The names of capitals and their corresponding states can be broken down into smaller words or homophones, which are words with similar sounds but different meanings, and then used to create very short stories. These stories can be made quite amusing for children. For example, New Hampshire's capital is Concord. Create a story for a child where a Concorde jet is flown by a hamster (sounds like Hampshire), according to the website Mrs.Jones Room.
For many, flash cards are the most effective way of learning a large number of state capitals in a short amount of time. You can create your own flashcards or download them from a variety of educational websites. To make things more interesting, make it a competition. See if he can improve the number of correct answers each time through the 50 states. Also, adding illustrations with figures that are either homophonic or have something to do with the state or capital can add association keys and humor for the child, aiding in the memorization process. For example, a drawing of a flamingo could be used for Florida, or an automobile for Michigan. Regardless of you or the child's artistic skills, graphics or drawings that depict key features of the capital city or state can add another dimension to the learning, as well entertainment.
Puzzle maps of the United States, those with capitals included, can be an entertaining and multidimensional way to aid children in memorization. To make things funny, add an amusing joke (that has something to do with the state) or perhaps a dance move for every state that the child correctly places on the map. Creativity is the key to adding comedy to the process. Puzzle maps are a great tool because they allow the child, particularly visual learners, to see where the states and capitals are located.
Creating songs by rhyming states and capitals can be a challenging but highly amusing method of memorization. One example from the website Mrs. Jones Room includes the verse "Salem in Oregon, from there we join, Little Rock in Arkansas, Iowa's got Des Moines.
Sacramento, California; Oklahoma and its city, Charleston, West Virginia and Nevada, Carson City." Creativity is the key to making the method funny.