Location and Direction

Active movement and hands-on tasks make spatial concepts concrete for six- and seven-year-olds. When students physically turn, step, and point, abstract terms like left, right, and between become meaningful. These activities turn classroom language into lived experience, which research shows supports long-term retention of positional vocabulary.

• Year 1
• Mathematics
• 4 activities
• 15 min–30 min

Learning Objectives

1. Demonstrate the ability to follow a sequence of at least three directional commands.
2. Design a simple map of a familiar area using positional language to indicate object locations.
3. Explain why precise positional language is necessary for clear communication when giving directions.
4. Compare two sets of directions for the same task and identify which is clearer, justifying the choice.

Role Play

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Pairs: Robot Commands

One student is the robot and faces a wall; the other gives directions using positional language to guide them to a classroom object without touching it. Switch roles after success. Pairs discuss which words worked best and why.

Prepare & details

Justify the importance of precise language when giving directions.

Facilitation Tip: During Robot Commands, place masking tape arrows on the floor to mark starting positions so every pair has the same reference point.

Setup: Open space or rearranged desks for scenario staging

Materials: Character cards with backstory and goals, Scenario briefing sheet

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Role Play

⏱ 30 min·Small Groups

Small Groups: Treasure Hunt Design

Hide small objects around the room. Groups write step-by-step directions using only positional words to find one item, then exchange sets with another group to test and revise for clarity.

Prepare & details

Design a set of instructions to find a hidden object using only positional words.

Facilitation Tip: When running the Treasure Hunt Design, provide a simple grid template so students focus on wording rather than drawing accuracy.

Setup: Open space or rearranged desks for scenario staging

Materials: Character cards with backstory and goals, Scenario briefing sheet

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Role Play

⏱ 25 min·Whole Class

Whole Class: Direction Relay

Line up students. Teacher gives a starting position; each student adds one positional direction for the class 'path' to reach a goal, like the door. Repeat with student-led chains and vote on clearest sequences.

Prepare & details

Evaluate the clarity of different sets of directions.

Facilitation Tip: For the Direction Relay, stand at the finish line to observe body turns and catch errors before they travel too far.

Setup: Open space or rearranged desks for scenario staging

Materials: Character cards with backstory and goals, Scenario briefing sheet

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Role Play

⏱ 15 min·Individual

Individual: Positional Sketch

Provide a simple scene description with positional words, like 'ball next to tree, behind house.' Students draw it accurately, then swap and check peers' interpretations for matches.

Prepare & details

Justify the importance of precise language when giving directions.

Facilitation Tip: In Positional Sketch, model using a ruler to draw straight lines from objects to edges so descriptions stay accurate.

Setup: Open space or rearranged desks for scenario staging

Materials: Character cards with backstory and goals, Scenario briefing sheet

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Teaching This Topic

Teach this topic with real-time feedback loops: give a direction, watch the result, and discuss what worked or failed. Avoid long lectures about left and right; instead, let students discover perspective shifts by physically changing their facing direction. Research highlights that children at this age benefit from multi-sensory input, so combine speaking, listening, moving, and drawing in every lesson.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students using precise positional words to guide others, correcting vague language when they spot it, and designing clear instructions that peers can follow without hesitation. You’ll see students turn toward the speaker during commands and adjust their own language after testing it in real time.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Robot Commands, watch for students who give directions as if the robot faces the same way they do.

What to Teach Instead

Have the speaker stand behind the listener so directions must account for the listener’s facing direction; rotate roles after each command pair.

Common Misconception

During Treasure Hunt Design, watch for groups that treat positional words as fixed spots rather than part of a moving path.

What to Teach Instead

Require each instruction to include a turn or step before the next position word, then test the sequence immediately on the grid.

Common Misconception

During Direction Relay, watch for students who add extra words believing longer instructions are clearer.

What to Teach Instead

Swap instruction sets between teams after the first race, then ask teams to edit the new set down to the fewest precise words before racing again.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After Robot Commands, give each pair one quick sequence to perform aloud while the class follows along; note if students adjust their own body position based on the commands.

Discussion Prompt

During Treasure Hunt Design, present two student-designed instruction sheets side by side and ask the class to vote on which set is clearer; listen for reasoning that mentions precise words like ‘next to’ versus ‘close to’.

Exit Ticket

After Positional Sketch, collect student drawings and read one positional sentence aloud; ask students to point to the object on their desk to confirm accuracy before they leave.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students who finish early to write three extra directions that bypass an obstacle while still reaching the target.
• For students who struggle, provide picture cards of positional words to place along their path before they write instructions.
• Deeper exploration: invite students to create a mini-map of the playground using grid paper and directional arrows, then exchange with a partner to follow the route.

Key Vocabulary

above	In or to a higher position than something else; over it.
below	In or to a lower position than something else; under it.
next to	Beside or adjacent to something else.
left	On, toward, or relating to the side of a human body or of a thing that is to the west when the person or thing is facing north.
right	On, toward, or relating to the side of a human body or of a thing that is to the east when the person or thing is facing north.
behind	At or to the far side of something, typically with the front facing away.