TARGETED SKILLS: Memory Skills Using The Chain Effect
The mnemonic skill called "the chain effect," much like a story, puts events or objects in an order so that no matter what link in the chain you begin with the entire connected information can be pulled out of the brain accurately and quickly.
The mnemonic skill called "the chain effect," much like a story, puts events or objects in an order so that no matter what link in the chain you begin with the entire connected information can be pulled out of the brain accurately and quickly.
For example, when a number attached to an object needs to be remembered, we weave a story around the order of the number… we make a chain of events.
Andy was 4 years old.
He had 5 cars.
His mother said he could not have any more and that he should take care of what he had.
But Andy was naughty.
He lined all his cars up on top of a mountain.
He thumped one (1) of his cars off just to see it roll down the mountain.
Now he only has four (4) cars left.
Poor Andy. He did not listen to his mom.
Write the numbers as if you are recording the story in order, first Andy’s age, next the number of cars he started with, then the number thumped off the mountain and finally how many he is left with.
This story helps us remember that 4,514 miles is the length of the longest mountain range in the world, the Andes Mountain.
Telling the story 3 separate times to 3 separate people or drawing the story to hang up on a memory wall helps promote long-term memory skills more quickly.
Practice making chains with your student or child with the following information:
Andy was 4 years old.
He had 5 cars.
His mother said he could not have any more and that he should take care of what he had.
But Andy was naughty.
He lined all his cars up on top of a mountain.
He thumped one (1) of his cars off just to see it roll down the mountain.
Now he only has four (4) cars left.
Poor Andy. He did not listen to his mom.
Write the numbers as if you are recording the story in order, first Andy’s age, next the number of cars he started with, then the number thumped off the mountain and finally how many he is left with.
This story helps us remember that 4,514 miles is the length of the longest mountain range in the world, the Andes Mountain.
Telling the story 3 separate times to 3 separate people or drawing the story to hang up on a memory wall helps promote long-term memory skills more quickly.
Practice making chains with your student or child with the following information:
- The Mississippi River, the chief river of the largest river system in North America, is 2,530 miles long.
- Guadalupe Peak is the highest natural point in Texas, with an elevation of 8,751 feet.
- Mount McKinley, or Denali, in Alaska, is the highest mountain peak in the United States and in North America with a summit elevation of 20,320 feet.
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