How can you tell what the directions are from the stars in your hemisphere?

In the northern hemisphere you want to look for Polaris or the northern star. This star is special as it does not move much, and is always in the north. All of the other stars appear to rotate around it as the earth spins on it's axis. You can find this star by looking for the Big Dipper, take the end two stars opposite the handle and continue the imaginary line further until you get to it, the end of the Little Dipper.

In the Southern Hemisphere, look for the Southern Cross.