A compass allows humans to orient themselves and know which direction is north by using a magnetized needle. It provides an inexpensive way to navigate, especially important before GPS. A compass works by pointing toward the North Pole from anywhere on Earth. It can be used to describe routes and locations using compass points like north, east, south, and west.

1. How can we show direction and distance?
WHAT – To understand how we describe direction and how a
compass is used to show direction.
WHY – So that we can use direction to describe where
something is located.
HOW – By using the compass points to describe routes and
locations.

2. What is this and what is it used for? What activities
would you use it for?

3. How does a compass work?
No matter where you stand on Earth, you can hold a compass in
your hand and it will point toward the North Pole. What an
unbelievably neat and amazing thing! Imagine that you are in
the middle of the ocean, and you are looking all around you in
every direction and all you can see is water, and it is overcast
so you cannot see the sun... How in the world would you know
which way to go unless you had a compass to tell you which
way is "up"? Long before GPS satellites and other high-tech
navigational aids, the compass gave humans an easy and
inexpensive way to orient themselves.
Can you now add to your starter?

4. A way to remember
N
never
NW
wheatabix eat
Soggy
NE
E
SE
S
W
SW

5. The Compass Points. • Direction = the point towards
which you face or move.
• Compass = an instrument used to
find direction; it has a magnetised
needle that points north.
• Compass rose =the pattern on a
map that shows the direction of
north.
• The main (cardinal) compass points
are N (north), E (east), S (south)
and W (west).
1. Copy the diagram and keywords above into your book.
2. Complete the worksheet

6. Practice

7. When using a compass you can use
Degrees to describe how far you
should turn.

8. Calculate the correct directions from Port A
to Port B.