For example, children who like to color will enjoy this wall poster which is a map of America. On the map are special landmarks, monuments, and geographical features that can be colored in. The kit includes an activity book with facts about the states plus some markers for coloring.
Games and Activities for Learning American Geography
Learn about the fifty states of the United States with these fun and educational games and hands-on activities.
Learning about America doesn't necessitate boring map worksheets and memorization drills. A lot of geography can be absorbed in enjoyable ways such as puzzles, games, and other activities.
Every American Child Should Know the Geography of the USA
Learn Through Fun Activities and Games
Destination USA
American Geography Board Game
Destination USA is a board game that takes players on a trip around America, collecting state chips and destination cards to win. This game is suitable for ages 8 and up.
Playing games makes learning fun. The same kinds of geography facts learned in a (boring) homework format become delightful when presented in the form of a game. A does of healthy competition against a parent, grandparent, or sibling suddenly makes learning enjoyable.
Top Picks for Geography Games
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Games and Puzzles for Learning American Geography
Scrambled States
Scrambled States is a favorite game of ours. My daughter learned a lot of facts through playing this game over and over: capitol cities, state outlines, general American geography. The clever format and quirky design makes learning geography humorous. For example, the states are drawn with eyes and noses. Some of them have hats or eyeglasses. The game incorporates these silly elements along with the more academic facts of geography --which states border each other or state nicknames.
10 Days in the USA
10 Days in the USA is the American version of the 10 Days series of games. The idea is to plan a trip that takes you across the nation in ten steps, indicated by cards. Arrange your cards in a logical progression geographically and by using appropriate transportation. The map is the game board and has to be referenced repeatedly during play.
Floor Puzzle
This 100 piece puzzle is unique in that the pieces are state shaped. So not only do you have the visual spatial fun of a jigsaw puzzle but you also can learn the outlines of the states and how the states fit together to make the nation. The physical act of handling the shapes, sorting them by region, fitting them together, and rearranging them is a wonderful hands-on way to become familiar with the structure of the fifty American states.
By dividing up the state pieces into groups, you could create quick map drills or sorting games.
Make Your Own Geography Games
Creative Geography Lessons
Make impromptu games by printing out some state outline pages (see links below). Lay the pages on the floor, and have children jump to the states that answer the questions you ask:
- capitols
- nicknames
- border states
- geographical features
More Geography Ideas and Lessons
Living Geography for Homeschool
Suggestions for teaching geography from a Charlotte Mason perspective.
Sheppard Software Online Games
Play these free online games to learn the locations of the states or memorize the states and their capitols.
Using Map Drills for Learning Geography
A simple way to foster memorization of maps and geography through short, daily drills.
Printable USA Maps
Lots of formats -- outlines, counties, labeled and unlabeled. Print and learn.
Crayola Coloring Pages for the 50 States
These attractive printables have state outlines plus facts about each state.
More Games and Fun
For Learning
Hands-on Activities for Ancient EgyptEncourage a fascination of history with gifts and toys that explore the culture and mythology of Ancient Egypt. Use these products to add a hands-on element to your unit study.
Games for Homeschool Language ArtsThere are board and card games that develop language arts skills while providing family fun. Stock your homeschol game closet with a game to exercise the verbal part of the brain.
Storytelling for Language Arts DevelopmentCreating imaginative stories is not just fun, it's a great way to develop literacy skills in young children. Use these aids to help you and your children make up stories.
Comments
Map Quiz GameJan 26, 2012
Marianne WartoftJan 26, 2012
Sheri_OzJan 23, 2012