Compass directions: north, south, east and west: what children learn
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".
Suggested kindergarten 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 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. Practice 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 students to write one direction instruction for a partner.
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
How should I choose this game for my learner?
Suggested kindergarten 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.
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.