Mathematics K–6 · Years 1–2
Give and follow directions on a floor grid
Measurement and space
The idea
A route is a sequence of steps and turns, and the same words move a person or a floor robot to the same square when followed exactly.
What you need
- a floor grid of 5 by 5 squares made with masking tape, each square big enough for a child to stand in (about 50 cm); if a floor robot is used, a second 5 by 5 grid whose squares are the robot's step length (a Bee-Bot steps 15 cm)
- picture cards to place on squares (a shop, a park, a school), with a matching small set for the robot grid
- direction cards: forward, turn left, turn right
- a floor robot (optional)
How to do it
- One child stands on the start square facing the top of the grid. A partner reads a route from the cards: forward 3, turn right, forward 2. The child follows it one card at a time.
- Record where the child ended (which picture) and count how many squares up and how many squares across from the start.
- Swap roles. Write a route to reach the park, test it, and fix any card that sends the child the wrong way.
- If a floor robot is available, set the small pictures on the robot grid in the same squares, program the same route and check it ends on the picture where the child ended.
- Find two different routes to the same square and count the forward cards in each.
What you should see
Forward 3, turn right, forward 2 ends on the square 3 up and 2 across from the start, for the child on the walking grid and for the robot on its small grid alike. A route with a wrong turn card sends the child off the intended path and the pair can point to the card that needs changing. The shortest routes to the square 3 up and 2 across all use 5 forward cards, whatever order the moves come in; a route that overshoots and comes back uses more.
What changes
This activity lists no variables to change, measure and keep the same.
Common misconceptions
Each of these ideas is wrong, and the activity is a chance to test it.
- Turn right means move to the square on the right.
- Left and right are fixed to the room rather than to the way the person is facing.
Safety card
Hazards
- tape edges lifting are a trip hazard
Controls
- press the tape flat and keep the grid clear of bags
Note
No chemicals or heat are used, so the NSW Department of Education Chemical Safety in Schools package is not needed; ordinary classroom supervision under the school's usual risk management.
Curriculum references
The NSW syllabus outcomes and Australian Curriculum v9 codes this activity supports. They are references, not a verified or complete curriculum alignment.
Sources
The pages the author read to write this activity.