Second Grade · History · week 10

Compass rose mastery

Use the four cardinal directions on a compass rose (North, South, East, West) to describe locations on a map.

A compass rose is a small drawing on a map that shows directions. It has four main directions, called cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. North usually points to the top of the map.

A trick to remember the order going clockwise from the top is "Never Eat Soggy Waffles": North, East, South, West. Once you know where North is, the other three directions fall into place around it.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Draw a large compass rose together and label N, S, E, and W in the correct spots.
  • Practice the phrase "Never Eat Soggy Waffles" out loud until it is memorized.
  • Stand in a real room together and figure out which real wall is North (using a phone compass app or the sun's position) -- point out the other three directions from there.
  • Use direction words during the day: "the mail truck went East," "your room is on the North side of the house."
Talk about it:
  • What does a compass rose show on a map?
  • What is the trick phrase for remembering North, East, South, West?
  • Which direction is our front door facing, do you think?

Mastery looks like: They can name all four cardinal directions in order and use them to describe where something is on a map.

Common stumbles: Mixing up East and West (they are easy to reverse) or forgetting that North is usually at the top of a map.

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