Grades 1–5
Treasure Island Grid
A lettered and numbered treasure island map: read grid squares like C4, then draw new things in the squares you are given.
Social studies worksheet · Maps and cardinal directions
Directions Around Town
A 16-square town map with a compass rose: kids find what is north, south, east and west of each place.
- Grade level
- Grades 1–5
- Time
- About 15 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 map and the compass rose to answer each question.”
Printed on the sheet:
- 5. Which way do you go from the
- Home to the Hospital?
- 8. Start at Home. Go 1 square east, then 1 square south. Where are you?
Words on this sheet
FarmPondLibraryFire stationBakerySchoolParkPost officeStoreHomeMuseumZooBankPolice stationUse the map
Teacher tip
Ask kids to put a finger on each place and slide it in the direction asked.
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
- Which way is north in our classroom?
- What did you learn that surprised you?
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 1–5
Make a Map With a Key
Draw a bird’s-eye map of a real place, add a compass rose and build a map key (legend) with your own symbols.
Grades 2–5
Follow the Directions
Follow north, south, east and west steps on a letter grid to spell a secret map word.
Grades 1–3
Map Symbols: What Do They Mean?
Match 8 common map symbols (tent, H, airplane, picnic table, mountains, star, tree and railroad) to what they mean on a map key.
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