US state maps presentation

Smart Ways To Complete U.S. State Maps

This exploration is for all ages, as the colored smilies show. Color U.S. state maps to show population, practice latitude and longitude, show landscapes, or depict rainfall, plus many more ideas.

1st thru 4th grade
5th thru 8th grades
9th thru 12th grades

The printable U.S. state maps from this exploration can be used with many Layers of Learning units from Year Four, when you learn about the regions and states of the United States.

Maps are excellent tools for learning geography. Not only can you learn locations and shapes of places but you can learn about landscapes, biomes, climate, and how people use the land.

Use the printable U.S. state maps below in a variety of ways to help your children learn the geography of the United States.

Step 1: Library Research

When you start learning about a state or region begin with a trip to your library. Search for individual states or books about all of the states. Here are three suggestions, one for each age group. If you can’t find these, use books your library does have. Read books individually, as a group, or a combination. Just read what appeals to you. The reading shouldn’t be an “assignment.” It should be fun and interesting as well as the hands-on explorations.

As Amazon affiliates, the recommended books and products below kick back a tiny percentage of your purchase to us. It doesn’t affect your cost and it helps us run our website. We thank you!

1st thru 4th grade

The Scrambled States of America

by Laurie Keller

The states decide to swap places. At first it seems great but then Florida begins to freeze up by the Great Lakes and then everything goes wrong. Full of geography facts and lots of laughs.
5th thru 8th grades

Our Fifty States

By Stephen F. Cunha 

Has a map of each state followed up with information and facts. This one would be interesting for high school kids too.
9th thru 12th grades

Young People’s Atlas of the United States

by James Harrison

Great for kids from 5th grade through high school, this atlas includes maps of each region and each state along with information to read.

Step 2: Map Explorations

In the Layers of Learning curriculum, there are many choices of explorations. You don’t need to do them all. Choose your favorites and save the rest for another year. Included in these explorations are state maps for every state in the U.S., notebooking pages, and games. Just choose a few ideas.

Supplies

Besides the maps and printables, which you can print below, you’ll want supplies for coloring or painting. Traditionally, maps for school are completed with colored pencils and black ink. But you can also use watercolor paints, oil pastels, crayons, glitter, or I don’t know, go crazy with glitter crayons. Use whatever art media you like.

Below you’ll see options for coloring state maps. To find data for rainfall, population, or other themes you want to show on your maps use a children’s atlas or find the information online.

This is the perfect atlas for students clear up through high school. It’s very clear with double-page spreads for each state and lots of detail. Plus it includes paragraphs and images of different cities and regions.

EXPLORATION: Rainfall Map

This is a map of Washington state showing the average rainfall in different parts of the state. A map like this shows how climate can change because of mountain ranges creating a rain shadow. You can also see how different crops or natural resources would be suited to one part of the state and not others.

Washington Map showing rainfall in different parts pf the state.

A rain fall or temperature map can be done in any state. What do you learn about your state from its weather patterns?

EXPLORATION: Vegetation Map

This map of Idaho shows where different species of trees grow. Each tree species has water and temperature requirements. What can you learn about the climate in each area based on the map?

U.S. state maps to print and color. This is Idaho showing where certain species of trees grow.
Western Hemlock have the smallest range of the trees on this map. They need lots of water. Look up each of the other trees. Why do they live where they live in Idaho?

You can make a vegetation map of your state using native trees, flowers, or other native plant species. Just choose a few and map where they can be found.

EXPLORATION: Population Map

This is a population map of Oregon. Why do you think most of the population lives in that central corridor from Portland south? What is special about the history or geography of that area?

Oregon population map.

EXPLORATION: Elevation Map

California has high mountains, low valleys and lots of land in between. An elevation map is colored to show differences in the height of the land. Where do you think the best crop land in California is at?

California elevation map
On this map the dark brown is the highest elevation and the dark green is the lowest. There are two places in California that are below sea level. Can you find them?

Make an elevation map of your state. Where are the highest places and the lowest? How is the land use by people determined by the elevation? How is the climate and ecosystem determined by the elevation?

Maps of Each State

Below are printable maps of each state in the U.S. arranged by region. Click on the image to get the pdf to print.

Pacific States

California map
Hawaii
Oregon
Alaska
Washington

Rocky Mountain States

Idaho
Wyoming Map
Montana
Colorado
Utah
Nevada

Southwest States

Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
Oklahoma

Great Plains States

Nebraska
South Dakota
Kansas
North Dakota
Missouri
Minnesota
Iowa

Heartland States

Wisconsin
Ohio
Illinois
Indiana

Michigan

Southern States

Arkansas
Florida
Louisiana
Georgia
Mississippi
South Carolina
Alabama

Appalachian States

Tennessee
North Carolina
Kentucky
West Virginia
Virginia

Atlantic States

Delaware
Maryland
Pennsylvania
New York
New Jersey

New England States

Maine
Vermont
New Hampshire
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Rhode Island

EXPLORATION: Statehood Notebooking Page

Statehood Notebooking Page

Print this Statehood Notebooking Page for any state you want to fill in more facts about. You’ll send your child off to research or do research together as a family.

We recommend you use this for your own state, but you could also allow each child to choose whatever state he or she likes, research, fill in the sheet, and then present their information to the group. With applause at the end!

EXPLORATION: State Scattergories

state scattergories

State Scattergories is a fun review or ice breaker game. Choose any state you are learning about, your home state or another, then choose a letter. Fill in each rectangle on the printable with places, people, or things from that state that start with your letter.

For example, If I were doing Idaho and the letter “R” I could put “Riggins” in the rectangle next to “A city” because Riggins is a city in Idaho that starts with “R”.

After everyone has finished filling in his or her first column, compare answers. Any unique answers, that no one else thought of, get a point. The highest score wins.

After the first practice round, set a 3 minute timer so it all has to be done quickly.

Step 3: Show What You Know

Show your map off to an audience, like your family, your best friend, or your Grandma. Explain what the colors and symbols on your map mean and what you learned about the state you studied. At the end of your presentation take questions from the audience.

Presenting a U.S. state maps project to the family

Before the presentation remind the audience about good behavior. Listen attentively. Ask questions about the presentation at the end. Don’t forget to clap enthusiastically. The presentation is not a time for criticism, it is only a time for applause!

Additional Layers

Additional Layers are new directions you can take your exploration of these states. They are optional, so just pick the ones that interest you. They are in the sidebars of every Layers of Learning unit.

Fabulous Facts

Learn a few interesting or crazy facts about the state you are studying. For example, did you know that Smokey the Bear was rescued from a wildfire in the state of New Mexico.

Create a game with your facts.

Famous Folks

This is a Mohawk woman. The Mohawk Tribe is located in New York State.

Every state was home to a tribe or tribes before it was a state. Find out who lived in your state. Is the tribe still there?

Memorization Station

Memorize the states with a printable BINGO game.

United States BINGO card

First, print out the USA BINGO call sheet. Cut apart the states and put them in a bag. Draw them one at a time.

Then give each child a BINGO card. There are two BINGO card packs, each with 20 unique cards.

Free Samples

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10 thoughts on “Smart Ways To Complete U.S. State Maps”

  1. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea. I wasn’t able to print Maine. Could you please send me the link? Thanks so much for this brilliant idea.

  2. THANK YOU! We will be pairing this with another state study unit/lesson plan we found. I love this idea! Great printable. Thank you so much!
    Chrysti
    Bean Sprout Homeschool Academy 🙂

  3. Hi! I was able to download all of them (THANKYOU!!!) EXCEPT for Florida…when I click on it, it says Forbidden 🙁 can you help?

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