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Maps and Directions

NCERT Class 5 · Mathematics Based on NCERT Class 5 Mathematics textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter introduces students to the concept of directions (North, South, East, West) and how to locate places using maps. It explains how to find directions by facing the rising sun, read simple maps with keys and symbols, and use grid coordinates to pinpoint locations. The big idea is that maps are tools for understanding where things are in relation to each other, and directions help us navigate the world around us.
Key Concepts (12)
Cardinal Directions
The four main directions: North, South, East, and West.
e.g. When Manu faces the rising sun, he is facing East. His left hand points North, his right hand points South, and West is behind him.
East
The direction in which the Sun rises in the morning.
e.g. If you stand facing the rising Sun, you are facing East.
West
The direction opposite to East, where the Sun sets in the evening.
e.g. If you are facing East, West is behind you.
North
The direction to your left when you are facing the rising Sun (East).
e.g. When Manu faces East, his left hand points North.
South
The direction to your right when you are facing the rising Sun (East).
e.g. When Manu faces East, his right hand points South.
Map
A drawing or representation of a place, showing where things are located, often using symbols and a key.
e.g. The street map shows the bus route from the parking area to Stop 1 and Stop 2.
Key (or Legend)
A part of a map that explains what the symbols, colours, and lines on the map mean.
e.g. In the metro map, different coloured lines represent different metro routes, and the key tells you which colour stands for which line.
Grid
A network of horizontal and vertical lines used to locate points on a map by using coordinates.
e.g. In the zoo map, the panda is at (1,1) — meaning 1 step east and 1 step north from the starting point (0).
Coordinates
A pair of numbers (like (row, column)) that tells the exact position of a point on a grid.
e.g. The tortoise is at (4,1) — 4 steps east and 1 step north from the starting point.
Route
A path or way from one place to another, often shown on a map with lines or arrows.
e.g. The bus route from the parking area goes north, then takes a right turn onto Hospital Road driving east to reach Stop 1.
Compass
A tool that shows directions (North, South, East, West) using a magnetic needle.
e.g. A compass helps travellers find their way even when the Sun is not visible.
Migration
The seasonal movement of birds from one place to another, often over long distances.
e.g. Siberian Cranes fly all the way from Siberia to India every year.
Formulas & Equations (2)
Facing the rising Sun → East is in front, West is behind, North is left, South is right.
Reads as: When you face the rising Sun, East is in front, West is behind, North is on your left, and South is on your right.
Variables: No variables — this is a rule for finding directions.
Use when: Use this when you need to find the four cardinal directions outdoors during daytime.
⚠ Students often think North is to the right when facing East, but it is actually to the left.
Grid coordinates: (horizontal steps east, vertical steps north) from starting point (0).
Reads as: To locate a point on a grid, first move horizontally east the given number of steps, then move vertically north the given number of steps.
Variables: Horizontal steps = number of columns moved east; Vertical steps = number of rows moved north.
Use when: Use this when reading or plotting positions on a grid map, like the zoo map.
⚠ Students sometimes reverse the order — moving north first instead of east first. Always move horizontally first, then vertically.
How It Works
Finding Directions by Facing the Rising Sun
  1. Step 1: Stand facing the direction where the Sun rises in the morning — that is East.
  2. Step 2: Your left hand will point to North.
  3. Step 3: Your right hand will point to South.
  4. Step 4: The direction behind you is West.
💡 Students often confuse left and right. When facing East, left is North, right is South — not the other way around.
Reading a Map with a Key
  1. Step 1: Look at the map and find the key (legend) that explains the symbols.
  2. Step 2: Identify what each symbol, colour, or line represents.
  3. Step 3: Use the key to understand the features on the map (e.g., roads, bus stops, metro lines).
  4. Step 4: Use the direction arrow (usually showing North) to orient the map correctly.
💡 Students often ignore the key and guess what symbols mean — always refer to the key first.
Using Grid Coordinates to Locate a Point
  1. Step 1: Start from the origin (0) at the bottom-left corner of the grid.
  2. Step 2: Move horizontally east the number of steps given as the first coordinate.
  3. Step 3: Then move vertically north the number of steps given as the second coordinate.
  4. Step 4: The point where you stop is the location of the object or animal.
💡 Always move east first, then north. Reversing the order gives a wrong location.
Describing a Route Using Directions
  1. Step 1: Identify the starting point and the destination on the map.
  2. Step 2: Trace the path using roads or paths shown on the map.
  3. Step 3: Describe each turn and the direction of travel (e.g., 'go north, then take a right turn onto Hospital Road driving east').
  4. Step 4: Note landmarks or stops along the way.
💡 Students forget to mention the road name or the direction after a turn — both are required for full marks.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing Left and Right When Facing East
✗ When facing the rising Sun, my left hand points South and my right hand points North.
→ This is incorrect because when you face East, your left hand actually points North (not South) and your right hand points South (not North).
✓ When facing the rising Sun (East), my left hand points North and my right hand points South.
⚠ Reversing Grid Coordinates Order
✗ To find the panda at (1,1), I move 1 step north first, then 1 step east.
→ The rule is to move horizontally (east) first, then vertically (north). Moving north first gives a different point on the grid.
✓ To find the panda at (1,1), I move 1 step east first, then 1 step north.
⚠ Ignoring the Map Key
✗ The blue line on the metro map means the train goes to the zoo.
→ Without checking the key, you cannot know what the blue line represents. The key tells you which metro line each colour stands for.
✓ According to the key, the blue line represents the Blue Line metro route. I need to check the map to see if it goes to the zoo.
⚠ Mixing Up East and West in Bird Migration
✗ The Siberian Crane flies from East to West to reach India.
→ The poem says the chicks flew 'from East to West' and 'North to South', but the Siberian Crane flies from Siberia (North) to India (South) — not East to West.
✓ The Siberian Crane migrates from Siberia (a cold place in the North) to India (in the South).
⚠ Forgetting to Mention Both Distance and Direction
✗ The ant crawls east to get to the sugar.
→ The answer is incomplete — it must include both the distance (how many cm) and the direction.
✓ To get to the sugar, the ant has to crawl 3 cm towards the east.
Compare & Contrast
Position relative to the rising Sun
East
West
East is the direction of the rising Sun; West is the opposite direction, where the Sun sets.
Order of movement on a grid
Grid Coordinates (east first, then north)
Reversed Order (north first, then east)
The correct method is to move east first, then north. Reversing the order leads to a different location on the grid.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each) on directions and map reading, 1 Short Answer (3 marks) on grid coordinates or route description, 1 Long Answer (5 marks) on interpreting a map and answering multiple questions.
Most asked: Identifying cardinal directions by facing the rising Sun · Reading a map and using the key · Using grid coordinates to locate points · Describing a route using directions and distances
Don't skip: Describing a route with directions and distances (e.g., bus route or ant path); Locating points on a grid using coordinates
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. The four cardinal directions are North, South, East, and West.
  2. When you face the rising Sun, you are facing East.
  3. When facing East, your left hand points North and your right hand points South.
  4. West is the direction behind you when you face East.
  5. A map key explains what the symbols and colours on a map mean.
  6. Grid coordinates are written as (horizontal steps east, vertical steps north).
  7. Always move east first, then north when using grid coordinates.
  8. A route description must include the road name and the direction of travel.
  9. The Siberian Crane migrates from Siberia to India every year.
  10. A compass is a tool that helps find directions using a magnetic needle.
  11. The tent to the west of the road is blue in the bird-watching camp map.
  12. The ant must crawl 2 cm east to reach the laddoos.
  13. The panda is located at (1,1) on the zoo grid map.
  14. The bus goes north from the parking area, then turns right onto Hospital Road driving east to reach Stop 1.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. When you face the rising Sun, which direction are you facing?

