New
New
Year 1

Using directional language

I can use the words left, right, up and down to follow and give directions.

New
New
Year 1

Using directional language

I can use the words left, right, up and down to follow and give directions.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Left and right can be used to describe position and direction.
  2. Directions can be given using left, right, up and down.

Common misconception

Children can find it difficult to understand that another person's left is not is the same as their own - for example, when facing someone, their partner's left hand is on the opposite side to theirs.

Model directions from the children's own perspective - face the same way they are facing when you are describing what is on the left and right.

Keywords

  • 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.

  • Up - Towards a higher place or position. From a lower to a higher point.

  • Down - Towards a lower place or position. From a higher to a lower point.

Look for opportunities within daily routines to revisit left and right, for example when out walking, discuss what you can see on your left and right, and during games give challenges such as 'balance for as long as you can on your left leg'.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which words could be used to tell somebody which way to go?
Correct answer: left
stop
Correct answer: right
sit
Q2.
Which toy is at the front of the line?
An image in a quiz
panda
Correct answer: robot
teddy
rocket
Q3.
Find all the pictures of a shark.
Correct answer: a
b
c
Correct answer: d
Q4.
Find all the pictures of a turtle.
a
Correct answer: b
Correct answer: c
d
Q5.
Which image shows the same party hat as this one?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a
b
c
Q6.
What would Izzy see?
An image in a quiz
a
Correct answer: b
c

6 Questions

Q1.
Look at the arrows. Match the arrow to the direction.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:Arrow a is pointing to the ,left

left

Correct Answer:Arrow b is pointing to the,right

right

Q2.
Izzy went for a walk. What is on her left? What is on her right?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:The tree is on Izzy's,left

left

Correct Answer:The flower is on Izzy's,right

right

Q3.
In which direction are the arrows pointing?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: up, Up, UP
Q4.
In which direction would the mouse go to find the cheese?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: down, Down, DOWN
Q5.
Which directions would help the mouse to find the cheese?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Go left 2 squares. Go up 2 squares.
Go right 2 squares. Go down 2 squares.
Q6.
Which direction would not help Pedro to find his family?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Go right 3 squares
Go down 2 squares
Go left 3 squares