Map Skills Getting from your house to another destination is something you do everyday. Have you ever thought about how you would tell someone how to get to your house? Using directions is the best way to help someone find where they want to go. Maps can help us get from one place to another. Being able to read and understand maps is important too.

Directions There are two main directions on a map. Cardinal directions – the 4 main directions on a map or globe (North, South, East, and West). Intermediate directions – located between the main directions on a map or globe (Northwest, Southwest, Northeast and Southeast).

Cardinal Directions

North North is the direction pointing towards the North Pole. North of MS is Tennessee.

South South is the direction pointing towards the South Pole. South of MS is Louisiana.

East East is the direction toward the point of the horizon where the sun rises. East of MS is North Carolina

West West is the direction towards the point where the sun is seen to set. West of MS is Texas.

Compass Rose A small graphic on a map showing cardinal and intermediate directions.

Map or Globe tool used for finding points or places

Intermediate Directions On a map or globe, these directions are in between the cardinal directions. They indicate that the direction is more than one.

Intermediate Directions When you are traveling in directions between north, south, east or west, you are traveling in an intermediate direction. When you drew an arrow from Mississippi to bottom of Texas, the arrow pointed both south and west. This direction is called Southwest. When you drew and arrow from Mississippi to New York City, the arrow pointed north and east - or Northeast. When you name intermediate directions, you use north and south with either east or west to make one word. When describing an intermediate direction you always place north or south in front of east or west. You would NOT say that Hawaii is eastsouth of San Francisco. New York is NOT westnorth of Mexico City.