Introductory Lessons
Click on the item below to see or download a copy of the lesson.
United States Physical Map (Blank)
US Physical Map Instructions (2018)
US Physical Map (labeled)
United States Political Map and Activity
US Political Map -- Blank for Practice
Map games for practice:
To play an online US political map game to practice knowing your states, click below.
1: Easier game (match the name of the state to its location on the US map)
2: No map (multiple choice state shape identification -- like "Who wants to be a millionaire?")
3. https://online.seterra.com/en/vgp/3003
Click on the state requested. It keeps track and you get a score at the end. It will also color any missed states so you can study those.
4. http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/USA_Geography/USA_G1_1024.html
Place the states in a blank map by region. Sound will say “great” if you get it right. It will flash red and give you the location if you get it wrong, then you can place it right again. You then click to see your scores.
5. https://bensguide.gpo.gov/states5/game.html
Place the states on a map that can be blank or you can click to show the lines. The names of the states pop up at the top as you place the state. The shape of the state lights up on the map as you get close to where it goes.
6.http://time.com/4842635/states-map-draw-quiz
Draw the shape of the state in a box; an actual drawing of the state will be superimposed over it and your effort will be given a letter grade for each state (the game will grade you, not the teacher!).
Currently offline:: Harder game (place the state on a blank US map in the correct location)
1: Easier game (match the name of the state to its location on the US map)
2: No map (multiple choice state shape identification -- like "Who wants to be a millionaire?")
3. https://online.seterra.com/en/vgp/3003
Click on the state requested. It keeps track and you get a score at the end. It will also color any missed states so you can study those.
4. http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/USA_Geography/USA_G1_1024.html
Place the states in a blank map by region. Sound will say “great” if you get it right. It will flash red and give you the location if you get it wrong, then you can place it right again. You then click to see your scores.
5. https://bensguide.gpo.gov/states5/game.html
Place the states on a map that can be blank or you can click to show the lines. The names of the states pop up at the top as you place the state. The shape of the state lights up on the map as you get close to where it goes.
6.http://time.com/4842635/states-map-draw-quiz
Draw the shape of the state in a box; an actual drawing of the state will be superimposed over it and your effort will be given a letter grade for each state (the game will grade you, not the teacher!).
Currently offline:: Harder game (place the state on a blank US map in the correct location)
How the States Got Their Shapes: A River Runs Through it
To watch the film, click here.