The idea, step by step
Follow each step in order
Start at the named place. Move along roads, not diagonally across the map. On this map each line between neighbouring places is one block.
Here left/right/up/down mean directions on the page as the reader sees it. You can also say north/south/east/west because north is up. Say how many blocks to move before the next instruction.
Check and compare routes
After each move, point to the place you have reached. At the end, check the destination. A route back reverses the order of the moves and uses opposite directions.
There can be more than one good route. Count the road segments to compare lengths. A route with fewer segments is shorter on this map because all segments are one block.
A common trap
A diagonal jump from one place to another is one road block.
Instead: Only the drawn horizontal and vertical roads may be used. A diagonal jump is not a road.
See the thinking
Follow a route
Start at the pool. Go up one block, then right two blocks on the page. Where do you finish?
- Pool to Park is one block up.
- Park to Fountain is the first block right.
- Fountain to Clinic is the second block right.
Give a route back
A route from School to Library is right two blocks on the page. Give the return route.
- Start at Library, where the first route ended.
- Reverse right into left.
- Move the same two blocks back along the top road.
Check your understanding
Start at Fountain and move down one block on the page. Where are you?
Show answer
Bakery.
Bakery is the next place below Fountain, joined by one road segment.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
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: 2 + 2 = 4. Route B: 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 6.
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 ↗