Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 3

Lesson Video

This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.

For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.

Performance objectives

• Use positional words like left, right, above, and below.
• Follow and give simple directions.
• Read and create simple maps with symbols.
• Describe objects from different views, like a top view.
• Use a grid to find a location.

Lesson summary

This week, we're going to explore position, direction, and mapping. Understanding these concepts is super important because it helps us navigate the world around us. Imagine trying to explain to your friend how to get to your house, or finding your way around a shopping mall! These skills are essential for everyday life. They also build the foundation for more advanced math and science concepts later on. This week’s focus will be on developing a strong understanding of relative position and simple maps.

Lesson notes

Position: Position refers to where something is located. We often use positional words to describe where things are in relation to other things. These words are called relative position.

Think about a classroom: the teacher's desk might be in front of the chalkboard, and your desk might be next to your friend's.

Examples of Positional Language: Above: The bird is above the tree.

Below: The cat is below the table.

In front of: The car is in front of the house.

Behind: The tree is behind the car.

Next to: The shop is next to the bank.

Left of: The shop is left of the bank.

Right of: The clinic is right of the school.

Between: The bakery is between the post office and the chemist.

Inside: The book is inside the bag.

Outside: The ball is outside the house.

Direction: Direction tells us which way to go. Common directional words are "forward," "backward," "turn left," and "turn right." We use these words to give and follow instructions. Think about giving someone directions to your favourite tuck shop. You might say, "Walk forward for 10 steps, then turn left at the big tree." Examples of Directional Instructions: Start at the gate. Walk forward 5 steps. Turn right. Walk forward 3 steps. The tuck shop is on your left.

Mapping: A map is a simplified drawing of an area, showing important features like roads, buildings, and landmarks. Maps use symbols to represent these features. A legend (or key) explains what each symbol means. Maps help us find our way around and understand the layout of a place.

Example: Imagine a simple map of your school. The map could show the location of classrooms, the principal's office, the library, and the playground. Each location would be represented by a symbol, such as a square for a classroom, a triangle for the principal's office, and a circle for the playground. The legend would explain what each symbol represents. Square = Classroom Triangle = Principal's Office Circle = Playground Line = Pathway Perspectives: When we look at an object, we see it from a particular perspective or point of view. For example, you can look at a house from the front, the side, or from above (a bird's-eye view). Each perspective shows a different view of the house. Understanding perspective helps us visualize objects in three dimensions. A drawing of the top view is called a plan view.

Grid References: A grid is a network of horizontal and vertical lines that create squares. We can use a grid to locate objects by assigning a letter to each column and a number to each row. The location of an object is then described by the letter and number of the square it occupies.

Example: Imagine a grid with columns labeled A, B, C, and rows labeled 1, 2,

3. If a picture of an apple is in the square where column B and row 2 intersect, we would say the apple is located at B

2. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Thabo is standing behind the tree. Fatima is standing in front of the tree. Who is closer to the gate?

Solution: We need more information. If we assume the gate is also in front of the tree, then Fatima is closer to the gate. If the gate is behind the tree, Thabo is closer. Assuming that the 'front' means closer to the entrance: Fatima is closer to the gate because she is in front of the tree.

Question 2: Draw a simple map of your desk. Include your pencil, eraser, and book. Use symbols for each item and create a legend. Let the top of your page be the direction 'away' and the bottom of your page be 'towards'.

Solution: (Learner's map will vary, but the principles are the same)

Map: ``` (Book Symbol) | | Away (Pencil Symbol) | (Eraser Symbol) | | | Towards (Learner) ``` Legend: (Book Symbol) = Book (Pencil Symbol) = Pencil (Eraser Symbol) = Eraser

Commentary: This question checks the learner's ability to create a simple map using symbols and a legend. Check that the legend is accurate. The learner must also demonstrate an understanding of 'away' and 'towards' in this context.

Question 3: Give directional instructions from the classroom door to the principal's office. (Assume you know the layout of your school.)

Solution: (Solutions will vary depending on the school layout. The following is an example.) Exit the classroom and turn right. Walk forward 15 steps. Turn left at the corner. Walk forward 10 steps. The Principal's office will be on your right.

Commentary: This questions assess the learners ability to use directional language in a real-world scenario. Ensure that the directions are clear, logical, and accurate based on the school's layout.

Question 4: A toy car is located on grid square C

4. What does this mean?

Solution: This means the toy car is located in the grid square where the column labeled 'C' intersects with the row labeled '4'.

Commentary: Check for the learners ability to apply and understand grid references Independent Practice (Questions Only) Describe the position of the sun in the sky at midday. Use positional language. Give directions from your house to the nearest spaza shop.