Memorizing Maps- mainly 50 States

[NDAMomX2]

DD16 has never, ever, grasped geography. She studies for the one test, manages to pass (sometimes) and then the information is gone untill the next test. Shes memorized the 50 states before, but not in over a year for a test. She is overwelmed with homework tonight, I wish I could memorize for her, but I cant and that doesent solve anything. Does anyone know of any "tricks" that help to memorize the states. How did you go about memorizing maps? All she is doing is staring at this map she filled out, I know that cant be helping. Please if anyone has any tricks I would so so gratefull!!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

My highschool aged DSs always had very good luck with flash cards. Also, google and see if you can find a map of the US that is blank. She can practice with this after the cards. This was a big help to the boys.

 

[Nascia]

I don't think there is any real trick to memorize them, just lots of repetition. My son memorized his by grouping, going north to south and east to west. For instance, he memorized all the Northeast states, then moved to the Mid Atlantic then the Southeastern states. He moved back up and did the Midwest, Plain states and then the Northwest and Southwest. He filled out a regional map each night and has them all down pat now. He's using the same method right now to memorize his countries. Good luck.

 

[becka]

Mneumonics (at least I think that is the word ... I guess vocabulary was not my best subject ).

I know I had the hardest time learning all the countries in Africa so while studying my friend and I made up crazy sentences where each word started with the same letter as the name of a country.

 

[Hollister]

I just kept repeating them out loud when i had to do it. Or make up little jingles to go with it.
im suprised that i still remember them too. she will probably remember after she does the test
i had to memorize them about 3 months ago.

 

[azgal81]

Maybe have here work on memorizing in sections. When I was in school we had to memorize them as well but it was broken up into like six parts when we were first learning. Maybe have her first take a sample test with a blank map to see how many she knows then she will know what ones to study. I'm sure there are also helps like this available online. Online tests/games like this might help as well.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

there is a song I learned in grammer school it is the 50 states in alphabetical order.

I will search for the song I learned it to and post right back

 

[RunDanceSkate]

This is our fav way to do them.

http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf

The first few times have her start by putting in the ones she knows and filling in around that. As she knows more and more have her always do them in alphabetical order. It will become a habit.

Cindy

 

[irishbosoxfan]

Ok I finally found the song!!

there is another one out there called the 50 Nifty or Nifty 50???

But this is the way I learned them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkcR0YKy8gE&mode=related&search=


I have no clue what the song is that it is sung to--that's why it took me so long to find it.

I also learned in grade school a song for the New England states and capitols.

I'll look for that later because I can't remember the song thats sung to either.

 

[ktglads]

I learned them in sections using things that I knew. Like the midwest was New Kids on the Block or NKOTB - Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Texas Border. Little things like that helped me a lot.

Plus, if you do those maps enough times (we did them daily in school for a year), they will become second nature as opposed to the learn and flush method where you forget everything after you take the test

 

[irishbosoxfan]

Ok I asked DH and he said it was sung to Yankee Doodle

But it goes:

Maine-Augusta
Vermont-montpelier
New hampshire-concord
massachusetts-boston
connecticut-hartford
rhode island-providence

 

[cardaway]

Thinking of the shapes always helped me. There were the squiggly ones (states with riveres as borders), the box states, and the small ones in the upper right corner.

Getting a state puzzle might help as well.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

Thinking of the shapes always helped me. There were the squiggly ones (states with riveres as borders), the box states, and the small ones in the upper right corner.

Getting a state puzzle might help as well.

Yeah and have timed contests to see who can put it together the fastest--Do a few "practice" rounds then a couple of real rounds where the prizes for winning can include--not having to pick up her room or not having to empty the dishwasher etc..But the real prize will be she learns about the states.

 

[hopemax]

When you have the blank maps, have her start with your state, and the states around it. And then the other states she knows. Each state you fill in, makes the rest of them easier to do (less possibilities)

Do you have friends/family that live in other states? People seem to be able to remember things that are important to them, so if you can "personalize" them in some way that might help. Maybe research where her favorite bands or celebrities are from.

