Ejercicios para el cerebro: juegos para la memoria, el pensamiento y la concentración

In this highly interactive class, we will enjoy a brief icebreaker or sharing activity, then engage in a game that will challenge your learner's memory, focus, and thinking. When relevant, I will also casually teach strategies to increase these skills, and thus your learner's confidence. 

No writing or reading skills are required in our games, there will be times when the ability to recognize English letters and numbers 1-20 will be needed. 

Along with increasing a child's memory, attention, concentration, and focus, some of these carefully developed games can also improve visual and auditory recognition, reaction time, and critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Most of our games naturally increase language as well. In a group setting, these games can also support skills such as communication, sportsmanship, and social skills. During some games, I will at times ask students to share their strategies as we go along so they can learn from each other.

The cognitive skill development supported in this class is important as a child matures.  They not only learn new information, but also work to remember, think more critically, and process and recall what they learn, then apply it in a progressive way. 

Please know that while I do my best to end after our 35 minutes, there may be days where we run a bit over our allotted time.

I'm a teacher who is not only dedicated to having fun with my students as they learn, but I'm also sensitive to the fact that some learners dislike making mistakes or may believe they may look "dumb" to their peers when they do. I work hard to create a supportive classroom environment with no pressure to always be "correct". We are to simply try our best, whatever that may be that day. Our games are not meant to be competitive, but instead focused on group enjoyment and supporting each other. 

--------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE NOTE: 
Classes will continue to cycle until I end the section. You may join at any time. Please see your section for the specific games we will play each week.
--------------------------------------------------------------

GAMES: 

What’s Missing? 
An array of objects are shown, and studied, and then after a distraction, some are removed. Students then need to recall what was missing. Learners will be asked what strategies they're using to recall objects, and I will also point out and teach some as we go.

We're Going on a Picnic! 
The ultimate memory game that you may remember from your own childhood! We will take turns naming one object that we're taking on a picnic, starting with A and getting as far as we can until our time is up! I will have slides with many choices for those who have not yet mastered letter sounds (this could help!). The tricky part is that before we give our item, we will try to name all of the objects stated before, in ABC order. 

Total Recall!
A series of pictures, colors, or shapes will be displayed for a few seconds. Learners will pause, then do their best to recall what they saw, in order. 

What’s That Sound?
I will play sounds from different types of animals, along with their picture and name. I will then play only the sound, letting them recall which animal it is. If there is time, we will then do the same with various musical instruments. 

Photographic Memory.
I will share a photo or video with learners for some time, then take it away. I will then ask questions about details in the video or photo, such as "What color was the dog’s hat?"    

Same...Not The Same:
We will look at four things and ponder how they are the same, then reason why one of them is different. This game uses both critical and creative thinking with no right or wrong answers. The way other learners interpret the puzzles should be interesting and can lead to great discussions!

What Changed? 
Learners will be shown a photo or video and asked to study the details briefly. After a distraction, they will look again and decide what has changed. Learners will have an opportunity to take a turn changing something on themselves or in their environment for other learners to guess as well! 

What am I? 
I will describe an object, slowly giving more information on the object until it is guessed. We will then switch it up and I will give learners a topic (food, animal, etc) that the secret word belongs to. They will take turns asking one question each turn to get closer to the secret word (e.g. Is it a dessert? Does it have four legs?) until it is known.

Zoom Out! 
I will show learners a photo of a common item, animal, etc, but it will be zoomed in on one spot. I will zoom out slowly as needed to support learners in guessing what the photo is, then reveal the entire photo when it's been guessed correctly. 

No-Go Game!
This game will challenge your learners' focus and memory as well as their brain flexibility and quick thinking. Learners will be given instructions on what to do when certain objects appear on the screen (and what to do/not do) when they see others...but nothing stays the same for long, and some things are downright strange and the opposite of what our brain would expect!  

Spot The Difference: 
Can you tell the slight differences between two seemingly alike photos, side by side? Bring excellent eyesight, focus, patience, and attention to detail to this game!

