Directions and positions (southeast, northeast, southwest and northwest)

Welcome, Young Explorer!

Have you ever wondered how people found their way across the ocean before GPS? Or how a pilot knows exactly where to fly? They use directions! In this chapter, we are going to move beyond simple North, South, East, and West. We are going to learn about the "in-between" directions that help us be even more precise. By the end of these notes, you’ll be a pro at reading a compass and finding your way anywhere!

Let’s Recap: The Four Main Directions

Before we learn the new directions, let’s quickly review the four main directions (also called cardinal directions) that you learned in P2:

• North (N): Points towards the top of most maps.
• South (S): Points towards the bottom.
• East (E): Points to the right.
• West (W): Points to the left.

Memory Trick!
Just remember: Never Eat Soggy Waffles! (Goes clockwise: North, East, South, West).

The Four New Directions: The "In-Betweens"

Sometimes, a place isn't exactly North or exactly East—it's somewhere in the middle! We call these intercardinal directions. There are four of them you need to know:

1. Northeast (NE)

This is the direction exactly halfway between North and East.
Example: If the sun is rising (East) but you are also looking toward the top of the map (North), you are looking Northeast.

2. Southeast (SE)

This is the direction halfway between South and East.
Example: If you walk toward the bottom-right corner of your classroom, you are walking Southeast.

3. Southwest (SW)

This is the direction halfway between South and West.
Example: A bird flying toward the bottom-left of a map is heading Southwest.

4. Northwest (NW)

This is the direction halfway between North and West.
Example: The corner between the top and the left side of your paper is Northwest.

Quick Review Box:
NE = North + East
SE = South + East
SW = South + West
NW = North + West

Key Takeaway: When naming these directions, we always put "North" or "South" first. We never say "East-North"; we always say Northeast!

How to Read an 8-Point Compass

Imagine a pizza cut into 8 equal slices. Each line pointing out is a direction!
1. Start at the top (North).
2. Move your finger clockwise. The next line is Northeast.
3. Keep going to find East, then Southeast, then South, then Southwest, then West, and finally Northwest.

Step-by-Step: Finding Directions from a Point
When a question asks "In what direction is the Park from the School?", follow these steps:
1. Put your "mental compass" right on top of the starting point (the School).
2. Draw a line from the School toward the Park.
3. See which direction the line points! If it points to the top-left, the Park is Northwest of the School.

Did you know?
A real compass has a magnetic needle that always points to the Magnetic North. Once you know where North is, you can find all the other seven directions easily!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Here are two things to watch out for:
• The Wrong Order: Remember, North and South are the "leaders." They always come first in the name (e.g., Northwest, not Westnorth).
• Mixing up East and West: If you get confused, remember that West and East spell the word "WE" when you look at the compass from left to right!

Real-World Example

Imagine you are standing in the middle of a park:
• The Library is at the top right: It is Northeast (NE).
• The Swimming Pool is at the bottom right: It is Southeast (SE).
• The Playground is at the bottom left: It is Southwest (SW).
• The Car Park is at the top left: It is Northwest (NW).

Key Takeaway Summary:
The four intercardinal directions are Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), Southwest (SW), and Northwest (NW). Using these 8 points helps us describe exactly where things are located on a map or in real life!