US Geography, IMO, is something that is very important. When meeting new people, like at college or a job, one of the very first questions is, "Where are you from?" I think you would want to have some sort of reference to where that is.

 

[KariC]

I have a 4.5 year old geography nut....and while it might seem juvenile to a 16 year old, the puzzle seems like a great idea (we have one...most of these are the wood ones, I think). Then quiz her....take out a piece, have her guess which one...

Good luck...I know I only remembered the general area for states...and now I seem to know them all. Have to keep up with the little ones! Plus, I won't want to be embarrassed if I ever go on "Are you smarter than a 5th grader!"

 

[java]

Print out some blank state maps- and have her fill them in- over and over- the only way my son could remember*7th grade.
And this one is even harder because it is blank=but it is a game
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/states_experiment_drag-drop_Intermed_State15s_500.html

My son had no problem with the east coast(we drive it every summer)and the west coast... relatives It was the darn midwest- so we focused on easy to remember ones(like Illinois) and then made up a rhyme for those around it. Start with a blank one though and have her try to fill it in to see what she needs to focus on.

 

[ford family]

There is an online game that uses the "blocks" idea as well as the shape of the states. It is fun to use and, after twoerrors it shows you the right answer.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/USA_G0_click_1024.html

If you want to just go by dragging and dropping the shapes of the states try
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/USA_G1_drag-drop_1024.html

Good luck

ford family

 

[jonestavern]

I=we did the wooden puzzle, "Scrambled States" & had 'Game of the States"

A globe is helpful, a lighted globe for the bedroom is very nice
Put up a map of the US & put a push pin in yr family's significant places:vacation spots, relatives' homes etc

DS memorized the Animaniacs song.
sung to 'Turkey In the Straw"
*******************************************************
Baton Rouge Louisianna, Indianapolis Indiana,
and Columbus is the capital of O-hi-o.

There's Montgomery Alabama,
south of Helena Montana
then there's Denver Colorado,
and Boise Idaho.

Texas has Austin
then we go north,
to Massachusetts Boston
and Albany New York.

Tallahassee Florida
and Washington D.C.,
Sante Fe New Mexico and Nashville Tennessee.
Elvis used to hang out there a lot, you know.

Trenton's in New Jersey north of Jefferson Missouri,
You got Richmond in Virginia,
South Dakota has Pierre,
Harrisburg's in Pennsylvania and Augusta's up in Maine,
and here is Providence Rhode Island next to Dover Deleware.

Concord, New Hampshire, just a quick jaunte,
to Montpelier, which is up in Vermont,
Hartford's in Connecticut so pretty in the fall,
and Kansas has Topeka
Minnesota has St. Paul.

Juneau's in Alaska and there's Lincoln in Nebraska
and it's Raleigh out in North Carolina, and then,
there's Madison Wisconsin and Olympia in Washington,
Pheonix Arizona
and Lansing Michigan.

Here's Honolulu, Hawaii's a joy
Jackson Mississip-pi
and Springfield Illinois,
South Carolina with Columbia down the Way,
and Annapolis in Maryland on Chesapeake Bay,
They have wonderful clam chowder.

Cheyenne is in Wyoming and perhaps you make your home in
Salt Lake City out in Utah where the buffalo roam.
Atlanta's down in Georgia and there's Bismark North Dakota,
and you can live in Frankfurt in your own Kentucky home.

Sa-lem, in Oregon, from there we join,
Little Rock in Arkansas,
Iowa's got Des Moines
Sacramento California,
Oklahoma and it's City,
Charleston West Virginia
and Nevada Carson City.

That's all the capitals, there are!
***************************************************************

Yakko, Wacko & dot also have a countries of the world song which he memorized


Jean

 

[basas]

Hm....tough one.

I was always a geography fan and the 50 states came so easy to me. My friend though...couldn't tell Rhode Island from Texas. Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[PhotobearSam]

My Mom and I test each other all the time on these and we are not even Americain. It's fun for us. I just bookmarked all the games listed here. Mom calls our games a defense against old age.

Thank you everyone for the new sites.