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Year 6 · Geography · Map skills · Lesson 1

Compass points and directions

Eight-point compass directions, giving directions on a map, turns in degrees, and using a North arrow.

Whiteboard video lesson: Compass points and directions

13-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Name the eight compass points
  • Give directions on a map
  • Describe turns using compass points
  • Use a North arrow

The method

  1. North arrow.
  2. Start point.
  3. Up/right/down/left.
  4. Combine.

Key words: compass, north, north-east, direction, clockwise, orientate.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

Name the four main compass points.

  1. Step 1: N, E, S, W

Answer: North, East, South, West

Question 2

What point is halfway between North and East?

  1. Step 1: NE

Answer: North-East

Question 3

What point is halfway between South and West?

  1. Step 1: SW

Answer: South-West