Understand the idea.
Follow each step in order
Start at the named place and follow instructions in order. Each road line between neighbouring places is one block. Count a block when you travel along that line, not when you name the starting place. Use only the drawn horizontal and vertical roads.
Check and compare routes
Point to your new position after each move so the next instruction starts in the right place. To retrace a route, reverse the order of its moves and use opposite directions. Here every road segment is one block, so counting segments lets you compare route lengths.
See the method in action.
Follow a route
Start at the pool. Go up one block, then right two blocks on the page. Where do you finish?
Worked solution
- 1
Go up one block from Pool.
The road directly above Pool reaches Park; that completes the first instruction.
- 2
Go right one block from Park.
The first rightward road segment reaches Fountain.
- 3
Go right one more block.
The second rightward segment reaches Clinic, so the route finishes at the clinic.
The clinic.
Give a route back
A route from School to Library is right two blocks on the page. Give the return route.
Worked solution
- 1
Start the return journey at Library.
A return route begins where the outward route ended.
- 2
Reverse the direction, keeping the distance.
Travelling back along the same road changes right to left, while keeping two blocks.
- 3
Check the two road segments.
Library to Shop is one block left; Shop to School is another, returning to School.
Left two blocks to School.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
Start at Fountain and move down one block on the page. Where are you?
Show answer & reasoning
Bakery.
Start at Fountain and follow the road down one block. It reaches Bakery, the next place below Fountain.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- Start at School. Go right one block on the page. Where do you finish?
- Start at Library. Go down two blocks on the page. Where do you finish?
- Give a two-block route from Park to Shop. Describe page directions.
- Start at Bakery. Go up two blocks, then left one block on the page. Where do you finish?
- Route A goes from Pool up two blocks, then right two blocks to Library. Route B goes right two blocks, up two blocks, left one block, then right one block to Library. Which route uses fewer blocks? All directions are page directions.
- Give a different four-block route from School to Bus stop than right two blocks then down two blocks. Describe page directions.
Read the worked solutions
- Start at School. Go right one block on the page. Where do you finish?
The next place to the right on the top road is Shop.
Shop. - Start at Library. Go down two blocks on the page. Where do you finish?
Library to Clinic, then Clinic to Bus stop.
Bus stop. - Give a two-block route from Park to Shop. Describe page directions.
Both routes follow roads and use two blocks.
Right one block to Fountain, then up one block to Shop; or up to School then right to Shop. - Start at Bakery. Go up two blocks, then left one block on the page. Where do you finish?
Bakery to Fountain to Shop, then left to School.
School. - Route A goes from Pool up two blocks, then right two blocks to Library. Route B goes right two blocks, up two blocks, left one block, then right one block to Library. Which route uses fewer blocks? All directions are page directions.
Route A: . Route B: .
Route A. It uses 4 blocks; Route B uses 6. - Give a different four-block route from School to Bus stop than right two blocks then down two blocks. Describe page directions.
Other routes using exactly two down and two right moves are also valid if they follow the roads.
For example, down two blocks to Pool, then right two blocks to Bus stop.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Familiar maps; locating features; following and describing routes.
Official curriculum source ↗