Geography · Year 2 · Our Local Area: Fieldwork and Maps · Summer Term

Using Intermediate Compass Points

Extending knowledge to include North-East, South-East, South-West, and North-West for more precise location descriptions.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: Geography - Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

About This Topic

Using intermediate compass points builds on Year 2 students' knowledge of the four main directions: north, east, south, and west. This topic introduces north-east, south-east, south-west, and north-west to enable more precise descriptions of locations in the local area. Students practise naming all eight points and explaining how the intermediate ones sit between the cardinal directions, such as north-east between north and east. These skills support fieldwork and map use in the unit on Our Local Area.

This content aligns with KS1 Geographical Skills and Fieldwork standards by developing spatial vocabulary and directional language. Students apply compass points to describe positions relative to landmarks, like the school gate is south-west of the playground. Regular practice strengthens observation skills during outdoor surveys and helps students give clear directions, preparing them for more complex mapping in later years.

Active learning suits this topic well. When students handle compasses outdoors, create human compass roses, or follow directional treasure hunts, they experience directions kinesthetically. These approaches make abstract points concrete, boost retention through movement and collaboration, and connect classroom learning to real-world navigation.

Key Questions

1. Can you name all eight compass points?
2. What do you notice about how NE, NW, SE, and SW fit between the four main compass directions?
3. How would you use compass directions to describe where something is?

Learning Objectives

• Identify the position of the eight compass points (North, North-East, East, South-East, South, South-West, West, North-West) on a compass rose.
• Explain the relationship between cardinal and intermediate compass points, describing how NE is between N and E.
• Describe the location of objects or places using at least two intermediate compass points relative to a landmark.
• Compare the precision of location descriptions using only cardinal points versus using all eight compass points.

Before You Start

Identifying Cardinal Directions

Why: Students must first be able to identify and name North, East, South, and West before they can understand how intermediate points fit between them.

Basic Map Symbols

Why: Familiarity with simple map symbols for landmarks helps students understand how to represent and locate features in their local area.

Key Vocabulary

Cardinal Points	The four main compass directions: North, East, South, and West.
Intermediate Points	The four directions that lie exactly between the cardinal points: North-East, South-East, South-West, and North-West.
Compass Rose	A diagram on a map or compass that shows the directions, typically with four cardinal points and four intermediate points.
Relative Position	Where something is located in relation to another object or place.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Intermediate points like north-east are completely separate directions, not between north and east.

What to Teach Instead

Show students a physical compass rose and have them point with their arms to feel the angles. Small group discussions of real-world examples, such as a path north-east of the school, clarify positioning. Hands-on manipulation corrects this by linking visual and kinesthetic cues.

Common Misconception

North-east always points to the right side of a map, regardless of orientation.

What to Teach Instead

Use rotating compasses in outdoor activities to demonstrate that directions are absolute, not map-relative. Pairs practise reorienting maps to north, then describing features. Active fieldwork reveals how maps must align with compasses, building accurate spatial reasoning.

Common Misconception

South-west is opposite north-east on the compass.

What to Teach Instead

Create human compass roses where students physically walk between points to see adjacencies. Group challenges naming opposites reinforce that south-west faces north-east. Movement-based activities dispel confusion through direct experience.

Active Learning Ideas

Outdoor Compass Hunt: Directional Clues

Provide each small group with a compass and clue cards naming intermediate directions to landmarks, such as 'Find the tree north-east of the bench.' Groups record findings on a sketch map and report back. Conclude with a class discussion on patterns noticed.

45 min·Small Groups

Human Compass Rose: Whole Class Formation

Mark a large compass rose on the playground with chalk. Assign students to stand at each of the eight points holding signs. Call out directions for the 'arrow' student to face, then have groups rotate to new positions while naming intermediates.

30 min·Whole Class

Map Description Pairs: Local Area Directions

Give pairs a simple map of the school grounds. One partner describes a location using intermediate points, like 'the gate is south-west of the field,' while the other marks it. Switch roles and check accuracy together.

25 min·Pairs

Compass Point Matching: Individual Puzzle

Students cut out and match intermediate direction labels to a compass rose template, noting positions between main points. They then label their own local map with three locations using full eight-point terms.

20 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Sailors and pilots use all eight compass points to navigate accurately across large bodies of water or through the air, ensuring they stay on course.
• Hikers and orienteers use compasses with intermediate points to follow trails and find specific locations in parks and forests, making their routes more precise.
• Urban planners and architects use directional information to orient buildings for optimal sunlight or to describe the placement of new developments within a city grid.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Provide students with a pre-drawn compass rose. Ask them to label each of the eight points. Then, point to a specific location on a classroom map (e.g., the bookshelf) and ask students to write where it is relative to their desk using one cardinal and one intermediate point.

Discussion Prompt

Show students a simple map of the school playground with key landmarks. Ask: 'If the slide is North of the swings, where might the climbing frame be if it is South-West of the swings?' Encourage students to use the eight compass points in their answers and explain their reasoning.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a card with a picture of a common object (e.g., a tree, a bench). Ask them to draw a simple map showing the object in relation to a school landmark (e.g., the school gate) and label its position using at least one intermediate compass point.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you teach Year 2 students the eight compass points?

Start with familiar four points, then add intermediates using a large playground compass rose. Practise naming and positioning through chants and arm signals. Progress to real applications like describing school features, with daily five-minute reviews to build fluency over the unit.

What activities work best for intermediate compass directions?

Outdoor hunts with compasses, human formations, and map description games engage students fully. These vary grouping for inclusivity and last 20-45 minutes. Follow with sharing observations to consolidate learning and address confusions immediately.

How can active learning help students master intermediate compass points?

Active methods like compass hunts and human roses provide kinesthetic reinforcement, making directions memorable beyond rote memorisation. Small groups collaborate on real tasks, such as locating landmarks, which reveals misconceptions through peer talk. This approach connects abstract skills to the local environment, boosting confidence and retention for fieldwork.

What are common errors with north-east, south-east directions?

Students often treat intermediates as standalone or confuse their positions between cardinals. Correct via physical models and outdoor verification. Regular pair checks on maps ensure precise use, turning errors into learning moments aligned with KS1 standards.