Use compass directions (N, S, E, W)
Theory
Compass directions are a Year 4 maths position skill: using north, south, east and west (N, S, E, W) and the in-between directions north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west to describe where places are and to follow routes on a grid map. North points up, east is right, south is down and west is left. Curriculum: VC2M4SP03 / AC9M4SP02.
A compass shows direction. The four main directions are north (N), east (E), south (S) and west (W). On most maps north points up (the compass or north arrow on the map shows you). So east is to the right, south is down and west is to the left.
Between the main directions are the in-between directions: north-east (NE), south-east (SE), south-west (SW) and north-west (NW). Each one points halfway between two main directions, so north-east points up and to the right.
Every direction has an opposite. North and south are opposite, and east and west are opposite. We use these directions to say where a place is and to follow a route on a grid map, moving square by square.
These compass facts are worth pinning up. On a map, the four main directions always sit the same way.
| Direction | Short way | Points | Opposite |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | N | Up | South |
| East | E | Right | West |
| South | S | Down | North |
| West | W | Left | East |
| North-east | NE | Up and right | South-west |
| North-west | NW | Up and left | South-east |
| South-east | SE | Down and right | North-west |
| South-west | SW | Down and left | North-east |
How to describe a direction or route
- Find north. On a map north points up. Picture the compass: up is north, right is east, down is south, left is west.
- Compare the two places. Look at where you start and where you finish. Is the finish up, down, left or right? That tells you the direction.
- Say it, and count if needed. Name the direction. For a route, name each step and count the squares moved in each one.
- Going back? Undo the last step first and use the opposite direction for each step: north for south, east for west.
(i) What direction is the Library from the School?
(ii) What direction is the Park from Home?
The Library is straight up from the School, and up is north. So the Library is north of the School.
The Park is in the same row as Home but to the right, and right is east. So the Park is east of Home.
| Home to School | = | north, 2 squares |
| School to Shop | = | east, 2 squares |
| \(2 + 2\) | \(=\) | \(4\) squares |
The route is north then east, and covers \(4\) squares.
The treasure is to the right (east) and up (north) at the same time.
When a place is both north and east, join the words. The treasure is north-east of the flag. Even if the squares north and east are not the same number, north-east is the closest in-between direction.
(ii) What is the opposite of south-east?
Clockwise from west is north, so after a quarter turn she faces north.
The opposite of south-east is straight across the compass: north-west.
(i) Which way does Sam walk first to go back?
(ii) Then which way?
(iii) In which in-between direction is the park from Sam's start?
| last step: west 2 | \(\to\) | first back: east 2 |
| first step: south 2 | \(\to\) | last back: north 2 |
(i) East 2 squares. (ii) North 2 squares. (iii) The park is down (south) and to the left (west) of the start, so it is south-west.
Common pitfalls
Frequently asked questions
What are the four main compass directions?
The four main compass directions are north, east, south and west. On a map north points up, east is to the right, south is down and west is to the left.
Which way is west on a map?
On a map north points up, so west is to the left. East is the opposite way, to the right.
What is south-east?
South-east is an in-between direction that sits halfway between south and east. It points down and to the right. The other in-between directions are north-east, north-west and south-west.
What does the opposite direction mean?
The opposite direction points straight the other way across the compass. East and west are opposites, and the opposite of north-west is south-east. To go back the way you came, walk in the opposite direction.
Does north always point up?
On a map north points up. In real life a compass needle shows where north really is, and it may not be the way you are facing.
How do you describe a route using compass directions?
Look at each step of the route and say which way it goes: north, south, east or west. You can also count how many squares you move in each direction.