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An introduction to the four cardinal directions using a compass rose.
Imagine you are an explorer looking for hidden treasure in your own backyard. How would you tell your friends exactly where to find it without getting lost?
Did you know that the sky has a giant clock? Every morning, the sun rises in the same part of the sky. This direction is called East. If you stand outside in the morning and point your right arm toward the sun, you are pointing East! The sun helps us know where we are. By the time you are eating dinner, the sun moves across the sky to the opposite side, which is called West. Knowing where the sun starts its day is the first step to becoming a great explorer.
Quick Check
If you see the sun rising in the morning, what direction are you looking at?
Answer
East
A compass rose is a special tool found on maps. It looks like a star with four main points. These points show us the four cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. A fun way to remember the order going clockwise is the sentence: 'Never Eat Soggy Waffles!'
- North points up toward the top of the map. - South points down toward the bottom. - East points to the right. - West points to the left.
Let's practice the mnemonic to find directions on a circle: 1. Start at the top and say 'Never' for North. 2. Move your finger to the right and say 'Eat' for East. 3. Move your finger to the bottom and say 'Soggy' for South. 4. Move your finger to the left and say 'Waffles' for West.
Quick Check
Which direction is the opposite of North?
Answer
South
When we look at a map of our neighborhood, we use the compass rose to find our way. If your school is at the center of the map and the park is above it, we say the park is North of the school. If the library is to the right of the school, it is to the East. Maps help us see the world from high above, like a bird, and the directions tell us which way to fly!
Imagine a simple map where your house is in the middle. 1. Look at the compass rose on the corner of the paper. 2. If the Ice Cream Shop is at the bottom of the page, you must walk South to get there. 3. If the Toy Store is on the left side of the page, you must walk West to get there.
You are standing in your yard in the morning. 1. Point your right arm at the rising sun (East). 2. Your left arm is now pointing West. 3. Your face is pointing North. 4. Your back is pointing South. If a bird flies right in front of you, which direction is it flying?
Which direction does the sun rise in the morning?
On a map, which direction usually points to the top of the page?
The letters on a compass rose are N, S, E, and W.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, look out the window and try to find the sun. Can you name the direction you are looking at?
Practice Activity
Draw a map of your bedroom. Put a small 'Compass Rose' in the corner and label North, South, East, and West!