Turn My Way

Goal: Turn and move the way leader says (similar to "Simon Says")

1. Introduce the game

Ask a volunteer to help demonstrate these terms:

Turns: full turn, two full turns, three full turns, quarter turn, half turn, three-quarter turn
Directions: left and right

For more challenge, also demostrate:

Turns: 90º (degrees), 180º, 270º, 360º
Directions: clockwise and counterclockwise

 

2. Follow the leader

Decide who will be the Leader. Children line up in a row about 10 feet away from the Leader. 

The Leader gives the group commands containing turns, such as:

Make two full turns to the right.

Take one step forward and hop a quarter turn to the left.

Spin 360 degrees clockwise and then take a step back.

Children who don’t follow the command correctly are out for the round.

3. Keep following

The player left at the end is the winner. That person is the next Leader.

 

Variations

Turn Together (Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Challenge the group to get everyone into the correct position through five commands. Children help one another follow the commands correctly. For extra challenge, provide a time limit for following each command.

 

Turn in Time (Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Provide a time limit, such as 30 seconds, for following each command. Those who don’t get into the correct position within the time limit are out for the round.

 

Treasure Hunt (Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
One child, the Finder, leaves the room while the others hide a small object or piece of paper. When the Finder returns, the others take turns giving instructions for a sequence of moves that lead to the treasure. For instance: Take three steps forward. Turn half way around to the left. The person who gives the last successful instruction gets to be the next Finder.

 

 

Books and Other Resources

Book ideas to come!

Spotlight

Spatial sense

In the language of geometry, a complete circle is a 360 degree rotation (360?). A half circle is 180?, a quarter turn is 90?, and a three-quarter turn is 270º.

As children play Turn My Way, they learn about angles and rotations by relating them to their own body motions.

Connections

Sense of direction

Turns and angles play a big role in giving and following directions to a destination: “turn left at the church,” or “drive three quarters of the way around the traffic circle and then take your second right.” Spatial sense is also part of everyday tasks, such as knowing in which direction to turn screwdrivers or twist bottle caps.

Sometimes precise angle language is important, for instance, when planning and carrying out a construction project. Other times, we just need to know whether to make a right or a left turn. Children who skateboard, snowboard, or know the Logo computer programming language may be familiar with some angle measurement terms. Encourage them to demonstrate angles and turns to others and use them in their own everyday conversation.

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