What is your favorite to learn these? Did you use something like a cd to music ect? Meadow needs to know this and I want to have some fun with her learning this at home for ps.

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“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”
― Mother Teresa

Oh wow. I wish I had a good answer for this. I always liked playing with puzzles (the kind that each state is a puzzle piece) and I just liked learning the states and capitols.

My dd, otoh, HATED, loathed and despised it. No matter what I did - games, songs, flashcards, etc - she just would not let it be fun. She hates having to memorize ANYTHING (probably because it actually takes some work on her part), and balks at it like a mule. I have truly found out that you can lead a child to learning, but you can't make them think. I told her that she has won the battle, but she's probably lost the war. One day, she will regret it.

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I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

A big map on a wall, a globe and imaginary travels. We have done the memorization methods, but my girls have learned more and retained more by our "taking trips" to each state and their capitals. It is really easy to do with a computer and a map that stays out where it can be seen throughout the day/night. Pick a state, go on and look up places you might want to visit if traveling through. Include capital city and what tourist/historical... points of interest is there. It helps keep the different states and capitals unique and creates great discussions.

We just did the boring "learn them"... lol! I listed the states in alphabetical order and they had to learn them all in order or not go to a friends party that was a few weeks away.
I don't think we did capitals though...

I just got the kids a U.S. puzzle with capitols and a geography songs CD from Sonlight. I also want to put a U.S. and global map on the wall because we're always coming across different states and countries and I like to show the kids where they are. I also want to get a globe.

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Mom to Christian (13), Saphira (10), Xavier (5), and Adrian (2).

We loved this one!
http://homeschoolchristian.com/curricul ... ssongs.php

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Thanks for all of the ideas ladies! Martha-I believe I used that one with Sky! I think I sold it though. I'm going to keep an eye out for it!

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“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”
― Mother Teresa

My kids enjoyed this website, and it is free! http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/united ... graphy.htm

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Prayer should be your first response.
Not your last resort.

We found a blank, printable, map online.
Used a placemat, map, with states & capitals for reference, & weekly filled in the map, until they were memorized.
I think we found the blank map at Enchanted Learning.
We did the continents that way, too.

Oh, we also got a laminated markable map last year from Sonlight, that is blank and has the U.S. on one side and the world on the other side and you can write in the states/countries with dry erase markers.

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Mom to Christian (13), Saphira (10), Xavier (5), and Adrian (2).