Understanding the four main compass points: North, South, East, West and their positions.
Where your child meets this in real life: Reading maps, following directions, understanding weather reports
SEAGReady breaks four compass points into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
supporting lesson — excluded from official-format mocks
Identify North, South, East, and West on a compass rose and understand their positions and relationships
supporting lesson — excluded from official-format mocks
Use compass points to describe the direction from one place to another on a simple map or grid
Three free sample questions from our four compass points course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
Harry is learning to use a compass in his geography class. Which compass point is always at the TOP of a standard compass rose?
Nathan is looking at a simple map. His house is in the centre. The shop is directly to the RIGHT of his house. What direction is the shop from Nathan's house?
Poppy is filling in a blank compass rose. Starting at North and moving CLOCKWISE, which direction comes next?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Rosie is learning to read a compass for her orienteering club. She needs to label the four main directions.
Starting at North and going clockwise, what is the order of the four compass points?
N, ?, ?, ?
North is at the top of a standard north-up compass rose
Step 1 of 5
Rosie is learning to read a compass for her orienteering club. She needs to label the four main directions.
Starting at North and going clockwise, what is the order of the four compass points?
The four compass points in clockwise order are North, East, South, West.
The key insight: Remember 'Never Eat Soggy Waffles' - the first letter of each word gives N, E, S, W clockwise!
Common mix-up: Putting East on the left side. On a standard north-up compass rose, East is on the right and West is on the left.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in four compass points, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.
Free to start · no card needed