Position and direction
Grade 1 · Math
Explore numbers, spot patterns and explain how you worked it out.
Choose a game
Take your time, try a game and collect stars.
Whole, half and quarter turns
Sort clock hands and turning robots into quarter, half, three-quarter and whole turns.
Play Whole, half and quarter turnsMoving on a grid: up, down, left and right
Move Jigby up, down, left and right to reach the star.
Play Moving on a grid: up, down, left and right
Learning about position and direction
These Grade 1 Math games practice Whole, half and quarter turns, Moving on a grid: up, down, left and right. 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.
Whole, half and quarter turns
In this game children sort turns made by clock hands and by Jigby the robot. Every turn is clockwise, the same way the hands on a clock move. Using the 12, 3, 6 and 9 on a clock face gives children a clear picture of quarter turns.
Try an example: A clock hand turns clockwise from 3 to 9. What turn is that?
3 to 6 is one quarter, 6 to 9 is another.
Show the answer
half turn
What to look out for
Thinking from 12 to 9 is a quarter turn because it looks close. Check the direction. Going clockwise from 12, you pass 3 and 6 before you reach 9.
Moving on a grid: up, down, left and right
In this game children build a list of arrow moves to get Jigby the robot to the star. Rocks block some squares, so they need to plan a route around them. Some rounds start with a route that has one wrong move for children to find and fix. The Quick quiz orders turns and directions.
Try an example: The star is 2 squares to the right of Jigby. Which moves get him there?
Move right, then right again.
Show the answer
right, right
What to look out for
Mixing up left and right. Hold up your left hand with the thumb out: the fingers make an L for left.
Read the full Moving on a grid: up, down, left and right guide
Practice away from the screen
- Play 'Simon says' with turns: 'Simon says make a half turn.'
- Give directions to find a hidden toy: 'Three steps forwards, then turn right.'
Curriculum connections
Whole, half and quarter turns
Enrichment: whole, half and quarter turns are not a Common Core standard. They prepare for angle work in Grade 4.
Moving on a grid: up, down, left and right
Enrichment: describing movement with up, down, left and right. It links to the position words in Kindergarten standard K.G.A.1.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with position and direction?
Start with Whole, half and quarter turns. 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. These games provide focused practice. Grade suggestions do not replace your school’s curriculum, and any Common Core connection applies only to the skill described.