Understand the idea.
Left and right
For these pictures, use your own left and right while looking at the page. Point towards each page edge to fix the viewpoint before describing where the objects are.
In the park picture, the bench is on your left of the tree. The pond is on your right of the tree. Keep that same page viewpoint when answering questions about the park.
Know which way it faces
Forward follows the direction a person or robot faces. Back is the opposite direction, without turning around. First find the facing direction; then decide where a forward or backward step would go.
The pictured robot faces the top of the page. Its forward step goes up one square, while its back step goes down one square. If it faced another way, these page directions would change.
See the method in action.
Right of the tree
Which place is right of the tree in the park picture?
Worked solution
- 1
Use the page viewpoint.
Right means your right as you look at this park picture.
- 2
Find the tree and look to its right.
The pond is the place on that side of the tree.
- 3
Name the place.
The pond is right of the tree.
The pond.
A step back
The robot faces the top of the page. It takes one step back without turning. Which way does it move on the page?
Worked solution
- 1
Find the robot's facing direction.
It faces the top of the page, so forward is up.
- 2
Choose the opposite direction without turning.
Back is opposite to forward, so it points down the page.
- 3
Include the distance.
One step back moves it down by one square while it still faces up.
Down one square.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
A robot faces right on the page. Which way is one step forward?
Show answer & reasoning
Right.
It moves right. Forward follows the robot's facing direction, and this robot is facing right on the page.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- In the park picture, which object is left of the tree?
- The pictured robot faces up. Which way does it move one step forward?
- The pictured robot faces up. Which way does it move one step back without turning?
- A robot faces left on the page. Which way is forward?
- A robot faces the bottom of the page. Which way is back without turning?
- Draw an arrow pointing right. Draw a dot one step to its left, using the page as the viewpoint.
Read the worked solutions
- In the park picture, which object is left of the tree?
Use your left while looking at the page.
The bench. - The pictured robot faces up. Which way does it move one step forward?
Forward follows its facing direction.
Up one square. - The pictured robot faces up. Which way does it move one step back without turning?
Back is opposite to forward.
Down one square. - A robot faces left on the page. Which way is forward?
It moves in the way it faces.
Left. - A robot faces the bottom of the page. Which way is back without turning?
Back is opposite to the way it faces.
Up the page. - Draw an arrow pointing right. Draw a dot one step to its left, using the page as the viewpoint.
Keep the page viewpoint clear; do not confuse the arrow's direction with page left.
Answers vary: the dot is left of the arrow.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 / SA Curriculum 2026
Year 1 relative position and clear instructions for moving people and objects in familiar spaces.
Official curriculum source ↗