Town Map: Key & Compass Directions, Cardinal

Overview:

This activity uses a town map and compass directions to help middle years students practise identifying locations and navigating using cardinal directions. Students will use the map's key and the 4-point compass to answer various questions about the town. Designed for students in year 3 and year 4.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand and apply cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) on a map.
• Develop skills in following directions and describing locations.
• Practise interpreting maps and using a key to identify different locations in a town.

How the Activity Works:

Students are given a map of a town, along with a key showing different locations such as the school, gas station, hospital, and houses. The 4-point compass is also included to help students identify the cardinal directions. Using this information, students answer a series of questions about the town map, such as:

• "Which direction is the School from the Gas Station?"
• "A woman walks south from the Hospital. Where might she be going?"
• "Explain how Natalie could get from her house to the Hospital."

Students will use the compass to determine the correct directions and provide explanations for the routes or locations mentioned. The activity encourages both map-reading skills and spatial awareness through the use of cardinal directions.

Browse more mapping activities.