Compass Directions — Interactive Lesson (Year 2)

Which way is Steve facing after a quarter turn? This 15-slide interactive lesson teaches compass directions, using a grid to make North, East, South and West concrete.

Mastering Compass Directions in Year 2 Maths

Pupils learn to use compass direction to describe, place and locate the position of shapes and objects on a grid, and to describe movement using North, East, South and West. They move a bus, a balloon or a dice a given number of squares in a compass direction, work out how Steve reaches a house using directions such as 5 squares West and 2 squares North, and decide whether a sequence of moves goes clockwise or anti-clockwise. Turn questions ask pupils to state a new facing direction after a quarter or half turn.

What’s Included

• 15-slide interactive lesson on compass directions
• Learning objectives on describing position and movement with compass points
• Grid movement activities using North, East, South and West
• Clockwise versus anti-clockwise direction questions
• Quarter and half turn questions with instant feedback

Key Benefits for Students

• Builds confident use of all four compass points
• Links compass directions to movement on a grid
• Connects directions to clockwise and anti-clockwise turns
• Instant feedback on answer questions

Why Teachers Love It

• No prep — ready for whole-class teaching on an interactive whiteboard
• A concise lesson that fits a single session
• Self-marking questions support independent practice
• Suits teaching, revision and homework
• A dependable foundation before coordinates and bearings

Love this? You’ll love…

• Describing Turns — Interactive Lesson (Year 2)
• Shapes And Patterns: Maths Geometry & Pattern — Interactive Lesson (Year 2)
• Interpret Pictograms (2, 5 And 10) — Interactive Lesson (Year 2)

A dependable addition to a Year 2 geometry topic, giving pupils confident, grid-based practice with compass directions and turns. This groundwork supports coordinates and bearings later in the curriculum.

Build confident direction skills today — Add to Basket.

FAQs

What year group is this for?
Year 2 (ages 6–7), KS1.

Does it cover clockwise and anti-clockwise turns?
Yes — alongside the four compass points.

Is it self-marking?
Yes, with instant feedback on the questions.