I recently came up with an easy way to learn the 13 colonies in chronological order. Stories are a great memory technique because they follow a sequence. The brain stores information using a sequence or pattern, so this is why it works so well.

What children need to do, is visualize the story. As you read the story, draw simple little pictures. Use stick figures and have the children draw along at the same time. It makes the story memorable and it’s fun to do. Tell 5 other people the story to reinforce the memorized information.

Encourage the entire family to get involved and see who can remember all the colonies in order.

A  girl named Virginia went to Mass (Massachusetts) every Sunday.

Her family always ate a new ham (New Hampshire) after church.

Her sister Marilyn  (Maryland), was playing a “Connect-the-dots” game, (Connecticut) but stopped when her dad  said,

“Let’s hit the road for the island!” (Rhode Island).

He called to his wife, “Hurry up Della and get something to wear”. (Delaware).

While driving, they all sang Christmas Carols (North & South Carolina). 

Suddenly they saw a Jersey cow (New Jersey) 

It had a tag saying it was from New York in a big Pen (Pennsylvania) and the cow’s name was Georgia.  So they took it back to it’s home.

That’s the end of the story and now you can remember all 13 colonies in order! Tell someone else the story to lock it in your memory.

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I just received the nicest comment about “Let’s Memorize States & Capitals” cards. This is why I love what I do. (Making memorizing fun.) I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could associate the state name with the capital name. I tried different stories and pictures and if I couldn’t remember them after a few weeks, out they’d go until I found the perfect match. I also love it when parents participate in the learning fun with their kids!

The state Capitals are simply amazing. I have a 6 year old son who started learning them a month ago and he already knows most of the Capitals. We work on two at a time and he actually loves them. I am learning them along with him. Before this system I could never remember them.  Sylvia

Check it out.

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I’ve put together some book recommendations for children and teaching books for parents and teachers, at Memory Joggers Amazon Store.  I have 6 different categories;
Writing Books for Kids
Math Books for Primary Grades
Creativity Books for Kids
Reluctant Readers
Learning Challenges
Geography, History, Social Studies

These are all books I’ve used in my teaching or recommended to me by educators.  I’ve written a review on several of them in my section called Book Reviews. I hope you’ll check out the Creativity Books for Kids. I recently read an interesting article in Parenting Magazine called, “Why Art Makes Kids Smarter.”

I’ve been concerned for a long time about the cut back of art programs in the public schools. Art, music, drama all provide access to right brain creating and learning and we need this balance of logic (left brain) and creativity (right brain).  They go hand in hand.  How can students learn about Navajo Indians without working with clay to create a pot?  Drawing a mural of the covered wagon migration of settlers across the U.S. gives us a mental picture for remembering what occurred.  Seeing how watercolor can blend and create beauty opens parts of the brain that promotes appreciation.

A friend of mine was helping me pack some boxes. He looked at the material and the box and measured carefully, using all of his left-brain capabilities.  He said only 4 items could possibly fit.  I looked at it using a right brain perspective, and realized if the material was placed in the box sideways (not the normal direction), we could get in 6 items.

My point is, that the creativity and looking at things from a different perspective is a learned skill. It is right brain thinking. This skill is nurtured when we open students’ minds to creative thinking and exploration.

All Memory Joggers products come with an unconditional 30-day money back guarantee.