Now you can use the compass rose to take a walk on a map. One square of the town is one block.
Key idea
To follow directions, do one step at a time: go the number of blocks in the first direction, stop, then go the next number of blocks in the next direction.
Worked example: A walk in Maple Town
Start at the house in the top left corner. Go 2 blocks south, then 2 blocks east. Where are you?
- South is down. Move down 2 squares: you reach the store.
- East is right. Move right 2 squares.
- You are at the library.
Answer: The library.
Why it works
Directions are like a recipe: do the steps in order. Because north, south, east and west never change, two people who follow the same steps from the same place end up in the same spot.
Common mistake
Two common slips: counting the square you start on as "one" (it is zero; you have not walked yet), and turning the wrong way after the first step. Point to the compass rose before each turn.
For the grown-up. Play "robot" in the yard: you give directions like "3 steps north, 2 steps east," and your child walks them out.