Educational Map Activities

GeoJango wants to help make learning about geography fun! We created some educational map activities that are sure to entertain the whole family!

These activities for kids are easy to print out. We made PDF's of all of our games so that they are assessable to anyone! Stay tuned for more games!

These games are geared for children in 3rd grade and up. Use our states and capital map to play with younger students.

You will need: the Coloring USA Map PDF and the States and Capitals PDF

Game 1: Time to Match!

Learning Goal: Identify the capitals for each state and locate where they are on a USA Map.

Directions:

1. Each player gets their own USA Coloring map.
2. Print and individually cut each state name with its capital. You should have 50 pieces of paper.
3. Fold each piece of paper.
4. Each player gets 25 states (to make the game shorter give less states to each player and add less time on the clock- if you have two different aged kids playing, try giving the older child more states to match or less time! )
5. Set a timer for 10 min.
6. Have each player match the states to their map the fastest. Whoever matched the most capitals at the end of the timer wins.

Game 2: State and Capital Map Matching Game!

Learning Goal: Identify where the states and their capitals are on a USA map.

Directions:

1. Each Player gets a USA Map.

2. Print and individually cut each state name with its capital. You should have 50 pieces of paper.
3. Fold each piece of paper and place them in a hat.
4. Each player picks one piece of paper. Then on the count of three they try to match the state and capital to the map.
5. The first one to match correctly gets a point! Keep playing until all states and capitals are matched!

Game 3: Capital Map Matching Game!

Learning Goal: Identify the capitals for each state and locate where they are on a USA Map.

Directions:

1. Each Player gets a USA Map.

2. Print and individually cut the names of the capitals - do not include the state name.
3. Fold each of the capital names and place them in a hat.
4. Each player picks one piece of paper. Then on the count of three they try to match the capital to the state on the map.
5. The first one to match correctly gets a point! Keep playing until all states and capitals are matched!

Game 4: Moving Map Matching Game!

Learning Goal: Identify the capitals for each state and where they are on a USA map with added physical activity.

Directions:

2. Each Player gets a USA Map.
3. Print and individually cut each state name with its capital. You should have 50 pieces of paper.
4. Fold each paper and place them in a hat.
5. Place the hat at the opposite end of the room from the map.
6. Teacher says "hop, skip, or jump" and the player has to follow the action before getting to the map, do it wrong and go back!
7. Each player picks one piece of paper. Then on the count of three they hop, skip, or jump to the map and try to match the capital to the state.
8. The first one to match correctly gets a point! Keep playing until all states and capitals are matched!

You will need: the Coloring USA Map PDF and the State Abbreviation PDF

Learning Goals: Identify where each states is located on a USA Map and learn the postal abbreviation for each state!

Directions:

1. Each Player gets a USA Map.
2. Print and individually cut the abbreviations for each state.
3. Place them all in a hat.
4. Each player picks one piece of paper, on the count of three they try to match the abbreviation to the state on the map!
5. The first one to match correctly gets a point! Keep Playing until all 50 states are matched!

You can also race the clock: Set a 10 min timer and match the abbreviations to the states as fast as you can!

You can work as a team or individually.

You will need: Access to Google Maps

• • Learning Goals: Learn where different cities are throughout the United States. Learn how to navigate a map using major road ways. Find and learn more about where national parks, or other sites are in the United States!

  • Pick a city to start in, then choose a city to visit! Find what highway will get you there the fastest and what sites, national parks or other activities you can see along the way! Name at least 5 things that you want to do!
  • Examples: Philadelphia → San Francisco, CA: What highways will you take? I will take Highway 70 to highway 15, to highway 50! What do you want to see? 1. Gettysburg Battlefield 2. Indianapolis 3. Rocky Mountain National Park 4. Arches National Park. 5. Lake Tahoe

Chicago, IL → New Orleans, LA

Huston, TX→ Lexington, KY

Miami, FL → Augusta ME

Tucson, AZ → Seattle, WA

Topeka, KS → Hekena, MT

Saint Paul MN → Los Angeles, CA

Portland, OR → Denver, CO

Columbus, OH → Boise, ID

Las Vegas, NV → Little Rock, AR

More games to come! Keep checking in because we will be creating more games to keep you and your family learning!