50 States and Capitals Activities, Games, Worksheets & More
Ever since my first year of teaching, I have always assessed my students on the 50 United States and their capitals. Because of the value I’ve seen for my students, I plan to continue this best practice for years to come. Being able to identify these major geographic boundaries and cities is something that will never be a waste of time. Whether it's taking a road trip, watching a weather map, following professional sports, or learning about American history, knowing the locations of the United States and their capitals is essential for full understanding of all things USA! Over the past 20 years, I have created and accumulated many resources to help my students study their states and capitals for everyday life, and of course, for the ever anticipated states and capitals tests! In this blog post you will find all the resources I use in my classroom, and hopefully you can find something to use in your classroom as well.
50 States and Capitals Practice Worksheets & Activities
Like anything that must be remembered in life, it takes time and repetition to successfully memorize the states and capitals. With a wide variety of study materials, the 50 States & Capitals Mega-Pack is my favorite bundle of resources which includes so many resources that fit all the various learning styles. Whether it’s study lists, practice maps, a crossword puzzle, or practice worksheets, this pack has what it takes to help your students practice and know the states and capitals. Not only will you receive worksheet activities, but so many of the practice resources will also be available as Google Drive documents for you to assign them in Google Classroom! Here’s what’s included in the Mega-Pack:
United States capitals crossword puzzle
Blank study map of the United States
States and capitals practice worksheets
State research project template
50 states test / 50 capitals test with modified word banks
Study list of states and capitals
Also available in Google Drive format to assign through Google Classroom
“Thank you so much much for this resource! I was so happy when I found it, saved me from having to reinvent the wheel on how I normally test my students on states and capitals. It is a great resource and very easy to use.”
Take States and Capitals Tests in Google Forms
Having a final goal, such as a states and/or capitals test, is a helpful assessment tool in gauging student comprehension. There are certainly a variety of ways to assess student understanding, however the 50 States & Capitals Mega-Pack also includes a variety of tests and modified tests that are easy to implement and are student friendly. Not only will you get tests in a PDF worksheet format, but this resource pack also includes digital tests that are available in a Google Forms format so it’s extremely easy to assign through Google Classroom! If you’d like to try it out, I want to offer you my Google Forms 50 States Map Test for FREE! I think you’ll love the ease and simplicity that it offers. Students can take the test online, and since it’s in a Google Forms format, it’s automatically graded for you! Download the FREE Google Forms States test here!
“Capitals Toss” Classroom Game
One fun classroom game that my students love is the “Capitals Toss!” Here’s how to play:
I ask students to stand up. I toss a ball to one student and say a state.
The student who catches the ball must then say the correct corresponding capital.
If Johnny gets the capital right, he tosses the ball to anther student and stays in the game. If he does not know the correct name, Johnny sits down.
This game continues until all capitals are said for each state or until no one else is standing. As students get better, I keep track of the time so they can try and beat their own score or the score of my other classes. Students love the competition of trying to win and improve!
United States and Capitals Games, Videos, Songs, & Activities
In addition to my 50 States and Capitals Worksheets, here is a list of fun resources you can use to meet all your students’ learning styles!
Guess the states with this fun 50 States Emoji Guessing Game! Perfect for a Friday or that day you have a sub. Whether you make it a race, or a quiet filler, students will love the chance to challenge their brains with these fun emoji guessing worksheets!
When you’ve got 4 minutes to fill, keep your students reviewing and learning with this catchy YouTube video about the U.S. Capitals ☞ Tour The States You Tube Video
Whether you play in class on the SMARTBoard, or assign for study at home, my students love playing these online study games ☞ 50 States and Capitals Game
Many teachers also asses their students on the Presidents of the United States. If you’d like a similar set of resource to help your students know the Presidents, check out my companion Presidents Resources Mega-Pack. You may be surprised, but students love learning all the U.S. Presidents! For a fun YouTube teaser, have your students watch The Presidents Song by Mister Harms!
What Works for You?
I know these resources have been helpful for my students, and I hope you can find something useful for your students as well. Feel free to use any or all of these states and capitals resources in your classroom. I’m always looking to improve my classroom and would love to hear your ideas. What other helpful resources and ideas have you used to help your students learn the states and capitals. Contact me or comment below, as I would love to hear your input! If you’d like to stay up-to-date on future blog posts and other great resource ideas from Mister Harms, follow @misterharms on all social media platforms and join my classroom for future email updates. Hey, I’ll even give you a couple free resource as a friendly thank you!