Dual Tasks: 
The brain can struggle to do two things at once. We're going to challenge ourselves in this game with both cognitive and physical tasks that will keep our brains. We may just learn something about ourselves and multi-tasking as well. 

Mystery Bag: 
 Learners will use their critical thinking and memory in this game to ask logical questions as well as to remember what has been said by others before them. This will help us decipher what mysterious item is hidden inside each bag. 

Sound Matching: 
Testing our audial (hearing) memory isn't something we do very often, our brain is much better at recalling visual information, but learners will challenge themselves with this twist on the classic "flip two" memory game using sounds only. 

Color Capture:  
Learners memory will be tested in several ways. For example, we will work to recall the location of various colors in a photo (tangrams, for example) after studying it and the photo is removed and a grey version is shown. Learners could also be asked to study a specific hue, one at a time, and then match the color they saw from a line-up of similar colors. 

Memory Draw:
We will test both our visual and hearing memory in several different ways during this game, studying photos for shapes, color, and placement as well as drawing a scene from memory. 

Riddles and Mysteries!
We will use our critical thinking to find the answers to riddles, brain teasers, and mysteries! 

---------------------------------------------------------------
Monday 11:15 AM, 12 PM, 7 PM, and 8 PM 

December 30th: Spot The Difference
January 6th: What Am I? 
January 13th: What Changed?
January 20th: What's That Sound?
January 27th: Dual Tasks
February 3rd: Zoom Out
February 10th: Mystery Bag
February 17th: Sound Matching Challenge
February 24th: Memory Draw
March 3rd: Color Capture
March 10th: Riddles and Mysteries --no class for 11:15 and 12 PM sections
March 17th: No-Go Game!
March 24th: What’s Missing?
March 31stWe're Going on a Picnic! 
April 7th: Total Recall!
April 14th: Same...Not The Same 
April 21st: Do You Recognize Me?
April 28th: Photographic Memory


This section will continue to cycle through the games and move through autumn and beyond.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 11:15 AM and 1:00 PM EST

December 17th: Same...Not The Same
January 7th: Memory Draw
January 14th: Sound Matching Challenge
January 28th: Color Capture
February 4th: Do You Recognize Me? 
February 11th: Total Recall
February 18th:  Dual Tasks
February 25th: Riddles and Mysteries 
March 4th: What Changed?
March 11th: Spot the Difference
March 18th: What Am I?
March 25th:  Zoom Out 
April 1st: What's Missing?
April 8th: No Go Game
April 15th: We're Going on a Picnic! 
April 22nd: Mystery Bag
April 29th: What's That Sound? 
May 6th: Photographic Memory

This section will continue to cycle through the games and move through autumn and beyond.
---------------------------------
Tuesdays at 8 and 8:45 p.m.

December 17th: Memory Draw
No class on December 24th or 31st
January 7th: Color Capture
January 14th:: Riddles and Mysteries 
January 21st: Total Recall!
January 28th: What's That Sound? 
February 4th: Same...Not The Same
February 11th: Photographic Memory
February 18th Do You Recognize Me? 
February 25th: What Changed? 
March 4th: What Am I? 
March 11th: Spot The Difference
March 18th: Dual Tasks
March 25th: Mystery Bag 
April 1st: Zoom Out!
April 8th: No-Go Game!
April 15th: What’s Missing?
April 22nd: Sound Matching Challenge
April 29th: We're Going on a Picnic! 

