Year 1 - Maths
Understanding turns
Position and direction including fractions of turns
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will describe position direction and movement including whole half quarter and three-quarter turns. 
Lesson Summary
You will learn to recognise when something has been turned and describe turns using left and right.
Key Notes
- A rotation describes how something has been turned.
- Turns to the right and left can be used to give directions.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Turn: To rotate or spin.
- Left: A word used to describe position or the direction of a turn. When facing North, left is to the West.
- Right: A word used to describe position or the direction of a turn. When facing North, right is to the East.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children may confuse left and right, especially when the orientation is different from their own.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.
A rotation describes how something has been turned. Turns to the right and left can be used to give directions.
2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'Turn'
To rotate or spin. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.
3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.
Mistake: Children may confuse left and right, especially when the orientation is different from their own. Correction: Encourage children to change their own orientation to match the turn they are trying to describe. Use arrows to show the direction before and after the turn and ask children to stand and make that turn. Can they feel if they're turning left or right?
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 1 Maths guide library.