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Summaries · Grade 4 Geography › Grid references and directions
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Grid references and directions

Directions on a map: the compass, left and right, and how to give someone directions. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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The eight directions

The four main directions are North, East, South and West. Between them are north-east, south-east, south-west and north-west. North is usually at the top of a map.

NNEESESSWWNW
The compass rose with eight directions.
Meerkat tip

A rhyme for the order: Never Eat Soggy Waffles.

Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Turn left, turn right

When you face north, west is on your left and east on your right. When you turn around, left and right swap.

  • Walk north and turn right: now you walk east.
  • Walk south and turn right: now you walk west.
  • Walk east and turn left: now you walk north.
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Grid references

On a map with a grid you find a place with a letter and a number. Everyone uses the same order: first the letter, then the number.

ABCDE4321
The school is in B3. What is in D1?
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Give directions with landmarks

To give someone directions, you use directions and landmarks: “Walk north to the church, turn right and the shop is next to the park.”

Rule

A map is drawn from above (bird’s-eye view), so you can see where everything is.

Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • The four main directions are North, East, South and West, clockwise.
  • Between them are NE, SE, SW and NW.
  • When you face north, west is on your left and east on your right.
  • The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
  • In a grid reference the letter comes first, then the number.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Clockwise from the top: Never Eat Soggy Waffles.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

True or false?

Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.

    Now the real quiz!

    The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.

    Take the quiz: Grid references and directions
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    For parents
    • Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
    • The ticks (“I know this”) are saved on this device only. We never ask for names or emails.

    Follows CAPS for Grade 4 Social Sciences (Geography). Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.

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