Using rap music makes learning the state capitals easier and more fun for students. Rhythms and rap songs by EducationalRap.com are available to help students tie memorization to music and rhyming. The rap music can be played in class, at home, and recited by students as an assignment. To add even more creativity, teachers can have students come up with their own raps or rhymes for remembering state capitals.
Matching games are a hands-on technique for learning the state capitals. Teachers can use computer games that entail dragging correct capitals names to the matching states. The visuals of the maps, capitals, and the interactive activities can be interesting and enjoyable for students. Non-computerized matching games can be created from scratch in class. Teachers can have students make individual tags with the names of the state capitals. A large map of the United States reflecting only the names of the states can also be created in class. Students can then attach the capital nametags onto the corresponding states.
Computer games are available that allow students to click on individual states to display their state capitals. This helps familiarize kids with state capitals and can serve as a refresher before exams. Interactive maps help cement memorization.
Intermediate, online games use voiceovers that say the name of a state capital. The student must then click on the correct state for the recited capital on a map. This game can be a fun way to test a student's proficiencies after an initial study of capital locations. The same concept can be used without the use of a computerized program. A teacher can rotate calling on a student to name a state capital followed by calling on another student to name the corresponding state.
Coloring can be an entertaining tool for learning state capitals. Printable outlines of the different states can be handed out to students. The students can shade in the states with crayons or colored pencils. They can then describe to the class why they chose their colors and how they relate them to the states. The students can also tell the class the capital of the state they colored during their descriptions.