Follow the Directions

In this activity, we're going to learn about the different compass directions.

 

 

Imagine you are the rocket in the grid below, think about how you need to turn and move.

 

You could even stand up, pretend to be the rocket, and follow the directions to work out which direction you will end up facing or you can use the picture and squares to help you. 

 

 

Example

I start facing north.

I fly two paces north and turn right a quarter turn.

I fly forward two paces and turn right a quarter turn.

In which direction will I now be facing?

 

 

Answer

Here is how the rocket moves. 

The rocket is already facing north, the first movement is to fly 2 paces in the north direction. 

 

  

 

 

Next, the rocket needs to turn right a quarter turn. If you look at the bottom of the grid we can see which direction is right, so we turn the rocket a quarter turn in this direction. 

 

  

 

 

Now it says we fly forward 2 paces, so the rocket will move forward two boxes in the direction it is already facing. 

 

  

 

 

Finally, the rocket takes another right quarter turn which puts the rocket into the final position. 

 

  

 

Now we can see the rocket's final position. If we look at our compass we can see it is facing the same direction as the S. The S stands for south. 

 

The answer is south