Position and direction - Describe movement and turns activity - Presentation

In a playful and interactive lesson, children are introduced to the concept of describing movement and turns through a series of activities. The lesson begins with a discussion on directional vocabulary such as up, down, left, right, forwards, and backwards. With this vocabulary in mind, the children observe a game between two characters, Tia and Zach, who use a grid as their playing field. Tia strategically places items on the grid and moves them in various directions, while Zach attempts to predict and avoid the spaces where the items will land. This activity provides a practical application of the key terms and encourages children to think critically about spatial relationships.

As the game unfolds, the children are invited to describe the movements of different objects, such as a cube, teddy, and cupcake, using the precise vocabulary they have learned. They are challenged to predict the outcome of each move and discuss the results. The lesson progresses with more complex scenarios involving toy insects, a fire engine, a train, and a rocket, with movements described as forwards or backwards. To consolidate their learning, the children are then tasked with creating their own grid game, recording the movements of their pieces using the newly acquired vocabulary. The lesson concludes with a discussion that reinforces the understanding of direction and movement, prompting children to physically demonstrate their knowledge and articulate how many squares an object has moved and how they can be sure of this.