position · Year 4 · Suggested learning sequence
Compass directions
The four main compass points go clockwise: north, east, south, west (Never Eat Soggy Worms). On most maps north is at the top, so east is right, south is down and west is left. Between them are north-east, south-east, south-west and north-west. Neighbouring points on an eight-point compass are 45° apart, so a 90° turn moves two points. A direction 'from the camp' means stand at the camp and look out.
Sample questions
Choose from north, east, south or west. Which direction is the farm from the camp?
- Use the compass rose: up the map is north, right is east, down is south and left is west.
- From the camp, the farm is left.
- So the farm is west of the camp.
Answer: west
Choose from north, east, south or west. Which direction is the tree from the camp?
- Use the compass rose: up the map is north, right is east, down is south and left is west.
- From the camp, the tree is up.
- So the tree is north of the camp.
Answer: north
Choose from north, east, south or west. Which direction is the pond from the camp?
- Use the compass rose: up the map is north, right is east, down is south and left is west.
- From the camp, the pond is down.
- So the pond is south of the camp.
Answer: south