Position and direction
Year 6 · Maths
Explore numbers, spot patterns and explain how you worked it out.
Choose a game
Take your time, try a game and collect stars.
Coordinates in four quadrants
Left and down are negative: read and move coordinates on the full grid in this
Play Coordinates in four quadrantsReflect and translate on the coordinate grid
Reflect (3, −2) in the y-axis to get (−3, −2). Match points to where they land in this
Play Reflect and translate on the coordinate grid
Learning about position and direction
These Year 6 Maths games practise Coordinates in four quadrants, Reflect and translate on the coordinate grid. Choose a game above for a short activity, or explore the examples below before you play. The full guide for each game explains its controls, gives more examples and includes a free printable for practice away from the screen.
Talk it through
Use counters, a drawing or a number line before moving to a mental method. Ask your child to explain a choice, then change one number and try the method again.
Ask: “How could you show the same answer another way?” Give your child time to explain. Return to an example after playing and ask whether they would approach it differently.
Coordinates in four quadrants
Year 6 pupils describe positions on the full coordinate grid, all four quadrants, and draw and translate simple shapes on it.
Try an example: A point is 4 squares left of the origin and 2 squares up.
Left means negative x.
Show the answer
(−4, 2)
What to look out for
Losing the negative sign. Say 'negative' aloud every time you read a coordinate.
Reflect and translate on the coordinate grid
Year 6 pupils draw and translate simple shapes on the coordinate plane and reflect them in the axes.
Try an example: (3, −2) reflected in the y-axis
Change the sign of x.
Show the answer
(−3, −2)
What to look out for
Changing the wrong coordinate. Reflecting in the y-axis flips across the y-axis, which changes x.
Read the full Reflect and translate on the coordinate grid guide
Practise away from the screen
- Play battleships on a grid with four quadrants.
- Draw a shape on a four-quadrant grid and reflect it in each axis.
Curriculum connections
These games support selected practice connected to Position and direction in the National Curriculum in England. Use your school’s sequence to decide when to introduce and revisit each skill. A game covers selected examples, rather than assessing every requirement.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with position and direction?
Start with Coordinates in four quadrants. Look at the worked example together, then try a round. If the task feels unfamiliar, use the full game guide or its free printable before trying again.
Does this cover everything taught at this level?
No. This page brings together the games currently available for this topic. It supports selected skills and does not replace the full programme of study or practical teaching.