4
Giving directions
Learner’s Book 1: Unit 16, pp. 237–240
GoalFollow and give directions using forward, turn left and turn right.
New words
forward · straight ahead, the way you are facingturn left / right · change direction towards your left / rightpath · the way from the start to the finish
Explanation
Directions tell someone how to get from one place to another. Each square is one step. At the start we face the way the arrow points. We say ‘forward 2’ to move 2 squares. We say ‘turn left’ or ‘turn right’ to change direction. After a turn, ‘forward’ means the new way we are facing. Say the directions in order, and use a small toy to check them.
Worked examples
Start at the arrow, facing up. Forward 1, turn right, forward 3. You reach the finish.
Start at the arrow. Forward 3, turn right, forward 3. This path misses the tree, the pond and the bench. You reach the house.
Start at the bottom right, facing up. Forward 2, turn left, forward 2. You reach the finish.
Class activity
Treasure walk: hide a small toy in the room. Give a grown-up directions to find it, such as ‘forward 3, turn left, forward 2’. The grown-up takes one step for each number. Then swap. How can you make the directions shorter?
Practice
1
Start at the arrow, facing up. Forward 2, turn right, forward 3. What do you reach?
the star
2
Start at the arrow, facing up. Forward 1, turn left, forward 2, turn right, forward 1. What do you reach?
the bell
3
Give the directions for this path, starting from the arrow.
Forward 2, turn right, forward 2.
4
Ravi turns left, and then turns left again. Is he facing the same way as before or the opposite way?
The opposite way (he has turned right round).