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Games on State Capitals & Abbreviations

Fifty percent of American college-aged students can't find New York State on a map. In fact, over half don't own a map, according to a 2006 National Geographic Foundation survey. Memorize the state capitals and abbreviations to increase your knowledge of state geography and assist you with travel, politics, mailing letters and more. You may think chess and checkers are fun, but they won't help you locate Boise, Idaho. So, play a geography game to help you identify the state capitals or abbreviations.

Matching and Concentration
- Matching games are quick to play and an easy way to learn about the states. Simply match the state card with the appropriate capital card -- both are visible to the player. Concentration is a slightly more difficult version of this idea. The goal is to uncover two disguised cards and then match the state with the correct abbreviation. Learning is by trial and error, eventually memorizing where the correct pair is located.
Word Searches
- A word search is another way of stretching your brain. Locate a state abbreviation or capital in a list of words below the game and then find the full name of the state on the search. Answers are hidden vertically, horizontally or diagonally.
Board Games
- The capital of NY is Albany.
  
  Adults and children alike can enjoy playing challenging geography board games. Players pick up state cards depicted with the capital name and location, then match the state's shape and color on the card to the identical graphic on the board. Try a less challenging scrambled card and board game that, for example, asks you to match a three syllable capital with its state. The player that answers the most questions and exhausts the card pile first wins. No prior geography knowledge is needed.
Games for a Weekly Family Geography Night
- Use an activity mat to actively learn about states and their capitals. Answer trivia questions as you scramble around on a colored map of the United States. With permanent markers and a vinyl shower curtain, draw the shape of twelve states. Ask one family member to call out a state capital while two players take turns placing their feet and hands on the correct state. The last player to remain upright wins.
  
  Play Geography Baseball. Set up chairs to look like a baseball diamond. One family member will go "up to bat" and answer the first question. As each player "at bat" answers the questions correctly, the other players will move around the bases. Revolve your questions around state capitals and abbreviations. The players with the most runs after nine innings win.

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