Grades 3–5
How Far Is It? Using a Map Scale
Measure straight roads with a ruler on a map drawn to scale (1 inch = 10 miles) and work out the real distances between the farm, the town, the lake and the school.
Social studies worksheet · Maps and cardinal directions
Around the Park: In-Between Directions
A 25-square park map for the intermediate directions: what is northeast of the statue, which way is the gate from the pond, and more.
- Grade level
- Grades 3–5
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Map skills, Cardinal and intermediate directions, Grids and coordinates, Map keys and scale
What kids do
“Use the park map and the compass rose. Northeast is between north and east, and so on.”
Printed on the sheet:
- 1. What is just northeast of the
- 2. What is just southwest of the
- 3. What is just northwest of the
- 4. What is just southeast of the
- 7. Start at the Fountain. Go 2 squares east, then 1 square southeast.
- 8. Start at the Woods. Go 2 squares northeast, then 1 square north.
Words on this sheet
Boat dockRose gardenPicnic tablesParking lotSwingsBenchSnack standBike rackDog parkBig oak treeStatueSoccer fieldGardenSandboxSlidecourtBus stopWoodsBridgeSkate parkGateUse the mapNWNE
Teacher tip
Review the in-between directions on the compass rose first.
How to use it
- Label north, south, east and west on the classroom walls before the sheet.
- Play a quick direction game: “Take two steps north.”
- Pair it with a picture book or a short video on the same topic.
Watch for
Kids who think north means “up” on any page. Turn the map and talk about it.
Talk about it
- How would you give a friend directions to your house?
- How does this connect to where we live?
Take it further
Hide a treasure in the classroom and give directions to find it.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More maps and cardinal directions worksheets
Grades 2–5
Landforms and Bodies of Water
Match 8 geography words, from mountain and valley to island, peninsula, lake and river, to their meanings, then draw a landform you have seen.
Grades 3–5
Hemispheres: Halves of the Earth
A world map with the equator and prime meridian drawn in: name the hemisphere each continent is in and answer questions about the two halves of the Earth.
Grades 1–3
Map or Globe?
12 sentences that compare maps and globes: Which one can fold into a pocket? Which one shows the true shapes of the continents? Answer key included.
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