Steps and Angles
The turtle only ever does two things: it walks, and it turns. Everything you will ever draw comes out of those two. The interesting part is the size of the turn, because that is what decides whether you get a box, a diamond or a star.
💡 The idea
A turn is measured in degrees, and the size of the turn decides the shape.
- A full spin all the way round is 360 degrees.
- 90 degrees is a quarter turn, and that makes a square corner.
- For any closed shape, the turns must add up to 360.
- Four turns of 90 make 360, so a square closes neatly.
- Small turns make wide, open shapes. Big turns make sharp ones.
📘 Words to know
- degree
- the unit we measure a turn in
- angle
- how far around the turtle turns
- closed shape
- a shape that ends where it began
👀 Watch this
A right-angled triangle. The long slanting side is almost exactly 140 long.
forward 100 right 90 forward 100 right 135 forward 140
✍️ Your turn
- Run it and check that the triangle closes.
- Change right 135 to right 120 and see the gap appear.
- Work out 360 divided by 5, then draw a shape with five equal turns.
- Try two turns of 45 in a row. Together they equal one turn of 90.
- Draw a zig-zag by turning right 60 and left 60 in turns.
🎯 Challenge: Draw a diamond with four equal sides, using turns of 60 and 120.
Show me one answer
forward 100 right 60 forward 100 right 120 forward 100 right 60 forward 100
Your program
