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.
Explore this idea with maths tools
Maths you can move
Build 8 + 5
Tap two gold counters to fill the ten-frame.
8 in the frame + 5 waiting. The total stays the same.
Words to know
- north-east
- halfway between north and east
- compass rose
- the drawing on a map that shows the directions
Worked examples
The pond is to the right of the camp, with north at the top. Which direction is the pond from the camp?
- 1.North is up, so right is east.
- 2.The pond is east of the camp.
= east
The shop is up and to the left of the camp, with north at the top. Which direction is it from the camp?
- 1.Up is north and left is west.
- 2.Between them is north-west.
= north-west
You face east and turn 135° clockwise. Which way do you face?
- 1.135° is three 45° steps.
- 2.From east, clockwise: south-east, south, south-west.
= south-west
For parents
Method: Find north at home with a phone compass and label the walls.
What to say: Where is north? So which way is east? Start from where you are standing.
Common mistakes:
- Mixes up east and west.
- Gives the direction from the place back to the camp instead of from the camp to the place.
- Names only north or south for a direction that is between two main points.
- Turns anticlockwise instead of clockwise (or the other way round).
- Starts the turn from north instead of from the direction being faced.
- Treats each step between neighbouring points on an eight-point compass as 90°, so moves only half as far.