  • A. North
  • B. East ✓
  • C. West
  • D. South

Answer: B — The Sun rises in the East, so when you face the rising Sun, you are facing East.

Q2. If Manu is facing East and turns to his left, which direction will he face?

  • A. East
  • B. South
  • C. North ✓
  • D. West

Answer: C — When facing East, your left hand points North, so turning left means facing North.

Q3. On a map, if North is at the top, where is South?

  • A. At the top
  • B. At the bottom ✓
  • C. On the right side
  • D. On the left side

Answer: B — South is the opposite direction from North, so if North is at the top of a map, South is at the bottom.

Q4. What does the grid position (4,2) mean?

  • A. 4 steps North and 2 steps East
  • B. 4 steps East and 2 steps North ✓
  • C. 2 steps East and 4 steps North
  • D. 2 steps North and 4 steps East

Answer: B — On a grid, the first number is columns (East-West movement), so (4,2) means 4 steps East and then 2 steps North.

Q5. A compass rose on a map shows _________.

  • A. only North direction
  • B. the shape of the land
  • C. all four cardinal directions (N, S, E, W) ✓
  • D. where all the houses are

Answer: C — A compass rose is a symbol on maps that shows all four cardinal directions to help readers understand which way is North, South, East, and West.

Q6. In your classroom, your desk is to the South of the window. In which direction is the window from your desk?

  • A. South
  • B. West
  • C. North ✓
  • D. East

Answer: C — If your desk is South of the window, then the window is in the opposite direction, which is North from your desk.

Q7. The Siberian Cranes fly from Siberia to India. In which direction do they fly?

  • A. North
  • B. East
  • C. West
  • D. South ✓

Answer: D — Siberia is a cold place in the North, and India is to the South, so the cranes fly southward from Siberia to India.

Q8. A bus goes North from the parking area and then turns right. In which direction is the bus now traveling?

