In the Pacific History paper I took at university, the lecturer started the course by making us memorise the map of the Pacific - the names and locations of all the islands, plus a few key dates.
This was an incredibly dull way to start.
But what it did was create mental maps, which helped us visualise the interrelatedness of the islands, which helped us think deeply about cause and effect. That was a lot of fun.
I’m not saying, Go off and make your learners memorise things before you let them think. But I am suggesting that helping kids create a mental map of the territory in which their learning is occurring is a great way to support their intellectual agency.
Today’s message from Pluto:
Knowing this place well means I know what’s worth paying attention to. Woof!!!
Something to try that might make a difference
We often ask kids to memorise facts, expressed as words, equations, or dates. You increase the chances of these sticking in their memory if you encourage kids to
Get multiple senses involved in the memorisation process.
Expressing the facts as images by drawing them helps make them novel, not to mention also being an enjoyable interpretive process.
Turning facts into songs or rhyming poems makes them catchy and encourages personal expression.
Adding movement to recitation imprints the facts into the mind and body.