How to Teach Cardinal Directions to Second Grade
Educators can teach second graders how to identify and use cardinal directions by teaching concrete lessons on north, south, east and west. Students will be fascinated by all the ways the cardinal directions are used in everyday life. Reinforce cardinal directions with students by playing games and completing hands-on activities.
Instructions
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Gather students in a circle and ask about the direction of the sun's location, explaining that it rises in the east and sets in the west and can be used to approximate the time. Use an object such as a pointer to show directions.
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Go over the directions of north, south, east and west with the second graders and have them take turns pointing toward the different cardinal directions.
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Divide the students into groups and have them label various objects throughout the room such as a chalkboard, table, book shelf and cabinet as being north, south, east and west.
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Demonstrate how to use a compass rose and have the students check that all the objects are labeled with the correct cardinal direction.
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Play the cardinal direction game by selecting one student to be "it" and having him close his eyes and count to ten. The other students can choose a side of the room to go to. The person chosen as "it" must then call out one of the cardinal directions and any students in that direction must sit down. "It" continues to close his eyes and call out directions as the other second graders shuffle to different sides of the room. The game is played until there are less than four players left.
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References
- Photo Credit compass image by cico from Fotolia.com
