Compass
North, East, South, West — opposites, sunrise, and map reading.
Compass
Compass Directions
What you'll learn
- Four main directions: North, East, South, West.
- Opposite pairs: N–S, E–W.
- Sun rises in East — morning direction trick.
- Read simple maps with N arrow up.
Key concepts
Level 1 — Core idea
Verbal: Face sunrise — you face East; left is North, right South.
Symbolic: Clockwise from North: N → E → S → W.
Visual: Plus sign map: N up, E right, S down, W left.
Level 2 — Going deeper
Between directions: NE, SE (intro). On map, north arrow may tilt — turn paper so N points up.
NCERT anchor
NCERT Looking Around 3, Chapter 11 (From Here to There) uses maps. Mark school gate east/west of playground.
Worked example
Opposite of North?
Step 1 — Compass opposites on line
Step 2 — N opposite **S**
Answer: **South** ✓
Face East — which hand points North?
Step 1 — East = forward
Step 2 — Left arm → **North**, right → South
Answer: **Left hand** ✓
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| East where sun sets | Sun confusion | Sun rises East |
| Clockwise from East not known | Order error | Memorise N-E-S-W cycle |
| Left-right swap when facing South | Mirror error | Redraw mini compass |
| Map without north arrow | Assume up = north | Find N symbol first |
Quick check
- Opposite of West?
- Sunrise direction?
- Order clockwise from N.
- Stretch: School is north of park — where is park from school?
Revision tip: Draw compass rose on every direction question — 10 seconds well spent.
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Compass Directions.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Worked example
- Common mistakes
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