Compass Rose and Directions Worksheet
Kindergarten students match compass direction names to their meanings and fill in direction words to describe where places sit on a simple neighborhood map.
10 questions · Matching · Fill in the blank · Recognition
Learning to read a compass rose is one of the first map skills children build in school. This worksheet gives Kindergarten students practice with the four main directions — north, south, east, and west — as well as the intermediate direction northeast. Part A asks students to match each direction word to the position it names on a compass rose. Part B asks them to read a short description of a neighborhood layout and fill in the missing direction word. No prior map experience is needed before starting. The Fact Box at the top of the sheet gives students all the framework they need. Print one copy per student and read the Fact Box aloud together before students work on their own.
Compass Rose and Directions Worksheet — Kindergarten
Use the Fact Box to help you. Do Part A and then Part B.
Word bank
- east
- north
- northeast
- south
- west
Remember
- A compass rose shows four main directions: North, South, East, and West.
- North is at the top, South is at the bottom, East is on the right, and West is on the left.
- Directions between the main four are called intermediate directions, like Northeast.
Part A — Match each direction to its meaning
Write the letter of the matching meaning next to each direction word.
Choose from
- A. Northeast
- B. West
- C. South
- D. North
- E. East
- 1.
The direction at the top of a compass rose
- 2.
The direction at the bottom of a compass rose
- 3.
The direction on the right side of a compass rose
- 4.
The direction on the left side of a compass rose
- 5.
The direction between north and east on a compass rose
Part B — Fill in the blank with a direction word
Use the word box at the top of this section to fill in the blank in each sentence.
- 6.
On the map, the school is in the middle. The park is at the bottom. The park is ____ of the school.
- 7.
On the map, the library is above the school at the top. The library is ____ of the school.
- 8.
On the map, the store is on the right side of the school. The store is ____ of the school.
- 9.
On the map, the fire station is on the left side of the school. The fire station is ____ of the school.
- 10.
On the compass rose, there is a direction between north and east. That direction is called ____.
Answer key
Part A — Match each direction to its meaning
- 1.North
- 2.South
- 3.East
- 4.West
- 5.Northeast
Part B — Fill in the blank with a direction word
- 6.south
- 7.north
- 8.east
- 9.west
- 10.northeast
What this sheet teaches
- Name the four main compass directions: north, south, east, and west.
- Identify the intermediate direction northeast on a compass rose.
- Describe where one place is relative to another using direction words.
Notes for the adult
- Students often mix up East and West, placing West on the right because they read left to right.
- Teach the phrase Never Eat Soggy Waffles — N, E, S, W clockwise — to anchor East and West in place.
- A student is ready to move on when they name all four directions correctly without the mnemonic or a visual aid.