Memory and the Human Brain

In this segment of the unit, students are exploring how the brain stores information in its short-term memory bank. 

Students tested their abilities to store visual information for quick retrieval and strategies the brain uses to assist them in the process. 

School Library Media Specialist Ms. Debra Muraiti gave the students a set of words to memorize five weeks ago and when they gathered together again she asked the students to write down how many words they remembered.

After they talked about what words they recalled, she asked them what techniques they used to remember the words. On this day, three memory stations were set up around the classroom.

Two of the stations had a box with items inside of them, while a third station had a memory game with cards set up on the table.

A two minute timer was set and when Ms. Muraiti said "Go!" the students opened the boxes, studying the objects inside and tried to remember as much as possible.

When the students finished memorizing the contents of both boxes, Ms. Muraiti asked them what they could remember in each.

The students reflected on the techniques they used to remember the items. One student said that he was able to remember one particular item and that helped him remember the items next to it.

Another student said that after looking at both of the boxes, remembering one item from one box helped him remember an item from the other box.

The students then had five minutes to play a memory game at station 3, matching as many cards as they could in the time provided.

Ms. Muraiti said later in the unit, students will be investigating reaction time using the "scientific inquiry process" to design experiments evaluating the effects of different types of distractions on short-term memory storage and reaction time.