The idea, step by step
A turn changes direction
A full turn brings you back to your starting direction. A half turn points in the opposite direction.
A quarter turn takes an arrow from up to right, from right to down, from down to left, or from left to up when moving clockwise. Two quarter turns make a half turn.
Check the start and the direction
Clockwise means the direction clock hands move; anticlockwise means the other way. The starting direction matters.
Start facing up. A quarter turn clockwise ends facing right; a quarter turn anticlockwise ends facing left. Use a drawn arrow or your body to check.
A common trap
Giving an ending direction without checking where the turn started.
Instead: Mark the starting direction, then count quarter-turn steps.
See the thinking
A robot turns
A robot faces up and makes a half turn. Which way does it face?
- A half turn equals two quarter turns.
- Up moves to right and then down when turning clockwise.
Three quarter turns
An arrow faces right and turns three quarters clockwise. Where does it point?
- First quarter: down.
- Second quarter: left. Third quarter: up.
Check your understanding
How many quarter turns make one full turn?
Show answer
4
Four equal quarter turns bring you back to the start.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- An arrow points up. Turn it one quarter clockwise. Which way does it point?
- An arrow points left. Turn it half a turn. Which way does it point?
- A robot faces down. It turns one quarter anticlockwise. Which way does it face?
- An arrow points up. Turn it three quarters clockwise. Which way does it point?
- How many half turns make one full turn?
- A child makes a full turn and says they now face the opposite way. Explain the error.
Read the worked solutions
- An arrow points up. Turn it one quarter clockwise. Which way does it point?
Up → right is one clockwise quarter turn.
Right. - An arrow points left. Turn it half a turn. Which way does it point?
A half turn points in the opposite direction.
Right. - A robot faces down. It turns one quarter anticlockwise. Which way does it face?
Anticlockwise from down moves towards right.
Right. - An arrow points up. Turn it three quarters clockwise. Which way does it point?
Up → right → down → left.
Left. - How many half turns make one full turn?
Two halves make a whole turn.
2 - A child makes a full turn and says they now face the opposite way. Explain the error.
Track four quarter turns to check.
A full turn returns to the starting direction; a half turn faces the opposite way.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum
Solid-object features; comparing/classifying objects; turns; smaller/larger than a right angle.
Official curriculum source ↗