What's the Trick?

Kim Petrikowski

Tier 3

Lesson Plan

Memory Tricks for Directions

Students will learn mnemonic devices and repetition strategies to help remember and follow directions during a 20-minute lesson.

Improving memory and following directions fosters academic success and independence in tasks.

Audience

2nd Grade Student

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Interactive teaching with hands-on practice.

Materials

Memory Tricks for Directions, Mnemonic Practice, and Repetition Strategy Log

Prep

Preparation

5 minutes

Review the Memory Tricks for Directions lesson plan notes.
Ensure the Mnemonic Practice activity is ready for demonstration.
Set up the Repetition Strategy Log for immediate use.
Familiarize yourself with the mnemonic devices and repetition strategies to be taught.

Step 1

Introduction and Explanation

5 minutes

Explain the objectives of the lesson and why following directions is important.
Introduce the concept of mnemonic devices with a simple example.
Use simple language suitable for a 2nd-grade understanding.

Step 2

Activity - Mnemonic Practice

7 minutes

Engage the student with the Mnemonic Practice activity.
Guide the student to create a fun mnemonic based on a familiar sequence (e.g., days of the week).
Encourage repetition by having the student repeat the mnemonic several times.

Step 3

Repetition and Log

3 minutes

Introduce the concept of repetition in learning.
Have the student use the Repetition Strategy Log to write or draw the steps of the direction task.
Reinforce learning by having the student recite the logged steps.

Step 4

Review and Conclusion

5 minutes

Review the mnemonic device and the importance of repetition in following directions.
Ask the student to summarize the strategy to ensure understanding.
Provide positive feedback and praise the student for their efforts.

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Activity

Mnemonic Practice Activity

This activity is a fun and interactive way to create mnemonic devices. The goal is to help you remember a sequence or a series of directions. Follow these steps:

Instructions

Think of a Sequence: Choose a familiar sequence, for example, the days of the week or steps in a simple task like brushing your teeth.
Brainstorm: Write down the first letter of each word in your sequence.
Create a Sentence: Using the letters, create a fun sentence that helps you remember the sequence. For example, if your letters are M, T, W, T, F, S, S, you could make up a sentence where each word starts with these letters.
Practice: Repeat your mnemonic sentence out loud several times until you remember the order.

Student Work Area

Write or draw your mnemonic below:

Follow-Up Questions

What sequence did you choose for your mnemonic?
How does your mnemonic help you remember the order of your sequence?
Can you think of another sequence where you might use a mnemonic?

Great job creating your mnemonic device! Feel free to practice it a few more times to commit it to memory.

Worksheet

Repetition Strategy Log

This worksheet is designed to help you remember and practice the steps of a task using repetition. Follow the instructions below and use the log to guide you!

Instructions

Write or Draw the Steps: Write or draw each step you need to follow for a particular task. This could be a daily routine or any set of directions you want to remember.
Mark Your Repetitions: After you complete a step, put a checkmark in the box next to it. Do this each time you practice the task.
Repeat and Practice: Go through the steps several times. The more you practice, the easier it will be to remember them!

Your Repetition Log

Step Number	What to Do	Practice 1	Practice 2	Practice 3
1	Write or draw your first step here:	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
2	Write or draw your second step here:	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
3	Write or draw your third step here:	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
4	Write or draw your fourth step here:	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]

Feel free to add more rows if needed!

Reflection

After practicing, answer these questions:

Which step did you find the easiest to remember?
Which step was the hardest, and how can you practice it more?
How does repeating the steps help you remember them better?

Great job! Keep practicing and you'll remember your directions in no time!