  • A. North
  • B. South
  • C. East ✓
  • D. West

Answer: C — When facing North and turning right, you turn to face East.

Q9. Look at this grid. If you start at (0,0) and move to (3,5), how many steps did you move East and then North?

  • A. 3 steps East and 5 steps North ✓
  • B. 5 steps East and 3 steps North
  • C. 8 steps in total
  • D. 3 steps North and 5 steps East

Answer: A — The grid position (3,5) means 3 steps East (first number) and 5 steps North (second number).

Q10. Which of these describes the location correctly?

  • A. The school is West of my house ✓
  • B. The park is left of my house
  • C. The market is nearby my house
  • D. The hospital is close to my house

Answer: A — Using cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) is the correct way to describe locations on a map, not general words like 'left' or 'nearby'.

Flashcards

In which direction does the Sun rise?

The Sun rises in the East direction.

If you face the rising Sun with your left hand pointing where?

Your left hand points North when you face the rising Sun (East).

What are the four cardinal directions?

The four cardinal directions are North, South, East, and West (N, S, E, W).

How do you write a location on a grid map?

You write it as (column number, row number) where you move East-West first, then North-South.

What does a direction arrow or compass rose show on a map?

It shows which direction is North, South, East, and West on the map.

How do you describe where something is in a room?

You say the direction it is from where you stand, like 'The window is to the East' or 'The bed is to the South'.

What does turning right mean when you are facing North?

Turning right when facing North means you turn to face East.

If you are at grid position (0,0) and move 3 steps East and 2 steps North, where are you?

You are at position (3,2) on the grid.

What do different colored lines on a metro map represent?

Different colored lines represent different metro routes that go in different directions.

In which direction would you travel from East to reach West?

You would travel westward (opposite direction from East) to reach West.

Important Board Questions

When you face the rising Sun, your left hand points in which direction? [1 mark]

The rising Sun is in the East. When facing East, think about which direction your left hand points.

Draw a simple room and mark the direction (North, South, East, West) in which your bed, window, and cupboard are located from where you stand. [2 marks]

First, draw a simple room with North pointing up. Then show the bed, window, and cupboard in different directions from the center where you stand. Use direction labels.

Explain with an example how you would guide your friend from your house to the school using directions (North, South, East, West). [3 marks]

Think about the actual route from your house to school. Use cardinal directions to describe the turns: 'Go North on this road, then turn East onto Hospital Road.' Give at least 3 turns.

A bus starts from the parking area at (0,0). It moves 4 steps East to reach Stop 1 at (4,0). Then it moves 3 steps North to reach Stop 2 at (4,3). Draw a grid, mark the parking area, Stop 1, and Stop 2, and show the bus route with arrows. Also, write the directions for each movement. [5 marks]

Draw a grid with numbers on both axes. Mark (0,0) as parking, (4,0) as Stop 1, and (4,3) as Stop 2. Draw arrows showing the bus moving East first, then North. Label each movement with the direction and number of steps.

True or False: If you are at grid position (2,5), you moved 2 steps North and 5 steps East from (0,0). Give a reason for your answer. [2 marks]

Remember the order: the first number in (2,5) is columns (East-West), and the second number is rows (North-South). Check if the statement matches this rule.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Maps and Directions

Q1. Assertion (A):

The Sun rises in the East direction.

Reason (R):

We can find directions by observing where the Sun rises in the morning.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. The reason correctly explains why we know the Sun rises in the East — by observing the rising Sun, we can identify East direction.

Q2. Assertion (A):

On a coordinate grid, the position (4,7) is in the 4th column and 7th row.

Reason (R):

Coordinates are written as (column, row) with the column number first.

Answer: D — A is false but R is true — The assertion is false because (4,7) actually means 4th row and 7th column, not 4th column and 7th row. The reason is also incorrectly stated — coordinates are (row, column), not (column, row).

Q3. Assertion (A):

When facing North and turning right, you will face East.

Reason (R):

Turning right always means turning 90 degrees towards your right side.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both assertion and reason are true. When facing North and turning right 90 degrees, you will indeed face East, and this is correctly explained by the reason about turning right.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Maps and Directions

Case Study:

Priya is helping her mother organize their home. She draws a map of her home with different rooms. The kitchen is to the North of the living room. The bedroom is to the East of the living room. The bathroom is to the West of the living room. Priya marks all these locations on her map with a direction arrow showing North, South, East, and West.

Q1. In which direction is the bedroom from the living room?

  • A. East ✓
  • B. West
  • C. North
  • D. South

Answer: A

Q2. If Priya is in the kitchen and wants to go to the bathroom, in which direction should she go?

  • A. North
  • B. South and then West ✓
  • C. East
  • D. West

Answer: B

Q3. Which room is to the West of the living room?

  • A. Kitchen
  • B. Bedroom
  • C. Bathroom ✓
  • D. No room

Answer: C

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