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Learn the journey information takes from the outside world into our brains.
Have you ever wondered how your brain remembers the smell of fresh cookies or the rules of your favorite game? It's like having a tiny, magical library inside your head that never closes!
To remember something, your brain first has to 'catch' it. This is called encoding. Think of your eyes and ears like a camera. If you don't point the camera and press the button by paying attention, the picture never gets made! If you are daydreaming while your teacher is talking, your 'brain camera' is blurry, and you won't encode the information. To encode well, you need to focus your attention on the new thing you are learning.
1. Your friend tells you their favorite color is blue. 2. You look at them and listen carefully (this is encoding). 3. Because you paid attention, the 'picture' of that information is clear in your mind.
Quick Check
What is the first step of memory called when you 'catch' information by paying attention?
Answer
Encoding
Once you have taken the 'picture,' your brain needs a place to put it so it doesn't get lost. This is called storage. Imagine your brain has thousands of tiny invisible shelves. Storage is like taking a toy off the floor and putting it into a special toy box. If you just throw your toys everywhere, you might lose them. But if you put them in the right box, they stay safe for a long time!
1. You learn that . 2. Your brain takes that 'math toy' and puts it in the 'Math Box' in your head. 3. By keeping it in that box, your brain keeps the memory safe while you sleep.
Quick Check
Which stage of memory is like putting a toy into a box to keep it safe?
Answer
Storage
The final step is retrieval. This is when you go back to your 'toy box' and pull out exactly what you need. Have you ever had a word on the 'tip of your tongue'? That means the memory is in storage, but you are having trouble with retrieval. It is like knowing your favorite Lego piece is in the box, but you have to dig around to find it! The more you practice, the faster your 'retrieval' becomes.
1. You watch a dance teacher do a move (Encoding). 2. You practice it until it's tucked away in your brain (Storage). 3. On the day of the show, your brain finds the move and tells your legs to jump (Retrieval).
If you are not paying attention, which step of memory will fail first?
What is 'Retrieval' most like?
Storage is the process of keeping information in your brain over time.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to remember the three steps of memory: Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval. Can you remember which one is like a camera?
Practice Activity
Try the 'Look and List' game: Look at objects on a table for seconds (Encode), cover them up (Store), and then try to name them all (Retrieve)!