We found an old wooden U.S. map puzzle at a garage sale but they're also readily available at Teacher Supply stores and even warehouse stores. I prefer ones that have each state as one puzzle piece, but usually they'll at least group Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut together. When my son was 2 1/2 he really enjoyed playing with it, so we left it out on the coffee table. He'll bring me a few pieces at a time and ask me the name. (My daughter is pictured working on the map puzzle at approximately the same age.) One day I decided to keep track of how many he knew by asking him to bring me particular states and was amazed to discover that he knew the names and shapes of 37 of the states. We bought a handmade World Map Puzzle from Michael Olaf about a year and a half ago. It was rather expensive, but I think it was worth every penny. You'd be amazed at how much geography an adult can learn from trying to put the world map puzzle back together after the kids have taken it all apart! We use the map puzzles in conjunction with laminated maps (purchased from Sam's Club) and flag stickers of the states and countries (available from Michael Olaf). My kids love geography and I've learned a lot more of it myself.