Learning States & Abbreviations

In First Language Lessons, the book suggested that the postal abbreviations be taught for each state.  I thought, what a great idea!  But where to begin??  I contemplated it for a couple weeks.  My kids all have different learning styles, so I wasn't sure where to start.

First, I decided to teach them in alphabetical order.
Next, I decided to teach only 10 at a time.
And last, I came up with a flashcard learning system.

Dry Erase (or Wet Erase) Flash Cards

The first set of cards has the state name, shape, and abbreviation on the front.

On the back, it has the state name & shape.

The student fills in the abbreviation.

How to use it:

Have student study the front sides first.

Then have the student flip over the cards and try to fill in the abbreviation from what they can remember.

Immediately after filling it in, they flip it over to see if they were right.

If they consistently get it right, they can place it in their "mastered" pile.

If they get it wrong, they can place it in their "practice" pile.

Bonus: They're reusable!  Easy clean up with a sponge or paper towel.

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The second set of cards has the state name, shape, and abbreviation on the front.

On the back, it only has the state shape.

The student needs to fill in the name & abbreviation.

How to use it:

Exactly like the first set.

Some thoughts:

1.  I wish I would've done the two sets in different colors.  Because I didn't, the one set has a little red mark in the corner.

2.  I used heavy cardstock (scrapbooking style) paper and laminated the cards.

3.  I wish I could draw states better.  Perhaps printing them from online would've been better.  But I think it gives a fair enough idea of the state shape regardless.

4.  I am also going to use this with a blank map of the US.  After we get ten states down, I'll have the students find the state and write the abbreviation on the map. ~ This will also teach them location within the US as well.

5.  Most states are shaped differently.  But there are some that are very similar.  Wyoming & Colorado are both box shaped.  North Dakota, South Dakota & Kansas have very similar rectangular shapes.  So in order to find their locations in the US, these states need special attention paid to them.

I also have this map in full view of all the students.

Each state is named and as we learn the state, I write the postal abbreviation on it.

Hopefully, this will be enough of a visual clue throughout the weeks to help them remember location.