The Practical Guide to Teaching and Using the Fifty Nifty United States Song
The Fiftly Nifty United States song is a counting rhyme/mnemonic device used primarily in American elementary schools to help children memorize the 50 U.S. states. The basic structure counts from one to fifty, with each number paired with a state reference or lyrical line designed to reinforce recognition. The standard version goes roughly like this: One, fifty nifty United States,
Two, who do we appreciate?
Three, you'll find plenty to see,
Four, states by the sea,
Five, the original thirteen,
Six, a number, not quite a mix,
Seven, look over here,
Eight, states in your state,
Nine, it's a line,
Ten, where they've been,
Eleven, you'll do fine,
Twelve, they're up above,
Thirteen, the first ones in,
Fourteen, a beautiful scene,
Fifteen, states upon the map,
Sixteen, don't you lapse,
Seventeen, you need to see,
Eighteen, they're up in the trees,
Nineteen, you'll agree,
Twenty, there you'll be,
Twenty-one, states that have won,
Twenty-two, states with hue,
Twenty-three, just run right through,
Twenty-four, the ones before,
Twenty-five, they thrive and live,
Twenty-six, they really do exist,
Twenty-seven, you need no reason,
Twenty-eight, they always wait,
Twenty-nine, they're doing fine,
Thirty, states you'll carry,
Thirty-one, states out and about,
Thirty-two, states you can shout,
Thirty-three, you'll want to be,
Thirty-four, nothing more,
Thirty-five, the ones alive,
Thirty-six, they can't be fooled,
Thirty-seven, you need no seven,
Thirty-eight, states that are great,
Thirty-nine, states that align,
Forty, states you know for sure,
Forty-one, states with none undone,
Forty-two, states that are true,
Forty-three, you'll agree,
Forty-four, states forevermore,
Forty-five, they give you five,
Forty-six, just like a slick fix,
Forty-seven, it's a heaven send,
Forty-eight, states you can't forget,
Forty-nine, they shine so fine,
Fifty, fifty nifty United States!
There are several slightly different versions floating around depending on region and curriculum publisher. The core mechanic — counting to 50 while singing or chanting — remains consistent across most versions I've encountered. I ran into an issue a few years ago where a student was genuinely confused because the song's ordering doesn't follow any geographic, alphabetical, or admission sequence. They memorized the song perfectly but couldn't locate any state on a blank map afterward. The song is a memory hook, not a geography lesson, and treating it as one is a common mistake. I started having students pair each counted number with a specific state location on a physical map during practice sessions. That shifted it from pure rote memorization to actual spatial knowledge retention. Another thing people miss: the tune is usually set to a simple, repetitive melody that's easy to chant. Some versions use a melody adapted from "The Grand Old Duke of York" or similar nursery rhyme structures. The musical simplicity is intentional — it lowers the barrier to entry for young learners who might struggle with a more complex melody. But it also means the song has very limited utility beyond early elementary. By middle school, students who only learned through this method tend to have forgotten most of it unless they reinforced it with actual map work.
If you're looking for a downloadable version or sheet music, the song appears in various public domain educational materials and some commercial worksheets from publishers like Education.com or TeachersPayTeachers. The lyrics themselves aren't under strict copyright in their standard forms, though specific melodic arrangements or illustrated versions may have protections. Searching for "Fifty Nifty United States worksheet PDF" or "Fifty Nifty United States song lyrics" will surface multiple free resources. A practical tip that isn't obvious: record yourself singing it slowly at first, then gradually speed up the tempo. The song is hard to deliver clearly at full speed on the first try. I've seen teachers spend weeks on this when five minutes of paced rehearsal with a recording did the trick. The bottleneck isn't the lyrics — it's the delivery pace under pressure, especially when kids perform it in front of a class. The main limitation of this tool is that it creates a false sense of mastery. A child can recite the entire song from memory and still not know where Delaware is or what the capital of Nevada is. It's a memorization exercise, not a geography curriculum. If your goal is actual state knowledge — locations, capitals, abbreviations — you need a separate systematic approach. Flashcards with spaced repetition, blank map labeling, or apps like Seterra will get you there in about two to three weeks of consistent practice. The song takes maybe an afternoon to learn and lasts about as long in memory if nothing reinforces it.
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I've also noticed some versions include all 50 states by name in sequence rather than just counting numbers. Those versions are more useful for actual state memorization but less catchy and harder for young kids to retain. There's a tradeoff between musical memorability and informational content that the traditional "Fifty Nifty" song doesn't really solve. If you need both, combine them: use the song for the hook, then immediately drill with a map.
