Two tasks make up this 3rd grade map skills sheet. In Part 1 students write N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW from a word bank into eight boxes around a compass rose. In Part 2 they read a zoo map where eight animal exhibits (lions, penguins, giraffes, elephants, zebras, snakes, bears and monkeys) surround a central fountain. Eight questions start at the fountain and ask for an animal or a direction. A small compass rose sits beside the map. Page 4 is the answer key.
“Name the four cardinal and four intermediate directions on a compass rose.”
Part 1 asks for all eight, from N and S to NE and SW.
“Use a compass rose to describe where one place is from another on a map.”
Part 2 questions 1 to 8 use the fountain as the starting point and the small compass rose beside the map to read each direction.
A word bank gives each direction with its abbreviation, such as NE (Northeast). Students write one in each of the eight boxes around the compass rose.
Eight exhibits around a fountain, joined by paths. Four questions ask which animal is north, west, south or east of the fountain, and four ask which direction the elephants, penguins, monkeys and snakes are from it.
The eight labels listed by position (top, top-right, right and so on), then the animal or direction for each zoo question.
Stand and point
Mark north on one classroom wall. Call out a direction and have students point, then name an object in that direction, before they pick up the pencil.
Cover the word bank
Once students have done Part 1 with the bank, ask them to label a second compass rose from memory on the back. It shows quickly who has the four in-between directions.
Turn the questions around
Early finishers write two new questions about the zoo map starting from a different exhibit, such as which animal is east of the monkeys, and swap with a partner.
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