Please Help!

[Unregistered]

I teach in a 5th and 6th grade special education classroom, but their at a 2nd and 3rd grade level. I am starting to teach them the states not only the names of the states, but were they are located. I thought I would start with Maine and do five states at a time. I tried teaching them a song about the states, but it was to hard. Does anyone have any suggestions on how or where I should start. Any ideas will help a lot. Thanks

[Unregistered]

You don't say why you're starting with Maine. If you live there that's a good place to start. If not, may I suggest you start with the state you live in. At least your students have a base and personal experience with their own state. Possibly move to the bordering states next or ask students other states they have visited and go from there. EC students do well with manipulatives. A United States "puzzle" bulletin board or a table top puzzle will be helpful. Give each student a blank US map to keep and they can color in each state as they study it. You may start using the song anyway. Music is inspirational. Have fun.

[loadmaster]

A good place to start would be with literacy skills on both ends of the spectrum.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

don't know which song you tried, but the "Animaniacs" was a cartoon in the 90's that actually had a great song. I play it for 7th grade geography classes, but it's too elementary to use in middle school, I just play it so they can hear it.