Can You Name All The Capitals?

By Laurie Borst

The Sandy Hook School PTA Geography Enrichment Program recently wrapped up another great year of geographic study. This year, 28 second, third, and fourth graders passed every geography test the program presented.

The PTA has facilitated this program for many years. Each month, students are given blank maps for different parts of the world. The students fill in the countries, capitals, and bodies of water, depending which area they are studying. At the end of the month, the students are tested on the information.

The geographic areas studied are Eastern States and Capitals; Western States and Capitals; Bodies of Water in the United States; Mountains and Canadian Provinces; South America and Surrounding Countries; Continents, Oceans and Major Seas; Europe; and Africa (third and fourth grade only).

Geography is not part of the curriculum. Participation is voluntary. Interested first graders study New England States in April of the school year. A CD with songs about the states and capitals is available and many students find success in memorizing the information through song.

The program was facilitated by Elizabeth Alexander from the PTA. She has 13 parent volunteers who help her copy and distribute the maps each month.

Students who participate in the program are recognized at the end-of-the-year ceremony with certificates of participation.