Grade 1 · Social Studies · Geography

1st Grade Cardinal Directions worksheets

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Cardinal Directions

Grade 1 Social Studies Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the answer.

1.
Which way do you go from the House to the Park?
- west
- east
- south
- north
2.
Start at the School. Go east two times. Where are you?
- Pond
- School
- Woods
- Hill
3.
Which place is south of the Woods?
- House
- Store
- Farm
- Park
4.
Go west from the Pond. Which place do you reach first?
- Park
- Bank
- Zoo
- Library
5.
Start at the Woods. Go south two times. Where are you?
- School
- Woods
- House
- Pond
6.
Which way is the opposite of north?
- south
- north
- east
- west
7.
Which place is west of the Hill?
- School
- Library
- House
- Woods
8.
Start at the Store. Go west two times. Where are you?
- Hill
- House
- Park
- Store
9.
Which way do you go from the School to the Woods?
- east
- north
- west
- south
10.
Go north from the House. Which place do you reach first?
- Farm
- Zoo
- Bank
- Woods

1st Grade Cardinal Directions worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

North, south, east, and west give map readers a shared language for position and movement. They 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 name the place in a direction, name the direction between two places, and follow short routes. Support sheets use a plus-shaped map with one place in the middle and one on each side.

Standard sheets add opposite directions and two-step moves along a line. Challenge sheets use a larger map of six places and routes that turn a corner. The places change position from question to question, so children must read the current map instead of memorizing an answer. Watch whether your child checks the compass before answering, then traces from the starting place toward the goal.

What your child will learn

Name all four cardinal directions
Use a compass rose for orientation
Describe one place from another
Follow a short route using direction words

C3 Framework standard: D2.Geo.2.K-2

Worked example

If the park is above the house, trace upward from the house. The compass shows that up the map is north, so the park is north of the house.

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.

Next skill: Land and Water Earlier: Map Symbols and Keys

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with cardinal directions?

Using left and right from the reader's viewpoint instead of the fixed compass directions.

How can I help my child with cardinal directions?

Start at the first place, trace toward the second, and check the compass rose.

Are these 1st grade social studies worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

More 1st grade geography

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