Compass directions: north, south, east and west: what children learn
A compass shows four main directions: north, east, south and west. In Key Stage 1, children learn these four points and use them, together with words like left, right, near and far, to describe where things are on a map and how to get from one place to another. This game asks which direction is at the top or side of a map, which direction is opposite another, and which way you face after a turn.
Most maps are drawn with north at the top. That means south is at the bottom, east is on the right and west is on the left. Going clockwise round the compass, the order is north, east, south, west, which many children remember with a phrase such as "Never Eat Shredded Wheat" or "Naughty Elephants Squirt Water".
This topic covers a Key Stage 1 statutory requirement in the National Curriculum in England (Geographical skills and fieldwork): pupils should be taught to “use simple compass directions (north, south, east and west) and locational and directional language [for example, near and far, left and right], to describe the location of features and routes on a map”. The programme of study sets this for the whole of Key Stage 1, so schools choose when to teach it; we have placed this game in Year 1 (ages 5–6).
There is no direct equivalent in the US Common Core State Standards.
How to play
Answer 10 questions before the clock runs out. Tap an answer, or press 1 to 4. Each game has 10 multiple-choice questions and a 150-second timer. A wrong answer shows the correct one before moving on. You earn up to three stars depending on your score.
Step by step
- Start with north. Show that north is at the top of most maps and that a compass needle always points north.
- Learn the order. Say the points clockwise: north, east, south, west. Use a silly sentence to remember the first letters N, E, S, W.
- Find the opposites. North is opposite south and east is opposite west. A half turn always takes you to the opposite direction.
- Turn your body. Stand facing north and make quarter turns clockwise, saying each new direction: east, south, west, back to north.
- Describe a route. On a simple map, say how to get somewhere: "Go north past the pond, then east to the swings."
Worked examples
Example 1: If north is at the top of a map, which direction is on the right?
Working: Clockwise from north comes east, and on a map that is the right-hand side.
Answer: East.
Example 2: You face east and make a half turn. Which way are you facing now?
Working: A half turn faces you the opposite way. East is opposite west.
Answer: West.
Example 3: Which direction is opposite north?
Working: North is at the top of a map; the opposite is the bottom.
Answer: South.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Mixing up east and west. Write "WE" across a compass: W on the left, E on the right, so the two letters spell "we".
- Thinking north means "up" in the sky. North is a direction along the ground. A map is a flat picture of the ground, so north is drawn at the top.
- Turning the wrong way. Show that clockwise is the way the hands on a clock move. Practise with a real clock face.
Activities to try at home
- Find north at home using a compass app or a real compass, then label the walls of a room N, E, S and W.
- Hide a toy and give directions to find it: "Take three steps north, then two steps east."
- Draw a treasure map of your garden or local park with a compass in the corner.
- Print the worksheet and act out each turn together before writing the answer.
Ideas for the classroom
- Label the classroom walls with N, E, S and W and play "Simon says face west".
- Use a grid on the playground and programmable toys to follow compass directions.
- Give pairs a simple map of the school grounds to describe routes using compass points.
- Play the game as a starter, then ask pupils to write one direction instruction for a partner.
Free printable game and worksheet
The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a colour-by-answer picture, an answer maze or a secret-code joke, followed by a worksheet. Both use the same checked questions as the online game, and the answers are on the last page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print menu.
Open the free printable game and worksheet
Frequently asked questions
Does the game use north-east and south-west?
No. Key Stage 1 uses the four simple compass points. The eight-point compass, with north-east, south-east, south-west and north-west, comes in Key Stage 2 and has its own game.
Is north always at the top of a map?
Almost always, and that is the convention children learn. A few maps are turned another way, so good maps show a north arrow; it is worth checking it together.
What is a good way to remember the order?
Going clockwise from the top: Never Eat Shredded Wheat, or Naughty Elephants Squirt Water. The first letters are N, E, S, W.