How to Remember the 50 States of America

You probably haven't been asked to name all 50 states since your elementary geography class, but it is something all Americans should be able to do. Learning the states isn't just patriotic, it will keep you from looking bad if a coworker or friend asks you "What's that state above California?" (It is Oregon). There are tricks to use when learning all the states and their placement on a map.

Instructions

1. Look at a map of the United States and divide it by row. For example, the first row up to the Great Lakes includes Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. For those areas that do not line up neatly into rows, group the states vertically.

2. Create an acronym for each row using the first letter of each state. The top row of states could become "Why I Might Need My Work". The "W' from Washington becomes "why," the "I" from Idaho becomes "I" and so on.

3. Memorize each acronym and what it signifies. Start with the top row and don't move on until you have memorized it. Take a break between memorizing rows so you don't mix them up.

4. Practice what you have learned by filling out a blank map. Repeat this until you get all the states right. If you are having trouble doing the entire map, break it up into your original sections and practice on each section one at a time.

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Tips & Warnings

• After practicing, if you keep forgetting a certain state, try associating it with something. For example, California looks like a "C."

References

• Intelegen: Mnemonic Techniques and Specific Memory Tricks to Improve Memory, Memorization

Resources

• Educatation Place: Outline Maps