How to Teach the 50 States & Capitals to a Slow Learner

Familiarize your students with the states and capitals.

Learning the 50 states that make up the United States, and the corresponding capitals, is challenging for any student. It is even more difficult for students who struggle with learning. Teachers can ensure that they remember the content by engaging them in regular, structured practice. With time and dedication, you can successfully teach any student the 50 states and capitals.

Instructions

1. Start with the states. If you attempt to teach struggling students the states and capitals at the same time, they will likely feel overloaded. Save the capital learning until the students have mastered the states.

2. Practice state name recognition with an unscramble game. Type up the names of all the states and clip the letters apart. Instruct students to unscramble them to spell out the state names. This task tests students' basic memory of state names and is a good starting point for learning.

3. Create practice flash cards featuring state shape outlines. Cut out state outlines and glue them to the front of the card, write the state name on the back. Quiz students with these cards to test their state recognition skills.

4. Test the students' understanding of the states with a mini-quiz. Administer the quiz after an extensive period of study.

5. Reteach any states with which students are still struggling. Ensure student understanding before moving forward.

6. Add the capitals. Move through each state, all of which your students should now be able to identify, and discuss the capital of each.

7. Create flashcards featuring the state name on the front, and the capital on the reverse. Quiz your students with these flashcards, or allow them to quiz each other.

8. Make a state and capital match-up game. Write the state names on index cards and the capital names on another set of index cards. Tape all index cards to the wall, placing the states on the left and the capitals on the right. Allow students to use yarn or tape to match up the corresponding state and capital cards.

9. Test the students' understanding of the states and capitals. Administer a new test in which students must both mark the state and write the capital.

10. Reteach any states or capitals that the learners can not yet identify. If students are still struggling, spend more time reviewing, as this continued review will increase overall retention.

References

• EducationWorld: 50 States Five Lessons
• ProTeacher: 50 States Teaching Ideas