Activity 18: Describing Routes

Looking at the plans of the two floors of Holmwood House you could indicate ways of getting from one room or area to another by using words like forward, right turn etc. On maps or larger plans you could use compass points and bearings.

Two-dimensional routes can also be shown using a LOGO program on screen or using a programmable toy like Roamer.

Describing routes from one point to another is a common mathematical activity as is drawing routes based on descriptions.

In this Activity you are going to use the directions, forward, left and right turn, up and down to describe some simple routes and on the next Activity you will try this from the Holmwood House plans.

Here is a pattern of squares:



Describe how you would get from A to B in three different ways.

What is the longest route you can take without retracing any line?

How many units of side length is that?

Write the description of these routes on paper.

You can also draw your routes on squared paper with different colours.