As I have mentioned several times, I’m planning on doing chemistry for our homeschool science next year. I’m super excited about it, and to prepare I’ve been getting some amazing resources together, this time I found an amazing way to memorize the periodic table.
(Disclosure, I received a copy of How to Memorize the Periodic Table and was compensated for my time, but opinions are my own, and I love the product anyways)
Why memorize the periodic table?
So you can get silly chemistry Facebook memes, like this?
Or text your husband silly puns.
Oh, you wanted a real reason. I mean, with the onset of smart phones and easy access to everything, why still memorize things?
Because it trains your brain. That’s the short answer on this, there’s several blogs and books devoted to the benefits of memorizing, and I don’t feel the need to repeat people who’ve written it better.
Instead, I’ll tell you, when I was 7 I learned a song with the books of the New Testament in it. I can still sing that song 30 years later. Similar concept here, except instead of songs they’ve got a visual trigger.
At 11 years old I learned Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally to know the order of operations in math. I still mentally think that when solving complex math problems.
At 11 I learned Sister Mary Helen Eats Onions, and learned the Great Lakes.
At 12 I learned actions to accompany the major events of the Old Testament. I still remember large portions of those movements and all of the major events.
Mnemonics like the How to Memorize the Periodic Table program work.
Are you wondering how to memorize the periodic table?
Watch the videos, they’re short. Each video covers 10 elements with a visual and an auditory mnemonic to remember them. To help you get them through your head, they also have a printable coloring page (which I think are hilarious). I love the stories he tells as he draws out each of the pictures, each set of 10 flows together and builds on itself. By the end of the first watch I had a good memory of the first 5 in the video, and it only took another watch or two to get the rest of the elements.
Since we’re not studying chemistry until next year, I only had the kids try the first 10. Next year, we’re going to go through the entire thing, but this got us a good start.
I especially appreciate that buying the course gets you lifetime access. So if you’re kids are spread out in age, and only one is taking chemistry right now, but in 3 years your next child will be taking chemistry that means you don’t have to pay for it again. A great way to save money for frugal homeschool Moms.
Other cool features I’m enjoying as we memorize the periodic table
I already mentioned their visual memorize the periodic table chart, but they included a couple of bonus items that are well worth the inclusion.
They’ve got a simple system to memorize the atomic numbers (my father-in-law the chemist would appreciate this).
There’s also two really cool add-ons, one is an overview of the course as an e-book, but the other is how to remember the chemical symbols. I’m mentally preparing a list of chemical symbols I want my kids to know when we study chemistry that are helpful just in everyday life, and this will be a big help in getting that done.
Natalie PlanetSmartyPants says
You are not going to convince me – I think memorization is silly. I used to memorize many things in school, but with age I lost what I did not use. I think there is enough fun that we can have with elements without being asked (or asking our children) to memorize them,
Ticia says
I honestly think, it’s not necessarily what you’ve memorized, but the process of memorization that helps your brain the most. So, learning how to memorize and remember things is an asset. So, I want them to work on memorizing for that purpose more than for the actual memorization aspect.
Kylie says
I think each to their own and if the kid enjoys memorization then go for it. I personally have not used any of those little things from my younger days but that’s not to say my kids won’t. Although I have to admit we do not methodically memorise anything. We simply enjoy it for what it is. I’m going to take a look at the videos though and the colouring pages sound cool. I’ll be interested to see how you go with the periodic table next year.
Ticia says
We’ve got a few things I’ve had them memorize so far, but not many. There’s not super a lot that I’d require memorization (and honestly if they don’t have the periodic table word perfect I’m not going to freak out, I just want them familiar enough to know portions of it, which this will certainly do).
claire says
Kris posted a brilliant link on her facebook to creating the periodic table using egg boxes. I don’t know if you saw it but it was class!!
Ticia says
I don’t know if I’ve seen it, I’ll have to go check it out.
maryanne @ mama smiles says
I’m with Natalie on this, but these tools would be helpful in getting kids to memorize this.
Joy says
I love it! I have one kid I could most definitely see wanting to learn/memorize all of the elements. The other two, not so much. 😀 Kris does have a really neat activity that teaches the elements as well. Thanks for sharing this, Ticia!