Position and direction games

Explore position and direction across grades. Choose by skill and readiness; the grades are a starting point, and this collection does not cover a whole curriculum.

Each game explains the Common Core connection it supports, or identifies itself as supplemental practice. Schools may teach topics in a different sequence. Read how we choose games.

Browse by Common Core domain: Operations and Algebraic Thinking · Number and Operations in Base Ten.

Grade 1: 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.

Enrichment: whole, half and quarter turns are not a Common Core standard. They prepare for angle work in Grade 4.

Play Whole, half and quarter turns · Free printable

Grade 1: 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.

Enrichment: describing movement with up, down, left and right. It links to the position words in Kindergarten standard K.G.A.1.

Play Moving on a grid: up, down, left and right · Free printable

Grade 2: Which way now? Clockwise and counterclockwise turns

In this game Jigby starts facing one way and makes a turn. Children sort each card by the way Jigby faces afterwards: top, right, bottom or left. Acting out each turn is the most reliable way to check.

Enrichment: quarter, half and three-quarter turns are not a Common Core standard. They prepare for angle work in Grade 4.

Play Which way now? Clockwise and counterclockwise turns · Free printable

Grade 2: Routes on a grid

In this game children program Jigby with moves to reach a target on a grid, then put sequences of turns and moves in order. Planning a route before running it, and fixing it when it goes wrong, builds the precise language of direction.

Enrichment: planning routes on a grid is not a Common Core standard. It builds the position words in Kindergarten standard K.G.A.1 and prepares for coordinates in Grade 5.

Play Routes on a grid · Free printable

Grade 5: Coordinates

In this game children read the coordinates of points and work out where a point lands after moving left, right, up or down. Coordinates always give the x-coordinate first: along the corridor, then up the stairs.

Supports part of Common Core 5.G.A.1: locating points in the first quadrant using ordered pairs. This focused game does not cover the entire standard.

Common Core connection: 5.G.A.1. This is focused practice for part of the standard.

Play Coordinates · Free printable

Grade 5: Translations on a grid

In this game each card shows a point's start and end coordinates, and children match it to the translation that moves it there. Comparing the x-coordinates gives left or right, and the y-coordinates give up or down.

Supports part of Common Core 5.G.A.1: how the coordinates change as you move along each axis. Naming the move a translation goes beyond Grade 5. This focused game does not cover the entire standard.

Common Core connection: 5.G.A.1. This is focused practice for part of the standard.

Play Translations on a grid · Free printable

Grade 5: Reflection in a mirror line

In this game children reflect points in vertical and horizontal mirror lines on a coordinate grid. The reflected point is the same distance from the mirror line as the original, on the other side.

Enrichment: reflections are Common Core 8.G.A.1. This game reflects points in vertical and horizontal lines on a first-quadrant grid (5.G.A.1).

Play Reflection in a mirror line · Free printable

Grade 5: Translation or reflection?

In this game children sort descriptions of movements into translation, reflection and neither. A translation slides a shape. A reflection flips it over a mirror line. Turning or resizing a shape is neither.

Enrichment: translations and reflections are Common Core 8.G.A.1. Here children only name the movement.

Play Translation or reflection? · Free printable

Grade 6: Coordinates in four quadrants

In this game children read coordinates with negative numbers and move points across the axes. The rules are the same as in the first quadrant: along first, then up. Negative numbers mean left of or below the origin.

Supports part of Common Core 6.NS.C.8: points in all four quadrants of the coordinate plane. This focused game does not cover the entire standard.

Common Core connection: 6.NS.C.8. This is focused practice for part of the standard.

Play Coordinates in four quadrants · Free printable

Grade 6: Reflect and translate on the coordinate grid

In this game children match points to where they land after a reflection in the x-axis or y-axis, or a translation. Reflecting in an axis changes the sign of one coordinate, so it is quick once children see the pattern.

Supports part of Common Core 6.NS.C.6.b: points that differ only by signs are reflections across one or both axes. This focused game does not cover the entire standard.

Common Core connection: 6.NS.C.6.b. This is focused practice for part of the standard.

Play Reflect and translate on the coordinate grid · Free printable