The eight-point compass: north-east, south-west and more: what children learn
In the game, children label all eight points of a compass, then say which direction each place in a park is from Jigby. The Quick quiz asks which point lies between two others, which point is opposite, and which way you face after turning by 45°, a quarter turn or a half turn. These are the same skills children need to describe where one place is from another, such as "Edinburgh is north-west of Newcastle".
Suggested grade 2 practice, selected by skill and reading demand. US states and schools teach these topics in different grades; this is not a state-standards alignment claim.
NCSS C3 Framework teaching connection: Geographic representations and places. Use place names, compass directions and physical features as background for reading maps and asking questions about places. Extend the game with a map or photograph; recognizing labels alone is not a complete geographic inquiry. Read the framework.
How to play
Label the picture. Tap a label, then the numbered spot it belongs to. You can also drag a label, or press its number. Each game has 3 pictures to label, with no timer. A label in the wrong spot comes back so you can try again, and you get a point for each label placed right first time. For a quicker go, choose Quick quiz: 10 multiple-choice questions in 150 seconds (choose Relaxed for more time).
Step by step
- Start with the four main points. Clockwise from the top: north, east, south, west.
- Name the in-between points. Always say north or south first: north-east, south-east, south-west, north-west.
- Count in eighths. One step clockwise is 45° (an eighth of a turn). Two steps is a quarter turn (90°). Four steps is a half turn (180°).
- Find opposites. Swap both parts: north-east becomes south-west, and north-west becomes south-east.
- Use it on a map. Put your finger on one place and describe the direction to another place.
Worked examples
Example 1: Which direction is opposite north-east?
Working: Swap north for south and east for west.
Answer: South-west.
Example 2: You face south-east and make a quarter turn clockwise. Which way are you facing now?
Working: A quarter turn is two steps: south-east → south → south-west.
Answer: South-west.
Example 3: You face east and turn 45° counterclockwise. Which way are you facing now?
Working: Counterclockwise from east, one step back towards north.
Answer: North-east.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Saying "east-north" instead of north-east. The convention puts north or south first: north-east, south-west.
- Counting a quarter turn as one step. On an eight-point compass, a quarter turn is two steps because each step is only 45°.
- Getting only half the opposite right (north-east → north-west). Both parts change in an opposite: north ↔ south and east ↔ west.
Activities to try at home
- Use a compass app to find north at home, then work out which room is to the south-west.
- Look at a road map and describe where a town you know is from your home.
- Make an eight-point compass from a paper plate and use it to give treasure-hunt clues.
- Print the worksheet and act out each turn standing up.
Ideas for the classroom
- Label the classroom walls with all eight points and play a fast "face south-east" game.
- Use an Ordnance Survey map extract and ask students to describe directions between features.
- Link with math: turns of 45°, 90° and 180°, clockwise and counterclockwise.
- Play the game as a starter and ask students to draw the compass rose from memory.
Free printable game and worksheet
The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a color-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
What comes after the eight-point compass?
A sixteen-point compass adds points such as north-north-east. It is useful for precise navigation but goes beyond the elementary curriculum.
Why does the curriculum mention Ordnance Survey maps?
Ordnance Survey makes Great Britain’s official maps. Children learn to read their symbols, keys and grid references alongside compass directions.
How should I choose this game for my learner?
Suggested grade 2 practice, selected by skill and reading demand. US states and schools teach these topics in different grades; this is not a state-standards alignment claim.