I need an easy way to remember the followingg states: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and California. I have to know the capital and where it is located on the u.s. map .

Flash cards help many students. Also, practice, practice with blank maps.

Try these sites for more help.

http://www.50states.com/tools/thelist.htm

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm

http://www.50states.com/tools/usamap.htm

To remember the states and their capitals, as well as their locations on the U.S. map, you can use various mnemonic techniques. Mnemonics help you associate information with memorable images or phrases, making it easier to remember.

Here's a mnemonic device using the first letter of each state to create a memorable phrase:

My Wonderful Cat Nabbed A Unique Idaho Warrior On Nice Clear Nights.

Let's break it down:

M on tana - The capital is Helena. Imagine a cat named Montana sitting on top of Helena's head.
W yoming - The capital is Cheyenne. Imagine a wonderful Wyoming-shaped hat being worn by someone in Cheyenne.
C olorado - The capital is Denver. Envision a cat in a colorful Colorado coat walking around Denver.
N ew Mexico - The capital is Santa Fe. Picture a unique sombrero-wearing cat from New Mexico sitting in Santa Fe.
A rizona - The capital is Phoenix. Visualize a warrior cat from Arizona soaring above Phoenix.
U tah - The capital is Salt Lake City. Imagine a cat salting a lake in Utah City.
I daho - The capital is Boise. Picture a cat dressed like an Idaho potato, walking around Boise.
W ashington - The capital is Olympia. Envision a cat washing itself near the Olympia Mountains in Washington.
O regon - The capital is Salem. See a cat organizing its toys in Salem, Oregon.
N evada - The capital is Carson City. Imagine a cat gambling in Las Vegas, which is close to Carson City.
C alifornia - The capital is Sacramento. Picture a cat sailing on a river in Sacramento, California.

By visualizing these memorable images, you can easily remember the state capitals and their locations on the U.S. map.