About this worksheet
Cardinal directions give map readers a shared language for position and movement. North, south, east, and west do not depend on which way a person happens to face, which is why children sometimes confuse them with left and right. This worksheet keeps a compass rose visible and asks learners to compare exact feature coordinates, identify a direction from one place to another, and choose a route step. The school, home, park, and store move slightly between seeded versions, so children must read the current map instead of memorizing an answer. Support items use clear horizontal or vertical relationships. Standard and challenge questions may combine two steps while staying within the four cardinal directions. Watch whether your child checks the compass before answering. Trace from the starting feature toward the destination, then name the direction of that movement.
What your child will learn
- Name all four cardinal directions
- Use a compass rose for orientation
- Describe one place relative to another
- Follow a short route using direction words
Worked example
If the park is above the home, trace upward from home. The compass says upward is north, so the park is north of home.
Common mistake
Using left and right from the reader's viewpoint instead of the fixed compass directions.
Helpful hint
Start at the first place, trace toward the second, and check the compass rose.
Worksheet 1