Cardinal Directions on a Simple Map

Supplied materials

• Paper and pencil; drawing or spoken answers are welcome.
• Topic notes: North: up on this stated north-up exercise map. East: right on this stated north-up exercise map. South: down on this stated north-up exercise map. West: left on this stated north-up exercise map.
• Original exercise cards: Fictional map: the farm is above the pond. / Fictional map: the dock is right of the pond. / Fictional map: the orchard is below the pond. / Fictional map: the cabin is left of the pond. / A path from the center goes toward the right edge. / A path from the center goes toward the bottom edge. / A path from the center goes toward the left edge. / A path from the center goes toward the top edge.

Learn the idea

Cardinal directions are north, south, east and west. A north arrow tells us how the map is oriented; north is not always the top of every drawing. For these exercise cards only, north is at the top, east at the right, south at the bottom and west at the left.

North: up on this stated north-up exercise map. East: right on this stated north-up exercise map. South: down on this stated north-up exercise map. West: left on this stated north-up exercise map.

Use this exercise’s direction rule: top is north, right is east, bottom is south and left is west. Ask an adult to read the notes and cards aloud. Point, draw or say your answer. These are word descriptions of pictures and places; no picture or map is supplied or needed.

1. Ask an adult to read the four notes. Find the words North, East, South, West.
2. Use this exercise’s direction rule: top is north, right is east, bottom is south and left is west.
3. Read the worked answer. Then try the other cards and explain which words helped you choose.
4. Point to, draw or say two different examples: one for North and one for East. Explain how their clues differ.

Check your reasoning

Your answer is temporary and is not saved to an account. Download your current answer before leaving or reloading. Written work on paper or in another app stays in your own file.

Take it further

New card: “A path from the center goes toward the top edge.” Match it with a note, then point to or say the words that helped. Check: The card says: “A path from the center goes toward the top edge.” That matches North. North is up on this stated north-up exercise map.

Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. The answer download includes your current choice and any checked feedback. It does not include choices from the separate More practice section. Download that section separately.