Compass Rose and Cardinal Directions Worksheets, Activities ... - Free Printable

Let’s go through each question step by step, using the map and compass rose to figure out directions.

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Question 1: Start at the gate and go east. What do you see?

- The gate is at the top of the park (north side).
- “East” means to the right on the map (look at the compass rose — East is to the right).
- If you start at the gate and walk east (right), you’ll reach the Garden.
✔ So, you see the Garden.

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Question 2: Go to the swings. In which direction are they?

- The swings are in the bottom-right part of the park.
- From the center or from the gate, to get to the swings, you’d go south (down) and then east (right).
- But the question asks “in which direction are they?” — meaning, relative to where you’re starting (probably the gate or center).
- Looking at the map, the swings are mostly to the southeast from the gate.
But since this is for young students, we usually pick one main direction if it’s clear.

Actually, let’s look again:
From the gate (top center), to get to the swings, you go down (south) first, then a little right (east). But the swings are more toward the south than east? Wait — no, looking at the layout:

The park has paths dividing it into 4 sections:
- Top left: Ice cream shop & fountain
- Top right: Garden
- Bottom left: Empty grass
- Bottom right: Swings & slide

So from the gate (top center), going straight down leads to the slide/swings area. That’s south.

Wait — actually, the swings are in the bottom-right quadrant. So from the gate, you’d go south AND east → southeast.

But maybe the worksheet expects simple cardinal directions (N, S, E, W).

Looking at the compass rose: North is up, South is down, East is right, West is left.

If you stand at the gate and face the swings, you’re facing southeast, but if we must choose one, perhaps the intended answer is south, because the main path goes down first.

Wait — let’s check Question 3: “Next you come to a fountain.” That suggests a sequence.

Actually, let’s read all questions together — it says “Pretend you are at this park. Use a pencil to trace the way you go.”

So it’s a sequence:

1. Start at gate → go east → see garden.
2. Then go to the swings → what direction are they? From the garden? Or from the gate?

The wording is: “Go to the swings. In which direction are they?”

It doesn’t say from where. But logically, after Q1, you’re at the garden (east of gate). Now from the garden, where are the swings?

Garden is top right. Swings are bottom right. So from garden to swings = south.

Yes! That makes sense.

✔ So, from the garden, the swings are to the south.

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Question 3: Next you come to a fountain. In which direction did you walk?

Now you’re at the swings (bottom right). You go to the fountain.

Where is the fountain? Top left corner.

So from swings (bottom right) to fountain (top left) = you go northwest.

Again, for young students, maybe they expect two directions? But the question says “in which direction” — singular.

Looking at the map: from swings to fountain, you’d go up (north) and left (west) → northwest.

But perhaps the worksheet wants us to think of the main direction? Or maybe it’s okay to say northwest.

Wait — let’s see the path: maybe you don’t go directly. The paths are grid-like.

From swings (bottom right), you can go west along the bottom path to the slide, then north? No, fountain is top left.

Actually, to get from swings to fountain, you’d go west to the center, then north to the top, then west to fountain? That’s complicated.

Perhaps the intended route is: from swings, go north to the garden? No, that’s backtracking.

Wait — maybe the sequence is not from previous location? Let’s reread:

“Pretend you are at this park. Use a pencil to trace the way you go.”

Then:

1. Start at gate → go east → see garden.
2. Go to the swings → direction? (from gate? or from garden?)
3. Next you come to a fountain → direction walked? (from swings?)

This is ambiguous, but likely it’s a continuous path:

Start at gate → go east to garden → then go to swings → then go to fountain.

So:

- Gate to garden: east
- Garden to swings: south (as we said)
- Swings to fountain: now, from bottom right to top left → northwest

But maybe for simplicity, since the fountain is to the left and up, and if we have to pick one, it might be west? No, that’s not accurate.

Alternatively, perhaps from swings, you go west to the slide, then north? But the fountain is not on that path.

Looking at the map: the fountain is in the top-left, near ice cream shop.

To get from swings (bottom-right) to fountain (top-left), the most direct way is diagonally northwest.

I think for this level, "northwest" is acceptable, but let's see if there's a better way.

Another thought: maybe "next you come to a fountain" means after going to the swings, you head toward the fountain, and the direction you walk is from swings to fountain.

And since the compass rose shows intercardinal directions (NE, SE, SW, NW), it's fine to use them.

✔ So, you walked northwest.

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Question 4: If you go north, what will you see?

This depends on where you are when you go north.

The last place mentioned is the fountain (from Q3).

So if you're at the fountain and go north — but the fountain is already at the top-left. Going north from there would take you off the map? Or to the ice cream shop?

Looking at the map: the fountain is below the ice cream shop. So if you're at the fountain and go north, you reach the ice cream shop.

Yes! The ice cream shop is directly north of the fountain.

✔ So, you will see the ice cream shop.

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Now, let’s summarize answers:

1. Garden
2. South (from garden to swings)
3. Northwest (from swings to fountain)
4. Ice cream shop (if going north from fountain)

But let’s double-check Q2: “Go to the swings. In which direction are they?”

If we interpret it as from the starting point (gate), then swings are southeast. But that might be too advanced.

Given that Q1 ends at garden, and Q2 says “go to the swings”, it’s logical to assume from current location (garden).

Similarly, Q3: from swings to fountain → northwest.

Q4: from fountain, go north → ice cream shop.

All consistent.

Final Answers:

1. Garden
2. South
3. Northwest
4. Ice cream shop

But wait — for Q3, is “northwest” expected? Maybe the worksheet only uses N,S,E,W.

Let me look at the compass rose in the image description: it has N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW — so intercardinal directions are included.

So northwest is fine.

Alternatively, perhaps from swings, you go west to the center, then north to the top, then west to fountain — but that’s multiple directions.

The question says “in which direction did you walk?” — implying the overall direction or the main leg.

I think northwest is correct.

For Q2, if from garden to swings, it’s directly south? On the map, garden is top right, swings are bottom right — same column? Not exactly, but close.

Assuming the paths allow direct south movement, yes.

So I’ll stick with:

1. Garden
2. South
3. Northwest
4. Ice cream shop

But let’s write them clearly.

Final Answer:
1. Garden
2. South
3. Northwest
4. Ice cream shop