How to Develop a ‘Super Brain’ A Psychological Lecture Series for Primary School Students

“Is a good memory something you are born with?”

“Are there ways to improve my memory?”

“What memory rules should I follow to develop a ‘super brain’?”

With these questions from students, Ms. Yu Chen, a counsellor from SUIS Qingpu’s “Psychic Cottage” psychological support centre, delivered a series of psychological lectures on learning for primary students across different grades this semester.

Unveiling the Brain’s ‘Storage System’

Ms. Yu guided the children through the ‘storage system’ of memory, revealing three types: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

The lower-grade children learned that sensory memory is like the brain’s ‘snapshot’: instantly capturing visual and auditory information but lasting only 0.25–2 seconds. Short-term memory acts as the brain’s ‘temporary workspace’ holding information for 5–20 seconds with limited capacity (typically 5–9 chunks). Long-term memory, the brain’s ‘super warehouse’, stores information permanently once consolidated.

The upper-grade children experienced these memory systems through an intense ‘escape room’ game, from ‘vanishing letters’ to ‘mysterious number signals’ and ‘hidden codes’ in poetry.

Unlocking ‘Super Skills’ for Memory

How can we upgrade our brains?

The lower-grade children joined Ms. Yu on a “Memory Jungle Adventure”. At the ‘jungle’ entrance, they used categorization to remember items easily. On the ‘log bridge’, they applied mnemonic rhymes to simplify complex numbers. Crossing the ‘jungle waterfall’, they linked words into vivid stories with narrative association. Laughter filled the air as each child discovered their ideal memory method.

The upper-grade children explored advanced ‘memory tools’:

– Mind maps to organize knowledge.

– Information retrieval to enhance flexibility.

– Multi-sensory channels (e.g., visual/auditory) to boost efficiency.

Ms. Yu emphasized that balanced nutrition, adequate sleep and exercise are ‘super fuel’ for the brain. She also highlighted leveraging the “Golden Memory Window” for study schedules, activating memory sensors for precision and using the Feynman Technique and Cornell Notes to make learning fun.

Mastering the “Rhythm Code” of Memory

We’ve all struggled to retain material after memorization. How can we reduce what we forget?

The lower-grade children searched for ‘memory potions’ and discovered that the beginning and end of materials are the easiest to recall, while the middle fades fastest. Based on the serial-position effect (primacy and recency), Ms. Yu advised breaking content into shorter segments and reviewing the middle more frequently.

The upper-grade children analysed their word-forgetting patterns and noted that forgetting is rapid at first but slows over time. Ms. Yu introduced Hermann Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve and a science-backed review schedule:

– 5 minutes → 20 minutes → 1 hour → 9 hours → 1 day → 2 days → 5 days → 8 days → 14 days.

“Memory Special Forces” Bootcamp

In the final bootcamp, students practiced memory techniques from the lecture to fully-forge their ‘super brains’.

With countless methods out there, the best one is what works for you. May every student harness these strategies to unlock their brain’s potential and become true memory masters!