Lesson Plan
Memory Sequence Drill Plan
Strengthen 5th graders’ working memory through guided recall drills, visual sequences, and reflective practice to boost focus and retention.
Improved working memory boosts students’ focus, retention, and ability to juggle multiple steps in academic tasks, supporting executive function across subjects.
Audience
5th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided recall drills and reflection
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Print or project the Can You Remember This? Worksheet.
- Queue up the Recall Challenge Slides and Quick Picture Recall.
- Review the Memory Self-Reflection Prompt.
- Ensure timers or countdown visuals are ready for timed recall activities.
- Gather visual supports or chunking aids for students requiring extra scaffolding.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Quick Picture Recall
5 minutes
- Display a detailed image via Quick Picture Recall.
- Give students 30 seconds to study silently.
- Hide the image and ask students to list as many details as they can remember on a blank sheet.
- Share out 2–3 responses to highlight observation strategies.
- Provide sentence starters for students needing support (e.g., “I noticed…”, “I saw…”).
Step 2
Sequence Drill: Interactive Slides
10 minutes
- Launch the Recall Challenge Slides.
- Show a sequence of 5–7 items for 5 seconds each.
- After each slide, pause and ask students to whisper the sequence to a partner.
- Increase sequence length gradually and repeat 4–5 rounds.
- Encourage students to use mental imagery or chunking.
- Offer extended think time or allow repeating sequences aloud for learners needing additional processing time.
Step 3
Worksheet Practice: Can You Remember This?
10 minutes
- Distribute the Can You Remember This? Worksheet.
- Students complete recall exercises: write sequences, recall story details, and answer rapid-fire questions.
- Circulate and prompt strategies: grouping, visualization, rehearsal.
- Allow pairs to compare answers for peer feedback.
- For students who need scaffolding, provide an example or partial sequence to kick-start recall.
Step 4
Cool-Down: Memory Self-Reflection
5 minutes
- Project or hand out the Memory Self-Reflection Prompt.
- Ask students to write one strategy they used and one they’d like to try next time.
- Invite 2–3 volunteers to share insights.
- Reinforce that practicing these strategies strengthens the brain’s memory “muscle.”
Slide Deck
Recall Challenge
Get ready to boost your memory!
You’ll see a series of sequences for 5 seconds each.
After each, whisper what you remember to a partner.
Introduce the activity: we’ll practice recalling short sequences to strengthen working memory. Emphasize quick study and partner sharing.
How It Works
- Look at the sequence for 5 seconds.
- Sequence disappears—whisper it to your partner.
- Use mental imagery or group items to help remember.
- We’ll repeat with longer sequences.
Explain steps clearly: study silently, partner recall, use imagery or chunking.
Sequence 1
Circle Square Triangle Star Hexagon
Start with simple shapes. Display for 5 seconds then hide.
Sequence 2
5 3 8 1 9 4
Numbers sequence. Encourage students to group in pairs or patterns.
Sequence 3
apple pencil desk book lamp clock
Word sequence. Suggest creating a mental story linking the items.
Sequence 4
red blue green yellow orange purple pink
Color sequence. Students can picture a rainbow or color chart.
Sequence 5
Circle 7 apple Square blue Triangle
Mixed sequence to increase challenge. Remind students to chunk by type.
Great Job!
Which memory tricks did you use?
Who tried chunking? Imagery?
Ready for another round or reflection?
Debrief strategies: ask volunteers which techniques helped most. Prepare to repeat or advance.
Worksheet
Can You Remember This? Worksheet
Instructions
Follow your teacher’s directions to complete each section. Use memory strategies like chunking, visualization, or rehearsal to help you recall.
Section 1: Sequence Recall
Your teacher will show you several sequences. After each, write exactly what you remember.
- Sequence 1 (shapes): ____________________________________________________________
- Sequence 2 (numbers): ___________________________________________________________
- Sequence 3 (words): _____________________________________________________________
- Sequence 4 (colors): ____________________________________________________________
- Sequence 5 (mixed): _____________________________________________________________
Section 2: Story Recall
Read or listen carefully to the short story below. Then cover it and answer the questions.
Story:
“Sam has a red backpack. He walked to school and met his friend Lina. Together, they found a shiny coin near a big oak tree. Inside the backpack, Sam had a blue water bottle and a yellow pencil case. After school, they rode their bikes home.”
- What color was Sam’s backpack?
- Who did Sam meet on the way to school?
- Where did Sam and Lina find the coin?
- List two items inside Sam’s backpack.
- What did they do after school?
Section 3: Rapid-Fire Recall
Be ready—your teacher will ask these questions quickly. Write your answers below.
- What is today’s date?
- What color is the classroom door?
- What did you eat for breakfast?
- What is your best friend’s name?
- How many letters are in the word “memory”?
Good luck!
Remember to use your memory strategies as you work through each section.
Warm Up
Quick Picture Recall
Time: 5 minutes
Instructions:
- Display a detailed image (for example, a busy park scene with children playing, dogs running, a picnic blanket, balloons, benches, trees, and a fountain). Give students 30 seconds to study it silently.
- Hide the image. Invite students to list as many details as they can remember.
Student Task:
- Three objects I saw: _________________________________________________________
- How many people and what were they doing? _____________________________________
- At least two colors I remember: _______________________________________________
- One surprising detail: ________________________________________________________
Teacher Prompts:
- “What strategy did you use to remember more details?”
- “Did you group similar items together or focus on one area at a time?”
Support for Diverse Learners:
- Provide sentence starters: “I noticed…”, “I saw…”, “I remember…”.
- Allow extra think time or let students sketch what they recall before writing.
Cool Down
Memory Self-Reflection Prompt
Take a moment to think about today’s activity and your memory strategies. Respond to the prompts below:
- Which memory strategy helped me the most and why?
- What was the most challenging part of the activity and how did I deal with it?
- One strategy I want to practice more next time is:
- My goal for improving my memory skills is: