Learning the States and Capitals

Creative Ways to Commit These Facts to Memory

Nov 27, 2007 Denise Oliveri

Learning all 50 states in America can be fun, if you know how to do it creatively. Take a look at some of these ideas.

For kids, learning the states and the capitals can be quite boring or quite interesting depending on how this information is taught. Kids will retain the information much better by using an interactive teaching approach rather than rote memorization. If you are homeschooling your kids and you need some good ways to teach the states and capitals, then here are some fun ways to do it.

Write for Information

In you quest for knowledge have your child write (or email) for information about each state. Most states have an official agency and website that will send you a packet of information about each state. For example, you can send an email to the Texas website and they will mail you a free packet containing a Texas travel guide, a map and general information about the state. This is a great way for you and your child to see what each state has to offer and it will be fun for your child to get all that mail. Have a United States map and mark off each state as the information arrives. Once you get the information, have your child make a book or notebook containing all the important information about each state.

Write a Story

Another way you can teach your child the states and capitals is to have them write stories about each state. After gathering information about each state, have your child write a story about each one. Give them prompts such as "I am taking a vacation to Montgomery, Alabama. While I am there, I will…." Have your child include information about the capital and what each place has to offer. Include pictures, too. If your homeschooler likes working on the computer, another option is to have your child make a travel brochure for each state and capital using information they have found during her research.

Visit Your State Capital

A good way to get your child to really understand the significance of the capitals of the states is to make a trip to your own state capital. Even if you do not live near it, make it a short weekend trip. Tour the capital and the surrounding city. This will give your child a good understanding of what is done at the capital and the way state government works.

Use the Internet

Of course no teacher, whether for homeschool or not, wants to depend completely on using worksheets and quizzes. The Internet is a great source of these types of study aids. If you need fill in the blank worksheets, printable flashcards or even quizzes about each state, then get online and you will find a wealth of information that you can use.

The copyright of the article Learning the States and Capitals in Homeschooling is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish Learning the States and Capitals in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Learn the States and Capitals