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4th grade · Social Studies · Unit 1 of 6

States & Capitals

Find the capital of every state

What your child practices

The capital cities of the 50 states, and major rivers, mountains and lakes of the United States.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 4.3.14.1 · the states, their capitals and major cities

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Each of the 50 states has a capital city, where its government meets.
  2. The capital is often not the biggest city, like Albany in New York or Sacramento in California.
  3. Learn them by region, a few at a time.

Example: What is the capital of Texas? The biggest city is Houston, but that isn’t the capital. The capital is in central Texas. Answer: Austin

States & Capitals in Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 1 of 6 in 4th grade Social Studies, before World Regions.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Columbus is the capital of which state?

    • Ohio
    • New York
    • Utah
    • Alaska

  2. Question 2

    Charleston is the capital of which state?

    • West Virginia
    • Utah
    • Colorado
    • Mississippi

  3. Question 3

    Springfield is the capital of which state?

    • Illinois
    • Missouri
    • New York
    • Vermont

  4. Question 4

    What is the capital of Colorado?

    • Denver
    • Lansing
    • Bismarck
    • Jackson

  5. Question 5

    Which long river flows south through the middle of the US to the Gulf of Mexico?

    • the Hudson River
    • the Mississippi River
    • the Columbia River

  6. Question 6

    What is the capital of New Mexico?

    • Springfield
    • Honolulu
    • Santa Fe
    • Little Rock

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