This section will continue to cycle through the games and move through autumn and beyond.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 10:00 am, 7 pm, and 7:45 PM EST

January 2nd: Dual Tasks
January 9th:  Zoom Out
January 16th: Mystery Bag
January 23rd: No-Go Game!
January 30th What's Missing?
February 6th: We're Going on a Picnic!
February 13th: Sound Matching Challenge
February 20th: Memory Draw
February 27th: Color Capture 
March 6th: Total Recall!
March 13th: Do You Recognize Me?
March 20th: Same...Not The Same
March 27th: What's That Sound? 
April 3rd: Photographic Memory
April 10th: What Am I? 
April 17th: What Changed? 
April 24th: Riddles and Mysteries 
May 1st:: Spot The Difference

This section will continue to cycle through the games and move through autumn and beyond.
---------------------------------------------------------------
FRIDAY 1:00 PM EST 

January 3rd: Memory Draw
January 10th: Color Capture
January 17th: Riddles and Mysteries 
January 24th: Total Recall! 
January 31st: Same...Not The Same
February 7th: What's That Sound? 
February 14th: Photographic Memory
February 21st: What Am I? 
February 28th: What Changed? 
March 7th: Spot The Difference
March 14th: Dual Tasks
March 21st: Mystery Bag
March 28th: Zoom Out
April 4th: No-Go Game!
April 11th: What’s Missing?
April 18th: We're Going on a Picnic! 
April 25th: Do You Recognize Me?
May 2nd: Sound Matching Challenge


This section will continue to cycle through the games and move through summer and beyond.
---------------------------------------------------------------
FRIDAY 7:00 PM EST  

January 3rd:  What's That Sound? 
January 10th: Total Recall! 
January 17th: Same...Not The Same
January 24th: Photographic Memory
January 31st: Do You Recognize Me?
February 7th: Spot The Difference
February 14th: Dual Tasks
February 21st: Mystery Bag 
March 7th: Zoom Out!
March 14th: What’s Missing?
March 21st What Changed?
March 28th: What Am I?
April 4th: Sound Matching Challenge 
April 11th: No Go Game 
April 18th: We're Going on a Picnic! 
April 25th: Memory Draw
May 2nd: Color Capture
May 9th: Riddles and Mysteries 

This section will continue to cycle through the games and move through summer and beyond.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 9 pm EST

January 11th: Color Capture
January 17th: Memory Draw
January 24th: Riddles and Mysteries 
January 31st: Same...Not The Same
February 7th: Sound Matching Challenge
February 14th: Photographic Memory
February 21st: What Am I? 
February 28th: What Changed? 
March 7th: Spot The Difference
March 14th: Dual Tasks
March 21st: Zoom Out
March 28th: Mystery Bag
April 4th: No-Go Game!
April 11th: What’s Missing?
April 18th: We're Going on a Picnic! 
April 25th: Total Recall!
May 2nd: What's That Sound? 

This section will continue to cycle through the games and move through summer and beyond.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 1 PM and 1:45 PM EST 

January 11th: Sound Matching Challenge
January 18th: Memory Draw
January 25th: Total Recall 
February 1st: Color Capture
February 8th: Riddles and Mysteries 
February 15th: Zoom Out
February 22nd: Mystery Bag
March 1st: No-Go Game!
March 8th: What’s Missing?
March 15th: Same...Not The Same
March 22nd: Going on a Picnic!
March 29th: What's That Sound? 
April 5th: Photographic Memory
Apirl 12th: What Am I? 
April 19th: What Changed? 
April 26th: Do You Recognize Me?
May 3rd: Spot The Difference
May 10th: Dual Tasks

This section will continue to cycle through the games and move through summer and beyond.
_____________________________
Saturday 8 and 8:45 pm EST (similar schedule to Friday a 9 pm)

January 11th 21st: Sound Matching Challenge
January 18th: 28th: Color Capture
January 25th Memory Draw
February 1st: Riddles and Mysteries 
February 8th: Same...Not The Same
February 15th: What's That Sound? 
February 22nd: Photographic Memory
March 1st: What Am I? 
March 8th: What Changed? 
March 15th: Do You Recognize Me?
March 22nd: Spot The Difference
March 29th: Dual Tasks
April 5th: Zoom Out
April 12th: Mystery Bag
April 19th: No-Go Game!
April 26th:: What’s Missing?
May 3rd: We're Going on a Picnic! 
May 10th: Total Recall!

This section will continue to cycle through the games and move through summer and beyond.