All Activities
Geography

Compass Bearings Walk

Overview

Students follow direction instructions to navigate a simple outdoor route.

Learning Objective
Students use cardinal and intercardinal directions to navigate.

Resources needed

  • Open space
  • Direction labels (N, S, E, W) placed around the area

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Place direction labels at key points.
  2. 2 Explain cardinal (N, S, E, W) and intercardinal (NE, NW, SE, SW) directions.
  3. 3 Give students a set of movement instructions (e.g. 5 steps north, then 3 east).
  4. 4 Students follow the route.
  5. 5 Check where they end up.
  6. 6 Students create their own instruction routes.
  7. 7 Partners follow and check.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Add a simple map to follow.
  • Use a sun-based compass for north.
More information

Teach north, south, east, west, northeast, southwest.

Use only four cardinal directions.

Can students follow a four-step direction route and end at the correct location?

Mark directions with stones or sticks. Use the sun for north. No printed materials needed.

Students frequently confuse east and west. A reliable memory aid: the sun rises in the East (E looks like a rising sun).

Foundation skill for map reading and fieldwork.

Activity details
Primary Medium 20–25 minutes 5 mins prep Pairs Outdoor
Topics
Direction Fieldwork