Total Time 30 minutes or less Ages school-age
Learning the four cardinal directions - North, South, East and West - is an important skill for kids. It allows them to participate in map reading and get a feeling for where they are in the world. This easy compass rose craft makes learning the directions fun and easy.
by Holly Homer
What you'll need
Construction Paper
Pencil
Scissors or Craft Knife
Fabric hook-and-loop Dots
Helpful Tip:
Use very small amounts of hook-and-loop tape. I used too much and it was difficult for my son to pull off the direction labels for each attempt.
Variations:
Once your child has learned the directions, use your compass rose to send him on a treasure hunt!
How to make it
1. Create a template on regular paper with a pencil for the framework of the compass rose. It could be a simple cross line pattern or fancier depending on how much time is invested. I searched online for a compass rose pattern and then traced it onto paper.
You will need a larger cross for the cardinal directions and a smaller cross for the intermediate directions.
2. I traced my template onto construction paper. The larger cross was on a different color than the smaller one.
3. Glue the smaller cross onto a large sheet of construction paper - I used 12 x 12. This will be used for the intermediate or ordinal directions. Then glue the larger one on top that will signify the cardinal directions.
4. Cut out 8 small small squares and label them N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, and NW.
5. Use hook-and-loop tape or dots to affix the direction squares you just made to the compass rose.
6. Remove all the directions and have your child attempt to add them to the proper place. Make a game out of it!
Crafts
