- Definition
Cardinal directions are the four main directions: North, South, East, and West. They help us understand where things are located on a map or in the world.
On a map of your town, the top of the map usually points North.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Cardinal directions are like the four main paths on a treasure map that always point to North, South, East, or West.
Ask your child: If the sun rises over there, which direction is that?
Common mix-up: Kids may think directions are just 'left' and 'right.' Cardinal directions are fixed points, so North is always North, no matter which way you are facing.
Examples
- The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
- If you are facing North, your back is to the South.
- On a compass, the needle always points to the North.
cardinal directions is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
