Directions on a MapThe four cardinal points, the four between them, and how to use them.3rd GradeOn almost every map, north is at the top. Everything else follows from that.1NORTH IS UPUnless the compass rose says otherwise — always check it.2THEN CLOCKWISENorth, East, South, West. Never Eat Shredded Wheat.3IN BETWEENNortheast, southeast, southwest, northwest — always thenorth/south part first.4DESCRIBE A ROUTE"Go north two blocks, then east one." No left or right needed.Left and right change depending which way you face. North neverdoes.Directions on a Maplearnposters.com
Directions on a Map — printable social studies wall chart from LearnPosters. Free vector PDF, US Letter and A4.

Directions on a Map, step by step

On almost every map, north is at the top. Everything else follows from that.

  1. NORTH IS UPUnless the compass rose says otherwise — always check it.
  2. THEN CLOCKWISENorth, East, South, West. Never Eat Shredded Wheat.
  3. IN BETWEENNortheast, southeast, southwest, northwest — always the north/south part first.
  4. DESCRIBE A ROUTE"Go north two blocks, then east one." No left or right needed.

Left and right change depending which way you face. North never does.

Questions about the Directions on a Map poster

What’s on the Directions on a Map poster?
4 numbered steps. On almost every map, north is at the top. Everything else follows from that. NORTH IS UP — Unless the compass rose says otherwise — always check it.; THEN CLOCKWISE — North, East, South, West. Never Eat Shredded Wheat.; IN BETWEEN — Northeast, southeast, southwest, northwest — always the north/south part…; DESCRIBE A ROUTE — "Go north two blocks, then east one." No left or right needed.. Left and right change depending which way you face. North never does.
Who is the Directions on a Map poster for?
Directions on a Map is filed under 3rd Grade (ages 8–9), so it matches what that year asks a child to remember. It is equally useful to an older student revisiting social studies, and to the parent or teacher answering the question at the kitchen table.
When should you use the Directions on a Map poster?
Work out which way your front door faces, then describe a journey using only these words. A wall chart earns its place by being glanceable from where the work is happening, so Directions on a Map belongs on the wall where that social studies work actually happens, within glancing distance, rather than filed away.
What other posters go with Directions on a Map?
Three Kinds of Community, Continents & Oceans and Goods and Services sit alongside Directions on a Map in the 3rd Grade set. Printed together they make a wall rather than a single sheet, which is how a reference set actually gets used.Three Kinds of CommunityContinents & OceansGoods and Services
Is the Directions on a Map poster free to download and print?
Yes. Directions on a Map downloads as a free PDF with no account, no email and no watermark, like everything else in the 3rd Grade set. Print as many copies as you like for a home, a classroom, a library or a tutoring group; reselling the file is the only thing the licence rules out.Read the licence
What size does the Directions on a Map poster print at?
Directions on a Map is a vector PDF laid out for US Letter, and prints on A4 with Fit to page — the same file, no separate download. Because every mark on it is drawn rather than photographed, it stays sharp enlarged to A3, A2 or A1 at a copy shop. Colour carries emphasis only, so a greyscale print of Directions on a Map loses nothing.Printing guide

Related posters

Charts that sit alongside Directions on a Map on the same wall.

Browse every 3rd Grade poster, or start from the full catalogue.