Reading a Map: Cardinal Directions - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

First, look at the compass rose in the bottom left of the map. It has four arms: up, down, right, and left. We need to label them N (North), S (South), E (East), W (West).

- Up = North
- Down = South
- Right = East
- Left = West

So we’ll write:
- Top arm → N
- Bottom arm → S
- Right arm → E
- Left arm → W

Next, color instructions: land green, water blue. But since we’re not actually coloring here, we just note that for understanding.

Now, let’s answer questions 3–7 using directions.

We use the compass we labeled:

Question 3: The rowboats are _______ of the campfire.

Look at the map:
- Campfire is near the bottom center.
- Rowboats are on the right side, near the water edge.
→ So rowboats are to the east of the campfire.

Question 4: The camping trailers are _______ of the tents.

Camping trailers are at the top left.
Tents are in the middle-left area.
→ Trailers are above the tents → so they are north of the tents.

Question 5: The cabins are _______ of the tents.

Cabins are on the far left.
Tents are to the right of the cabins.
→ So cabins are to the west of the tents.

Question 6: The campfire is _______ of the camping trailers.

Campfire is near bottom center.
Trailers are at top left.
→ From trailers’ view, campfire is down and to the right → but we pick one main direction? Wait — let’s think carefully.

Actually, from the trailers (top left) to campfire (bottom center): it’s mostly south, a little east. But since the question asks for one direction, and campfire is clearly below the trailers → so south.

But wait — let’s check positions again.

Trailers: top left corner area.
Campfire: bottom center, slightly left.

So vertically, campfire is south of trailers. Horizontally, it’s almost same or slightly east — but “south” is the dominant direction.

Yes → south

Question 7: The island is _______ of the cabins.

Island is in the lake, toward the top right.
Cabins are on the far left side.
→ Island is to the right and up from cabins → so primarily east, maybe northeast — but since we only have N/S/E/W, and it’s more to the right than up → east

Wait — let’s be precise.

Cabins: left side, middle height.
Island: upper right part of the lake.

From cabins to island: you go right (east) and up (north). But which is stronger?

Looking at the map, the island is much farther east than north relative to cabins. So best single answer is east.

Alternatively, if we must choose one, and since the island is clearly to the right (east) of the cabins, even though also north, “east” is acceptable.

But let’s double-check with standard mapping: when something is both north and east, we say “northeast”, but since the worksheet only allows north, south, east, west — we pick the primary direction.

In most cases like this, if it’s more horizontal than vertical, we go with east/west.

Here, distance east > distance north → so east

Final Answers:

1. Compass rose:
- Top: N
- Bottom: S
- Right: E
- Left: W

2. Color land green, water blue — (not written, understood)

3. east
4. north
5. west
6. south
7. east

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Final Answer:
1. N (top), S (bottom), E (right), W (left)
2. Land colored green, water colored blue
3. east
4. north
5. west
6. south
7. east