Whether you live in an urban or rural area, a nature walk is a perfect activity for families to teach children about directional language such as forwards, backwards, clockwise, anticlockwise, right turn, left turn, quarter turn etc.
Discuss the route you will take before heading out, and while you are on your walk ask children to describe where you are going. Here are some more directional words to help you:
forwards
backwards
clockwise
anticlockwise
before
after
across
left
right
turn around
half turn
quarter turn
north
east
south
west
If you can, take along a map to practice reading grid co-ordinates, e.g. “What’s the name of the street at C5 on the map?” or “What are the co-ordinates of our school?” Or why not try creating your own map of your neighbourhood and mark out all your favourite places. You could either create the map beforehand and then test it out on your walk, or take a clipboard and pencil with you to draw the map on the go.
We love a good dice game! If you travel with some dice in your pocket, you'll never be bored, there's so much you can do with them. Today's game Threes Away requires five dice - you'll also need to think strategically, and it encourages number recognition too.
