All Class Four Geography and Environment Topics
- Topic 1 Concepts of Maps Continue in the app
- Topic 2 Earth’s Compass Direction Read below · Free
- Topic 3 Drawing Simple Maps Continue in the app
- Topic 4 Uses of Maps Continue in the app
📚 New Terms / Concepts
Direction – The location of something from another thing. It answers the question “Where is … from …?”
Cardinal directions – The four main directions: North, South, East and West.
Ordinal (Intercardinal) directions – The directions between the cardinal points: North-East, South-East, South-West and North-West.
Compass – An instrument used to find directions. The needle always points to the North.
Compass rose – A diagram that shows all the main directions on a map or compass.
1. Introduction
In this chapter, you will learn about the concept of directions on the Earth’s surface.
After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
- Determine the cardinal and ordinal directions on Earth.
- Use the compass directions to locate positions of objects and places on the Earth’s surface.
Practice Questions
1. What will you be able to do after learning this chapter?
2. Meaning of Direction
Direction is the location of something from another thing. It is used to determine where things are located from others.
It can be the direction of a person, a place or an object from another person, place or object.
Direction answers the question: “Where is a person, object or place from another person, object or place?”
Examples of Direction Questions:
- Where in the classroom does Joe sit from Sudi?
- Where is Dodoma from Mwanza?
- Where is Mount Kilimanjaro from Mount Meru?
- Where is the staffroom from the kitchen?
Practice Questions
1. What is direction?
2. Give two examples of direction questions.
3. Using Direction to Describe Position
Direction can be used to describe the position of one thing relative to another.
Example: “David sits to the left of Fatma.”
This means:
- David’s direction is to the left of Fatma.
- Fatma’s direction is to the right of David.
We can also use words such as: in front of, behind, beside, between, near, far from, etc.
Practice Questions
1. What does the sentence “David sits to the left of Fatma” tell us?
4. Cardinal Directions
The four main directions on the Earth are called cardinal directions. They are:
The Four Cardinal Directions
NORTH
← WEST EAST →
SOUTH
- North (N) – Towards the North Pole
- South (S) – Towards the South Pole
- East (E) – Where the sun rises
- West (W) – Where the sun sets
Practice Questions
1. Name the four cardinal directions.
2. In which direction does the sun rise?
3. In which direction does the sun set?
5. Ordinal (Intercardinal) Directions
Between the four cardinal directions there are four other directions called ordinal directions (or intercardinal directions). They are:
- North-East (NE) – Between North and East
- South-East (SE) – Between South and East
- South-West (SW) – Between South and West
- North-West (NW) – Between North and West
Practice Questions
1. Name the four ordinal directions.
2. Which direction is between North and East?
6. Using Compass Directions to Locate Places
We use the compass directions to say exactly where one place is from another.
Examples:
- Dodoma is South of Mwanza.
- Mount Kilimanjaro is East of Mount Meru.
- Dar es Salaam is East of Dodoma.
- The Indian Ocean is to the East of Tanzania.
Practice Questions
1. If the sun rises in the East, which direction is behind you when you face the rising sun?
2. Why is a compass useful?
📝 Chapter Summary
Key Points to Remember
- Direction tells us the location of one thing from another.
- The four cardinal directions are: North, South, East and West.
- The four ordinal directions are: North-East, South-East, South-West and North-West.
- The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
- A compass is used to find directions; its needle points to the North.
- We use directions to locate objects, people and places on the Earth’s surface.
📝 End of Topic Questions
Answer the following questions. Click “Show Answer” to see the correct answer.
A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Direction is ________.
Show Answer
2. The four cardinal directions are ________.
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3. The sun rises in the ________.
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4. The sun sets in the ________.
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5. Which of the following is an ordinal direction?
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6. A compass needle always points to the ________.
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7. The direction between South and East is ________.
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8. Direction helps us to ________.
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9. Which instrument is used to find directions?
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10. When you face the rising sun, which direction is on your left?
Show Answer
B. Short Answer Questions
1. Define the term “direction”.
Show Suggested Answer
2. Name the four cardinal directions and the four ordinal directions.
Show Suggested Answer
Ordinal: North-East, South-East, South-West, North-West.
3. How can you find the East and West directions during the day?
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4. What is a compass and why is it useful?
Show Suggested Answer
5. Give three examples of how we use directions in everyday life.
Show Suggested Answer
2. Locating towns and cities (e.g. Dodoma is south of Mwanza).
3. Finding the position of places such as the staffroom from the kitchen.
✅ Suggested Answers (Summary)
MCQs
1A • 2A • 3A • 4A • 5A • 6A • 7A • 8A • 9A • 10A
Short Answers
Refer to the suggested answers shown after each short-answer question above. Answers may vary slightly as long as the meaning is correct.
Well done! You have reached the end of Earth’s Compass Direction.
Practise finding directions every day!
Ready for the other topics?
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