I'll take a stab at this. The lessons will teach you but maybe an added explanation will make it easier to learn.
A common VFR traffic pattern is in the form of a rectangle with the runway being one of the long sides. The direction you take off is considered "upwind" even if there isn't any wind blowing. In real life if there is wind then the take off runway will be the one where you are facing into the wind (if the airport has one. If not then the closest one to facing into the wind is used).
Now that you are in the air you follow the rectangular pattern fly upwind about a half mile and then turn either left or right depending on the pattern. This is why you will hear ATC say, "Fly left downwind, runway 33". This simply means all your turns will be to the left (I'll assume during the explanation that you are flying a left hand pattern) following the rectangular traffic pattern. Once you have turned left or right you will then enter the "downwind" leg of the pattern. This is parallel to the runway and the opposite direction of the one you took of from.
About a half mile past the downwind end of the runway (where you intend to land) you turn left again. This is called turning "Base". If you pick an airport without a tower you will see the ATC menu items "Announce Upwind, Announce Downwind, Announce Base, Announce Final". On a field without a tower everyone makes these announcements so other traffic knows where they are in the pattern.
On Base you are flying 90* toward the runway about a half mile or so out from the touchdown point. When you come even or usually a little before you turn left again. This is known as "Final Approach". here you should be flying straight toward the runway and at the right height with about a 500 ft/min (in the Cessna) descent.
That's a standard traffic pattern for most VFR aircraft. Now if you are flying diagonally or perpendicular (90* or making a "T") with the runway then you enter the pattern at about a 45* angle on the downwind leg.
Is that any help?
What is the leg when you start climbing after you leave upwind? The leg between upwind and downwing has a name doesn't it?
Someone refresh my memory please, or tell me if I'm wrong.
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) on the sim, I found the pattern can be flown fairly realistic especially if you follow the airdrome rules and fly the real life legal circuit hight. (1000 ft AAE..above airdrome elevation for the most part) I have noticed that if you use real world weather, or set your own, when you fly over the airdrome the wind sock will show direction of wind. To do this "real life like" you should be 500 ft above the circuit hight. If a FSS or ATC is available, they will give you winds and altimeter settings. If none, you will have to fly over anyway. While flying over on prelim, you can look down and see the wind sock. Then as you turn to enter your circuit you drop to circuit hight. As for landings in the sim, I have found the way they teach in the "lessons" is not what I am taught to at school. SInce the Cessna virtual cockpit is realistic I will give you a quick run down on how I am taught to land a 172. After doing my prelim check, I turn and drop to circuit hieght. When I turn downwind, I trim for level flight, then radio downwind. Pre check is then done. (check mags-on, master, on, avionics-on, throttle set for reg cruise we use whatever speed 2300 RPM will give, check fuel valves, and mixture rich, carb heat in.) this should be done as soon as you turn downwind. As you come 90* to threshold of runway you will be using, carb heat comes full out. Maintain speed. When runway is approx. 45* to your shoulder. Turn Base. AS soon as you have established straight and level flight, throttle comes full out. Remember to maintain pitch attitude so altitude does not change. When air speed drops past 80 knots, 10*flaps. Then maintain 70 knots with decent. Use a little throttle if needed. As you start your turn for final, call final and get it out of the way. Maintain 70 knots on your approach using throttle if nessesary. AS SOON AS YOU KNOW you can glide to runway with no power......cut all power. Maintain a 70 knots glide. As you cross threshold your speed will slowly drop below 70. You want this now. maintain pitch attitude and hold off for your flair. On approach, use rudder to keep nose pointed down runway and alerons to keep centered on runway. VERY small and light corrections to maintain flight path. If you can master this your landings should be perfect and nice and light touchdowns. Just remember when you go final, PICK A SPOT AND COMMIT yourself to your landing lan of action. I now do this on the simulator in any plane ( keeping in mind that planes operating guidlines for speed ect) and now have great landings. If you really want to challenge yourself, try to land cross wind while slipping and touch down with the wind side wheel first while staying straight. My knuckles were white for a while.... 
