You will learn
- Name four directions.
- Link sun to east and west.
- Use a simple compass.
- Find directions at school.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- There are four main directions.
- The sun rises in the east.
- The sun sets in the west.
- A compass points north.
Words to know
one of the four main directions
opposite north
where the sun rises
where the sun sets
1. Discover: Sunrise at the school
Early in the morning Ms Smith asks her class to look at the sunrise. “The sun comes up in the east,” she says. At the end of the day she points to the other side. “The sun goes down in the west.” Aminata stands facing east. “North is on my left,” she says. “Well done!”
Think: Where does the sun rise?
2. Understand: Directions
Idea 1: Four directions
The four main directions are north, south, east and west. North and south are opposite. East and west are opposite.
Idea 2: The sun
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. If we face the rising sun, east is in front, west is behind, north is on our left and south on our right. Never look directly at the sun.
Idea 3: Compass
A compass has a needle that points north. We can place it flat and turn until the needle meets N. Then we can find the other directions.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Name the four
Name them.
- Say north.
- Say south.
- Say east and west.
Answer: North, south, east, west.
Example 2 (We do it together): Where is the sun
Morning sun.
- Look at the shadows, not the sun.
- Say east.
- Check.
Answer: East.
Example 3 (You try): Use a compass
Find north.
Show the steps and answer
- Hold flat.
- Wait.
- Turn to N.
Answer: North is where the needle points.
Did you know?
Long ago, sailors used the sun, the stars and a compass to cross the oceans safely.
Why this matters
Knowing directions helps us find places and understand maps.
4. Explore: Direction signs
Make four signs: N, S, E and W. Use a compass or the sun to place them on the playground. Walk to each.
- Make signs.
- Find north.
- Place signs.
- Walk to each.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? Directions help us move.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The four directions are ___.
- The sun rises in the ___.
- A compass points ___.
- Opposite of north is ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Name the four directions.
N, S, E, W.
Question 2. Where does the sun rise?
East.
Question 3. Where does the sun set?
West.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Name the four directions.
- Where does the sun rise?
- Where does the sun set?
- What does a compass show?
- What is opposite north?
Level 2: Grow
- Why know directions?
- Why not look at the sun?
- Why use a compass?
Level 3: Stretch
- Place four signs.
- Draw the sun rising.
- Tell a friend the directions.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Social Studies in everyday life
Stand facing east. Where is west?
Show a sample answer
Behind.
Another one. Find east at home.
Show a sample answer
Share.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: It rises in the east and sets in the west.
Fix: North is a direction.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can name four directions.
- I can link sun to east and west.
- I can use a simple compass.
- I can find directions at school.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- There are four main directions.
- The sun rises in the east.
- The sun sets in the west.
- A compass points north.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Natural features. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- Name the four directions. [2 marks]
- Say where the sun rises and sets. [3 marks]
- Say how to use a compass. [3 marks]
- Say why not to look at the sun. [2 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Four [2]
- East [1]; west [1]; clear [1]
- Flat [1]; needle [1]; N [1]
- Hurts eyes [1]; safe way [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- Name the four directions.
- Where does the sun rise?
- Where does the sun set?
- What does a compass show?
- What is opposite north?
- Why know directions?
- Why not look at the sun?
- Why use a compass?
- Place four signs.
- Draw the sun rising.
Homework
Find east in your home or yard by watching where the sun appears.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Name the four directions. | N, S, E, W. | 1 |
| 2. Where does the sun rise? | East. | 1 |
| 3. Where does the sun set? | West. | 1 |
| 4. What does a compass show? | North. | 1 |
| 5. What is opposite north? | South. | 1 |
| 6. Why know directions? | To find places. | 1 |
| 7. Why not look at the sun? | It hurts eyes. | 1 |
| 8. Why use a compass? | To check. | 1 |
| 9. Place four signs. | Signs. | 1 |
| 10. Draw the sun rising. | Drawing. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 N, S, E, W.; 2 East.; 3 West.; 4 North.; 5 South.. Level 2: 1 To find places.; 2 It hurts eyes.; 3 To check.. Level 3: 1 Signs.; 2 Drawing.; 3 Sentence..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Name four directions | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Link sun to east and west | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Use a simple compass | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Find directions at school | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “The sun moves up and down only.” It rises in the east and sets in the west.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Draw a compass rose with four directions.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns north, south, east and west. Please watch the sun at the same time each day. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Name directions on walks.
- Never look at the sun.
- Use a compass.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: name four directions; link sun to east and west; use a simple compass; find directions at school.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 1 ideas: our community, places and the local area.
Materials. Compass if available, card signs. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Mark north on the ground.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Ask about sunrise.
Explanation (10 min). Teach directions.
Guided activity (10 min). Place signs.
Independent activity (10 min). Discuss.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What are the four directions? Where does the sun rise and set?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with a picture, story, map or local example. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always ask “how do you know?” and invite more than one view. Treat every family, culture and community with respect, and never ask learners to share private information.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use pictures, maps, real objects and short sentences, and let learners work with a partner. Let learners point, show, act or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example from their own community and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “The sun moves up and down only.” It rises in the east and sets in the west.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Draw a compass rose with four directions. Enrichment. Find one new example near your home or school, draw or write about it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: NCSS standards and C3 Framework, Cambridge Primary Humanities and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Social Studies curriculum, Grade 1 Unit 6, topic 4; NCSS C3 Framework, geographic representations and spatial views; Cambridge Primary Humanities, places and maps; IB Primary Years Programme, where we are in place and time. These sources informed the lesson.