Position
Year 1Week 1
Year 1 Position & Direction Worksheets
10 worksheets across 2 weeks
Our free Year 1 Position and Direction worksheets develop spatial awareness and directional vocabulary for children aged 5-6, fully aligned to the England National Curriculum. Understanding position and direction is a key part of the geometry strand in primary mathematics. These skills help children describe where objects are, give and follow instructions for movement, and begin to understand the concept of turns, all of which are essential for later work in geometry, coordinates, and angles. The 10 worksheets are organised across 2 weeks of daily practice. Week 1 focuses on positional language, where children learn to use and understand words such as above, below, left, right, in front of, behind, between, next to, top, middle, and bottom to describe where objects are. Week 2 introduces direction and turns, where children explore whole, half, quarter, and three-quarter turns in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions. They also learn to give and follow simple directional instructions. Every worksheet includes fluency questions for practising key vocabulary, word problems that place positional language in real-life situations such as describing the arrangement of objects on a shelf or following directions around a simple map, and reasoning challenges that ask children to explain positions or predict where an object will be after a turn. This three-section format ensures that children develop a practical and conceptual understanding of position and direction. Parents can reinforce these skills through everyday activities such as giving directions around the house, playing games that involve following instructions, or asking their child to describe where objects are using positional vocabulary. Teachers can use these worksheets as a follow-up to practical position and direction activities in the classroom or as a focused independent task. Children who complete this topic will confidently use a wide range of positional vocabulary, understand and describe whole, half, quarter, and three-quarter turns, and follow and give simple directional instructions. These skills directly support the National Curriculum geometry objectives for Year 1 and lay the groundwork for the more formal direction and angle work in Key Stage 2.
Position
Week 1
Direction and Turns
Week 2
Direction and Turns
Year 1Week 2
Direction and Turns
Year 1Week 2
Direction and Turns
Year 1Week 2
Direction and Turns
Year 1Week 2
Direction and Turns
Year 1Week 2
Frequently Asked Questions
- What position and direction skills are taught in Year 1?
- Year 1 children learn to describe position, direction, and movement, including whole, half, quarter, and three-quarter turns. They use positional language such as left and right, top, middle, and bottom, and in front of, behind, above, below, and between.
- How do I help my child with position and direction at home?
- Turn everyday situations into position and direction practice. Ask your child to put the cup on top of the table, stand behind the chair, or tell you what is next to the bookcase. Play simple games where you give directions such as take two steps forward, then make a quarter turn to the left. Treasure hunts with simple directional clues are excellent for practising these skills. When completing worksheets, encourage your child to use the specific vocabulary rather than pointing, as building precise mathematical language is a key part of this topic.
- What is the difference between clockwise and anticlockwise for Year 1?
- Clockwise means turning in the same direction as the hands of a clock, which is to the right when facing forward. Anticlockwise means turning in the opposite direction. In Year 1, children are introduced to these terms alongside whole, half, quarter, and three-quarter turns. Using a real clock to demonstrate the direction of the hands is a helpful way to make this concept concrete. Our worksheets include visual turn diagrams and practical exercises to help children become confident with both directions.
- How many questions are in each position and direction worksheet?
- Each worksheet contains between 8 and 12 questions across fluency, word problem, and reasoning sections. Fluency questions practise key vocabulary and turn recognition. Word problems place position and direction in real-life contexts such as describing routes or arrangements, and reasoning questions ask children to predict outcomes or explain positions. Each worksheet takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.