Memory Science: Weekly Science Project Idea and Home Science Activity Spotlight

In this week's spotlight: a human behavior science project and family activity that explores memory and how using a mnemonic device can help you remember a string of words or the items in a list. Have you ever used the HOMES acronym to help you remember the names of the Great Lakes or ROYGBIV (or Roy G. Biv) to remember the order of the seven colors in a rainbow? In this science project, you conduct a controlled experiment to see whether or not a mnemonic device makes a difference in how well your friends, family members, and other volunteers can remember the list you provide. Does a mnemonic aid work? What kind of mnemonic aid works best?

• Memory Mnemonics (full Science Buddies Project Idea)
• Study Skills Science: Investigating Memory Mnemonics (science activity at Scientific American)