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Year 2 Position, Direction and Movement
Clockwise means moving in the same direction as the hands of a clock.

Year 2 Position, Direction and Movement

Describe position and movement using left, right, forwards and backwards. Learn quarter, half and three-quarter turns, and use clockwise or anticlockwise to follow routes on grids and maps.

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Fascinating Fact:

Quarter, half, three-quarter, full. Quarter turn is 90°, half is 180°, three-quarter is 270°, full is back to start.

In KS1 Maths, pupils describe position with words like left and right, and use turns to show movement. They follow simple routes using clockwise or anticlockwise turns on grids and maps.

  • Clockwise: A turn in the same direction as a clock’s hands.
  • Anticlockwise: A turn in the opposite direction to a clock’s hands.
  • Quarter turn: A right-angle turn, equal to 90°, changing the way you face.

Try a quick practice: play the Direction & Patterns Game to rehearse turns and routes.

What does clockwise and anticlockwise mean?

Clockwise means turning the way a clock’s hands move. Anticlockwise means turning the opposite way. Both describe the direction you rotate your body or an object.

How many degrees is a quarter, half and three-quarter turn?

A quarter turn is 90°, a half turn is 180°, and a three-quarter turn is 270°. A full turn is 360° back to the start.

How do I follow directions on a grid in KS1?

Start at the given square, face the starting direction, make the stated turn (clockwise or anticlockwise), then move the number of squares said. Repeat for each instruction.

To see a larger image, click on the picture.
Question 1
If she blows and the windmill makes 3 full turns, what colour would be at the top?
Pink
Green
Blue
Red
Every full turn would result in everything being back at the starting position
Question 2
If they walk forwards, what is most likely to happen first?
They will jump in the air
The tips of the arrows will meet
They will fall off
They will start to run
They are facing each other, so walking forwards means they will meet
Question 3
If the needle turned a quarter of a turn clockwise, which word would the red tip point to?
Success
Chance
Failure
Risk
The arrow would turn the same way the clock hands travel
Question 4
These arrows tell us that traffic should move around the roundabout in which direction?
Anticlockwise
Clockwise
Forwards
Backwards
Everyone travelling in this way means fewer accidents!
Question 5
If the minute hand makes a three-quarter turn clockwise, which number will it be pointing to?
12
6
5
9
Three quarters is the same as 45 minutes on the clock face
Question 6
If he gave his arrow half a turn, in which direction would it point?
Straight down
Straight up
To the right
To the left
Half a turn means pointing in the opposite direction
Question 7
This child is running...
forwards
sideways
backwards
underneath
He is chasing the ball and running in a straight line
Question 8
At the moment, the cucumber slices are near the bottom of the picture.
If I gave the plate half a turn, where would they be?
At the bottom of the picture
On the left of the picture
On the right of the picture
At the top of the picture
Turning clockwise or anticlockwise would give the same result
Question 9
In order to turn the hob up to 3, she should...
Pull hard
Turn the knob in an anticlockwise direction
Turn the knob in a clockwise direction
Press hard
To get from 2 to 3, the knob would have to turn to the right
Question 10
If I turned this picture a quarter turn anticlockwise, which way would the stick be pointing?
To the left
Straight up
Straight down
To the right
Turning anticlockwise means turning the opposite way the clock hands travel
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Movement

Author:  Angela Smith (Primary School Teacher & KS1 Quiz Writer)

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