Capitalizing Places and Holidays Worksheets

Geographic names (cities, states, countries, streets, rivers, mountains) and holidays are proper nouns, and every word in them takes a capital: Pine Street, Lake Erie, Independence Day. Second graders spot the full name and capitalize all of it.

By grade

What students need to know

Names of places and holidays get capitals on every important word: Main Street, Lake Erie, Thanksgiving. Little joiners like of stay small.

This skill runs from 2nd grade through 3rd grade. Pick a grade above for level-matched sentences, teaching notes, and worksheets.

Capitalizing Places and Holidays across the grades

2nd Grade

Geographic names (cities, states, countries, streets, rivers, mountains) and holidays are proper nouns, and every word in them takes a capital: Pine Street, Lake Erie, Independence Day. Second graders spot the full name and capitalize all of it.

3rd Grade

Third graders handle multi-word place names fluently (Rocky Mountains, Kansas City, Gulf of Mexico) and know the half-capped trap (Main street) on sight. The general-versus-specific test, a street versus Oak Street, becomes automatic.