Position and direction - Describe movement and turns - Planning

In a Year 2 lesson on position and direction, students are guided to enhance their understanding of describing movement and turns. The lesson builds on previous knowledge of positional language and introduces key vocabulary such as 'clockwise', 'anticlockwise', 'quarter', 'half', 'three-quarters', 'position', and 'rotate'. Students begin with a recap of terms like 'forwards', 'backwards', 'left', 'right', as well as different types of turns. A practical exercise involves a child following simple directions to navigate to the door, which is then extended to pair work where children give each other instructions to follow a set path. They are encouraged to record these directions, fostering their ability to communicate movement clearly.

Through a series of activities, children work on securing their understanding of routes by describing, drawing, and giving directions. They engage in reasoning tasks, such as finding multiple ways to navigate from start to finish and discussing the most efficient route, emphasizing the importance of clear instructions to minimize errors. Differentiated worksheets support the learning process, catering to various levels of ability from describing simple two-step routes to more complex four and five-step routes. Reflection on the lesson includes recognizing the skills used, such as distinguishing left from right, and identifying any areas of difficulty, particularly common misconceptions like confusing left/right and the concepts of clockwise/anticlockwise. The lesson concludes with a commitment from the children to remember the key points of the lesson, ensuring a deeper understanding of describing directions using a grid.