a quarter turn?

A quarter turn is one quarter of a full turn. It makes a right angle, like turning from facing right to facing down.

What is the difference between clockwise and anticlockwise?

Clockwise is the direction a clock's hands move, from 3 to 6 to 9. Anticlockwise is the opposite direction, from 3 to 12 to 9.

How do you follow directions on a grid?

Start at the marked square and do one step at a time, counting the squares for each move in order, such as 2 squares right then 1 square up.

What is the difference between left and right?

Left and right are opposite sides. They depend on which way you are facing, so if you turn around, left and right swap over.

What does between mean in position?

Between means in the middle of two things, with one thing on each side. A book between a cup and a pen has the cup on one side and the pen on the other.

How do you walk back along a path?

Undo the steps in reverse order and swap each direction: up for down and left for right. Each step keeps the same number of squares.

More in Position