Usage Instructions

Note:This page is for practicing what you�ve learned about the U.S. states. Use our USA Learn page as a preliminary (or if you get frustrated).

The goal on this page is to complete the puzzle, and name all of the states that you can. You do this by clicking on a state in the brown �box� on the right (which will bring it to the front), then dragging it to its proper location on the big polygonal white map. Release the mouse when the state is positioned correctly. If it�s in the correct location, it will snap into place and turn blue. You then type in the name of the state.

Just as with a jigsaw puzzle, it is helpful to do the corners and edges first.

Use the Pan/Zoom control in the upper left corner of the screen to move the map and zoom it in or out.

When a state is blue (clicked on) you can start typing the name. This will appear in the Name of State field at the top, with auto-complete. When you see the name appear, press Enter on your keyboard. Or, if you want to see the names of all the states, click on the drop-down field, and select from the list (you still need to press Enter or click the Enter button on the screen after making your selection from the list).

If the state turns green, it means you entered the correct name, and your score goes up by 3 points for getting it right on the first try. If you entered the wrong name, a pop-up message will inform you of this, and ask you to try again for 1 less point. If you get it right on the 2nd or 3rd try, the state will turn yellow and you will be rewarded 1-2 points. If you do not enter the correct name after 3 tries, the pop-up will tell you the correct name of the state, and ask you to choose a different state to continue. The state will turn black in this case.

Right or wrong, once a state has been named, its name will appear when you hover over it (i.e. all non-gray states will display their names on hover.) Also, its name will be removed from the drop-down list of states (and from auto-complete).

Press F8 to have all non-green states flash red 3 times (useful if you�ve misplaced a tiny state.)

Press F9 to see the name of the state you are hovering over. This will deduct 1 point from your score if the state isn�t green.

Use the Results button to see how well you've done. All of the states you've tried to name will appear, with their score, in alphabetic order. Colors will reflect the color of the state. This will also show you how far you've come in completing the entire map.