You will learn
- Name cardinal directions.
- Use a compass rose.
- Name intermediate directions.
- Give directions on a map.
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
- The four main directions are north, south, east and west.
- Intermediate directions lie between them.
- A compass rose shows directions on a map.
- A compass needle points north.
Words to know
north, south, east and west
a symbol on a map showing directions
a direction between two cardinal directions, such as northeast
a tool with a needle that points north
1. Discover: The treasure trail
Mr Cole sets up a treasure trail in the school yard. The first clue says: “Stand at the flagpole. Walk five steps east, then three steps north.” Kofi uses a compass to find north. He walks and finds a small box. “You followed directions!” says Mr Cole. The next clue says: “Now go northwest.”
Think: How do directions help us?
2. Understand: Directions
Idea 1: Four directions
The four cardinal directions are north, south, east and west. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. If we face north, east is on our right, west on our left and south behind us.
Idea 2: In between
Intermediate directions lie between two cardinal directions: northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest. A compass rose on a map shows all of these with an N for north.
Idea 3: Compass
A compass has a magnetic needle that points north. Hold it flat, wait for the needle to settle, then turn until N lines up with it. Never rely on a compass near magnets or metal.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Name
Name the four.
- Think.
- Say.
- Check.
Answer: North, south, east, west.
Example 2 (We do it together): Give directions
From A to B.
- Find A.
- Find B.
- Say direction.
Answer: B is northeast of A.
Example 3 (You try): Use 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 Pole Star to find north at night, and the magnetic compass was invented in China and later used by sailors across the world.
Why this matters
Directions help us read maps, travel and describe where things are.
4. Explore: Direction trail
Set out a trail with direction clues in the school yard. Use a compass or a compass rose to follow it. Write your own clue.
- Find north.
- Follow clues.
- Write clue.
- Swap.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? A compass makes directions certain.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The four cardinal directions are ___.
- An intermediate direction is ___.
- A compass rose ___.
- A compass needle points ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Name the four cardinal directions.
N, S, E, W.
Question 2. Name an intermediate direction.
Northeast.
Question 3. What does a compass rose show?
Directions.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Name the four cardinal directions.
- Name an intermediate direction.
- What does a compass rose show?
- What does a compass needle point to?
- Where does the sun rise?
Level 2: Grow
- Why know directions?
- Why a compass?
- Why intermediate ones?
Level 3: Stretch
- Follow a trail.
- Write a clue.
- Give directions on a map.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Social Studies in everyday life
If you face north, where is east?
Show a sample answer
On your right.
Another one. Find north at home using the sun or a compass and tell a family member.
Show a sample answer
Share.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: North is a direction.
Fix: It rises in the east.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can name cardinal directions.
- I can use a compass rose.
- I can name intermediate directions.
- I can give directions on a map.
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
- The four main directions are north, south, east and west.
- Intermediate directions lie between them.
- A compass rose shows directions on a map.
- A compass needle points north.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Land and water. 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 eight directions. [3 marks]
- Say how to use a compass. [3 marks]
- Give directions from your classroom to another place. [2 marks]
- Say where the sun rises and sets. [2 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Eight [3]
- Flat [1]; settle [1]; N [1]
- Direction [1]; clear [1]
- East [1]; west [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 cardinal directions.
- Name an intermediate direction.
- What does a compass rose show?
- What does a compass needle point to?
- Where does the sun rise?
- Why know directions?
- Why a compass?
- Why intermediate ones?
- Follow a trail.
- Write a clue.
Homework
Find the four directions at home and make a compass rose.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Name the four cardinal directions. | N, S, E, W. | 1 |
| 2. Name an intermediate direction. | Northeast. | 1 |
| 3. What does a compass rose show? | Directions. | 1 |
| 4. What does a compass needle point to? | North. | 1 |
| 5. Where does the sun rise? | East. | 1 |
| 6. Why know directions? | Find places. | 1 |
| 7. Why a compass? | Check. | 1 |
| 8. Why intermediate ones? | More exact. | 1 |
| 9. Follow a trail. | Trail. | 1 |
| 10. Write a clue. | Clue. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 N, S, E, W.; 2 Northeast.; 3 Directions.; 4 North.; 5 East.. Level 2: 1 Find places.; 2 Check.; 3 More exact.. Level 3: 1 Trail.; 2 Clue.; 3 Directions..
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 cardinal 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 Use a compass rose | 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 Name intermediate 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 |
| O4 Give directions on a map | 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: “North is always up on the ground.” North is a direction.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Draw a compass rose.
- 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 practise directions on a walk. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Name directions on walks.
- Use a compass.
- Never look at the sun.
- 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 cardinal directions; use a compass rose; name intermediate directions; give directions on a map.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 1 ideas: simple maps, symbols, directions and routes.
Materials. Compass, cones, paper. 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. Set up the yard trail.
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). Tell the treasure trail story.
Explanation (10 min). Teach directions.
Guided activity (10 min). Direction trail.
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 cardinal directions? How do we use them?
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. “North is always up on the ground.” North is a direction.
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. 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 2 Unit 4, topic 5; 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.