Year 2: Movement in a straight line
Part of the Year 2 position and direction chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Movement in a straight line
A straight line keeps going the same way. It does not turn.
Moving right or left keeps you in the same row. Moving up or down keeps you in the same column.
When you turn a corner, you start a new straight line.
Key ideas
- Move one square at a time. Count each square you move onto.
- Right and left move you across a row.
- Up and down move you along a column.
- A move in a straight line does not turn.
Method. Start on the hat and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 4, column 1.start: row 4, column 1
- Move 3 squares right. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 4, column 4
- Read the object on the square you land on. car
Check. Walk back the same way from row 4, column 4 and you reach row 4, column 1. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Start on the flag and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 5, column 5.start: row 5, column 5
- Move 3 squares up. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 2, column 5
- Read the object on the square you land on. duck
Check. Walk back the same way from row 2, column 5 and you reach row 5, column 5. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Count the squares from the flower to the star, one move at a time.
- Find the flower and the star. The flower is in row 1, column 1. The star is in row 1, column 4.row 1, column 1; row 1, column 4
- Count the moves. They are in a straight line, across the same row.3 squares apart
- Write the answer. Count each move once. Do not count the starting square.3
Check. Walking back 3 squares from the star reaches the flower. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Watch out
Watch out: a move in a straight line does not turn. A second move in a new direction is a new line.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Lay a row of coins on the floor as a path. Walk a toy along it and ask: “Are we still going in a straight line?” Then turn the toy and ask again.
Exercise 9D Movement in a straight line
Non-calculatorMethod. Start on the star and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 1, column 4.start: row 1, column 4
- Move 2 squares down. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 3, column 4
- Read the row number of the square you land on. 3
Check. Walk back the same way from row 3, column 4 and you reach row 1, column 4. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Start on the cake and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 5, column 2.start: row 5, column 2
- Move 3 squares up. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 2, column 2
- Read the object on the square you land on. bird
Check. Walk back the same way from row 2, column 2 and you reach row 5, column 2. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Start on the hat and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 4, column 1.start: row 4, column 1
- Move 3 squares right. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 4, column 4
- Read the object on the square you land on. car
Check. Walk back the same way from row 4, column 4 and you reach row 4, column 1. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Start on the flower and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 1, column 1.start: row 1, column 1
- Move 3 squares right. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 1, column 4
- Read the object on the square you land on. star
Check. Walk back the same way from row 1, column 4 and you reach row 1, column 1. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Start on the car and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 4, column 4.start: row 4, column 4
- Move 2 squares up. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 2, column 4
- Read the row number of the square you land on. 2
Check. Walk back the same way from row 2, column 4 and you reach row 4, column 4. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Start on the duck and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 2, column 5.start: row 2, column 5
- Move 3 squares left. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 2, column 2
- Read the object on the square you land on. bird
Check. Walk back the same way from row 2, column 2 and you reach row 2, column 5. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Start on the hat and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 4, column 1.start: row 4, column 1
- Move 3 squares up. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 1, column 1
- Read the object on the square you land on. flower
Check. Walk back the same way from row 1, column 1 and you reach row 4, column 1. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Count the squares from the flower to the star, one move at a time.
- Find the flower and the star. The flower is in row 1, column 1. The star is in row 1, column 4.row 1, column 1; row 1, column 4
- Count the moves. They are in a straight line, across the same row.3 squares apart
- Write the answer. Count each move once. Do not count the starting square.3
Check. Walking back 3 squares from the star reaches the flower. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Start on the star and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 1, column 4.start: row 1, column 4
- Move 1 square down. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 2, column 4
- Move 1 square right. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 2, column 5
- Read the object on the square you land on. duck
Check. Walk back the same way from row 2, column 5 and you reach row 1, column 4. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Start on the flag and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 5, column 5.start: row 5, column 5
- Move 3 squares up. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 2, column 5
- Move 3 squares left. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 2, column 2
- Read the object on the square you land on. bird
Check. Walk back the same way from row 2, column 2 and you reach row 5, column 5. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Start on the apple and move one square at a time, as the words say.
- Find the square you start on. It is in row 3, column 3.start: row 3, column 3
- Move 1 square left. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 3, column 2
- Move 2 squares down. Move one square at a time, in a straight line.now at row 5, column 2
- Read the object on the square you land on. cake
Check. Walk back the same way from row 5, column 2 and you reach row 3, column 3. ✓
Watch out. Count the squares you move onto. Do not count the square you start on.
Method. Follow each move from the hat, one square at a time.
- Start on the hat. It is in row 4, column 1.start: row 4, column 1
- Follow the moves. 2 squares right then 2 squares left.now at row 4, column 1
- Decide. Is it back on the start square?Yes
Check. Compare row 4, column 1 with row 4, column 1. ✓
Watch out. Two moves in opposite directions cancel out only when they are the same number of squares.