For children in elementary and middle school who are still learning the basic concepts of geography and the layout of their own country, NationalGeographic.com offers a free game to learn where states and major countries are, and the layouts of the continents. All give a child a basic foundation of geographic knowledge.
If children have already memorized where states are on a U.S. map, it's a good idea to complement the geographic lesson with some history. Try teaching geography by telling children a story. For example, talk about the founding of America, the expansion to 13 colonies, westward expansion made possible by the Louisiana Purchase, and the hunt for gold in the 1840s that colonized and populated states west of the Mississippi River. Teaching geography as a story is, for most students, the most effective way for children to learn.
Many companies have tried to make geography and/or history as fun and entertaining as possible. The following are some of the more popular geography games:
In the late 1980s, The Learning Company developed The Oregon Trail, which puts players in the middle of a wagon-train voyage. This program teaches history, map reading and geography. It can be purchased on any major Internet retailer and most electronic software stores.
In 2001, Global Software Publisher developed a game called I Love The USA. The company says the game is targeted toward children in elementary school. The game's main character goes on a secret mission, collecting clues in all 50 states that can only be attained by asking geography-related questions.
Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego, developed by Encore, has for years been teaching children geography, history and culture. There are dozens of versions, each centering on a different area of the world. It is available at any online software retailer.