---
title: "Turns & Directions"
description: "Describe movement and direction, including whole, half, quarter, and three-quarter turns"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/turns-and-directions-mt_Y9XKzLrUAZ
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/turns-and-directions-mt_Y9XKzLrUAZ.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Turns & Directions

Describe movement and direction, including whole, half, quarter, and three-quarter turns

Subject: Mathematics · Area: Geometry · Ages 5 to 6
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/turns-and-directions-mt_Y9XKzLrUAZ

## Ready when they can

- Follow instructions to move forward, backward, turn left/right
- Demonstrate a whole turn, half turn, and quarter turn with their body
- Describe a route using directional language
- Work out how many steps you are from the start after moving forward and backward.

## Lesson: Turns and directions

You know in front of and behind. A turn spins you in one spot, like spinning on your toes. A quarter turn is a small turn. A half turn is two quarter turns. A three-quarter turn is three quarter turns. A whole turn brings you back to the start. If you take fewer steps back than forward, the back steps undo some forward steps.

*(drawing: Start facing up. Turn right: each step is a quarter turn.)*

**Example.** Mia faces the door. She turns halfway around. Now she faces the window behind her.

Turns fit inside each other when you turn the same way. Two quarter turns the same way make a half turn. Three quarter turns the same way make a three-quarter turn. Four quarter turns the same way make a whole turn, and a whole turn brings you back to where you started. That also means a whole turn is two half turns.

*(drawing: Turn sizes in order from smallest to biggest: quarter, half, three-quarter, whole.)*

In a route, some words tell your feet to move, like forward and backward. Some words tell your body to spin, like turn left and turn right. A move takes you to a new place. A turn keeps you in one spot. A quarter, half, or three-quarter turn faces you a new way. A whole turn brings you back to the way you started. Turn left faces the other side.

A quarter turn one way undoes a quarter turn the other way. Do one after the other and you end up facing the way you started.

**Recap.** Quarter, half, or three-quarter, every turn faces you a new way. A whole turn brings you back to the way you started. Turns add up when you turn the same way.

## Practice

34 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [What Is a Half?](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/what-is-a-half-mt_-hTTat0mBR)
- [Finding quarters (age 5+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/finding-quarters-age-5-mt_g3W0mdADVu)
- [Positional Language](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/positional-language-mt_qeZYF6HZ4o)

## Opens up

- [Position, direction, and movement](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/position-direction-and-movement-mt_TdV9YGJEoY)