Compass directions
North, south, east, west and all eight directions, with a compass rose on the plan.
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Teaching Guide: Map Skills, Compass Directions and Routes
Finding your way on a plan is one of the first geography skills, and it comes up often in assessments: compass directions, grid references and routes. This free generator makes map skills worksheets with a different town every time, our own symbols, a key and an answer key.
- For
- Elementary 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th (ages 6-9)
- Subject
- History & Society › Maps & Cartography
- Includes
- Student sheet and answer key
- Format
- A4, to print or save as PDF; new exercises every time
- Price
- Free, no sign-up
- Available in
- Catalan, Spanish, English
Student worksheet 
Answer key Grid references
Squares with a letter and a number, like a real town plan.
Routes
Follow moves, turn left or right and write routes.
Left and right
From the point of view of a girl facing another way.
Symbols
A key with every symbol, and clues to find places.
Answer key
Every place, square, direction and route, checked on the plan.
Frequently asked questions about the map skills worksheets
Which grades are they for?
Level 1 (four compass points, what is in a square, facing north) is for Grades 1-2; level 2 (eight directions, turns) for Grade 3; level 3 (directions between places, writing routes, two clues) for Grade 4.
How are grid references read?
The letter of the column first, then the number of the row: B3 is column B, row 3. North is always at the top of the plan.
Why is someone else’s left and right hard?
Because you have to put yourself in their place: if they face south, their left is our right. The levels start facing north, like us in front of the plan.
Is there only one right route?
When following a route, you only ever reach one place. When writing a route, the key gives a short one; any other route just as short is right too.
Which other worksheets go well with these?
Grid drawing, unplugged coding with arrows and map and plan scales. You will find every resource in history and geography worksheets.
How do I print only the answer key?
Click Print and choose “Answer key”, or “Worksheet and answer key” for both.
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