Are you a fifth grade teacher who teaches the 50 states each year? If so, you know it can be a lot to cover—but it doesn’t have to feel that way for you or your students. When I return from Spring Break each April, it’s officially 50 States GO TIME, and let me tell you, this unit becomes one of the most exciting parts of our spring. Let me walk you through how I turn U.S. geography into a high-energy adventure that kids beg to do!
My FAVORITE read aloud during the 50 States
Here is a HUGE list of all my favorite state picture books, but THE ONE that is nearest and dearest to my heart is The Scrambled States of America. The play on words is life giving. Each year my students giggle. I mean GIGGLE!
Tour the States: The Ultimate Classroom Anthem
Cue the music! If you haven’t played Tour the States by Marbles the Brain Store in your classroom yet, prepare for it to become your students’ official anthem for the next six weeks. This catchy tune sticks like glue and gets your students singing—and learning—the names of all 50 states with a smile on their faces.
Not only does the music reinforce state names and locations, but the upbeat rhythm gets them out of their seats and moving. Trust me—by week two, you’ll hear it being hummed at lunch, during math, and probably on the playground too.
A Fun App Discovery: Learning on the Road
Funny story—during my Spring Break trip to Dallas, I learned about a kid-friendly geography app that could be a great addition to your classroom toolkit. As a passenger, I struck up a conversation with a fellow traveler (leading with “I’m a teacher”—a classic icebreaker!) and discovered an engaging U.S. geography app designed just for kids.
This app isn’t free, but it’s colorful, interactive, and worth checking out. Your school or district might be willing to purchase it for classroom use. If you’re looking to reinforce state knowledge through tech, this might be your next favorite find.
Tour the States Game: Where Learning Meets Competition
Let’s be real—if you make anything a game, kids will jump right in. That’s why I created the Tour the States Game to go along with our study. Each week, we introduce a new region. We start with note-taking (I use this interactive notebook for this part), and then the competition begins!
Here’s how the game works:
- Who can name the state first?
- Who knows the capital?
- Who can do both?
We switch it up every round. Sometimes it’s teams, sometimes individuals. Occasionally, students need to answer a card before heading out to recess—which adds the perfect dose of motivation. The best part? Kids start helping each other, and the energy is contagious.
When to Play the Game
One of the best things about this activity is how flexible it is. You can easily fit it into your day in a variety of ways:
- During your social studies block
- On Fun Fridays
- As a small group rotation
- While waiting for dismissal
- When a substitute is in the room
- Or anytime you have an extra 5–10 minutes
It’s the kind of game that doesn’t feel like learning—but the results speak for themselves.
Unusual State Laws: A Hilarious Morning Meeting Routine
Who doesn’t love a weird law or quirky fun fact? Years ago, I started sharing Unusual State Laws during morning meeting, and now it’s a tradition my students can’t get enough of. Each morning during our unit, I read 3–5 cards that contain real (and ridiculous) laws from across the country.
Are they all still enforced? Nope. But they used to be, and they always spark giggles and conversations. It’s a fun way to sneak in more state-related learning without the pressure of a quiz or worksheet.
United States reading passage
I love a good thematic unit. During the month of April I will use my 50 State nonfiction reading passage to have my students practice for state testing. They will practice inference, answering multiple questions, and practicing their knowledge of the states. When I was coloring the coloring page this morning, I was pretty impressed with how many states I knew. I shouldn’t brag, I have been teaching this unit for 11 years, but I beat my husband and this all that matters.
Teaching the 50 states doesn’t have to be overwhelming or boring. With a little creativity, music, and a touch of competition, you’ll have your students engaged, excited, and learning geography in ways they’ll never forget.
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