Compass Rose A compass rose is a tool that is found on maps to show directions. It contains cardinal directions, north, south, east, and west. You will see these abbreviated on the compass rose with the capital letters, N, S, E, and W. North will always point toward the North Pole and South points toward the South Pole.

You may also see intermediate directions on a compass rose. These directions are northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast. They are abbreviated NE, SE, NW, and SW. The intermediate directions are located between each of the cardinal directions as a way to be more specific.

Cut out and glue each each direction onto the correct place on the compass rose. Then, color each section of the compass rose using the key below.

KEY

North – Red

South – Blue

East – Orange

West – Purple

Northeast – Pink

Northwest – Gray

Southeast – Yellow

Southwest - Green

NE W SW N E NW S SE Compass Rose QUIZ

1. Why is it important to include a compass rose on a map?

______

2. What are the cardinal directions? Please write the whole word.

______, ______, ______, ______

3. What are the intermediate directions? Please write the whole word.

______, ______, ______, ______

4. Label the compass wrote with both the cardinal and intermediate directions. You may use the abbreviations.

using a Compass Rose Use the map and compass rose to answer the questions.

N

NW NE

W E

SW SE S 1. Which state is northeast of Oklahoma? ______

2. Which state is east of Illinois? ______

3. Which state is southwest of Wyoming? ______

4. Which state is north of North Carolina? ______

5. Which state is west of Louisiana? ______

6. Arizona is south of which state? ______

7. West Virginia is southeast of which state? ______

8. Washington is northwest of which state? ______

9. Ohio is southeast of which state? ______

10. Colorado is west of which state? ______

Compass rose – following directions

Follow the directions below. Use the key and the compass rose to help you.

Oak Court

Elm Street BirchDrive Willow Road

Maple Road

N Key/Legend NW NE playground school library W E police station hospital house SW SE post office golf course bus stop S

1. Draw a playground south of Elm Street and west of Birch Drive. 2. Draw a post office west of Willow Road and east of Birch Drive. 3. Draw a hospital east of Oak Court. 4. Draw a police station southwest of the hospital. 5. Draw a library west of Willow Road. 6. Draw a school northwest of the library. 7. Draw a bus stop north of Elm Street and west of Birch Drive. 8. Draw a house southeast of the playground.