The idea, step by step
Parts of a turn
A full turn brings you back to the direction you started. A half turn points you the opposite way. Four equal quarter turns make one full turn.
A quarter turn is a turn through one of those four equal parts. Three-quarter turns use three of them. Use the direction as well as the size.
Clockwise or anticlockwise?
Clockwise follows the direction the hands of a clock move. Starting up, the directions are right, down, left, then up again. Anticlockwise goes the other way.
Keep track of one quarter turn at a time. If you start facing left, a clockwise quarter turn points up. Your starting direction matters.
A common trap
A quarter turn always ends pointing right.
Instead: It ends pointing right only for some starting directions and turn directions. Check both.
See the thinking
One quarter turn
An arrow points up. It makes a clockwise quarter turn. Where does it point?
- Start at up.
- Follow the clockwise direction for one quarter turn.
- The next direction is right.
Three quarter turns
An arrow points right. It makes three clockwise quarter turns. Where does it point?
- The first quarter turn points down.
- The second points left.
- The third points up.
Check your understanding
An arrow points down. It makes a half turn. Where does it point?
Show answer
Up.
A half turn points in the opposite direction.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- An arrow points up. It makes a clockwise quarter turn. Where does it point?
- An arrow points up. It makes an anticlockwise quarter turn. Where does it point?
- An arrow points left. It makes a half turn. Where does it point?
- An arrow points down. It makes a full turn. Where does it point?
- An arrow points up. It makes three clockwise quarter turns. Where does it point?
- Luca makes two clockwise quarter turns. Name one turn that gives the same final direction.
Read the worked solutions
- An arrow points up. It makes a clockwise quarter turn. Where does it point?
Up moves to right for one clockwise quarter turn.
Right. - An arrow points up. It makes an anticlockwise quarter turn. Where does it point?
The anticlockwise direction goes from up to left.
Left. - An arrow points left. It makes a half turn. Where does it point?
Right is opposite left.
Right. - An arrow points down. It makes a full turn. Where does it point?
A full turn returns to the starting direction.
Down. - An arrow points up. It makes three clockwise quarter turns. Where does it point?
Up to right, then down, then left.
Left. - Luca makes two clockwise quarter turns. Name one turn that gives the same final direction.
Two quarters make one half.
A half turn.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Sides and spatial features; straight/curved/opposite/parallel; quarter/half/three-quarter/full turns.
Official curriculum source ↗