Draw two abstract designs on two different sheets of paper. (It is probably best to use some straight lines and "regular" geometric shapes in the designs rather than all irregular lines, curves, and angles.)
Option: Cut geometric shapes from pieces of colored paper or felt and assemble them into abstract designs. If you use this option, you will need to prepare sufficient amounts of similar shapes for students to use as they replicate the designs.
Materials
Lesson Procedure
1. As an introduction, ask, "Who can remember what they had for breakfast? Today? Yesterday?"
2. Show the first design and ask students to carefully study it for 2 minutes. Tell them you will ask them to recreate it from memory after the 2 minutes is up.
3. After two minutes, put the design away and give students time to try to recreate it from memory. Ask for volunteers to share their drawings and compare them to the originals.
2. Next, discuss the different ways we remember things (verbalizing, visualizing, what does it remind you of, other mental connections, grouping, others), and ask if anyone knows/uses any "tricks" to help them remember things better. What did they do to remember the design?
3. After the discussion, explain that you'd like them to try again with a new design. Encourage them to use one or more memory "tricks" this time.
4. Repeat the process with the second design. (You might want to use study carrels to encourage independent work.) Ask for volunteers to share and compare their drawings to the original.
5. As students share their work, ask the class to discuss what they did to remember and what tricks were most helpful to them with this task.
Debrief (checking for understanding)
Extension/Going Further
Comments/Instructor's Note
Submitted By
Anne Alley and Robin Campbell
School
Spruce Run School
Training
Site
Other
Training Site
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By
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