Memorizing all 45 US presidents might seem daunting. But with a simple memory technique called the Linking Method, you can learn them in about 10 minutes! This method not only helps you learn the presidents but also serves as a great memory exercise. Let’s dive in!
Understanding the Linking Method for Memorization
The Linking Method connects pieces of information through association. You link the first item on a list to the second, the second to the third, and so on. Each item triggers the recall of the next, creating a chain of memories. For this exercise, we’ll focus on the presidents’ last names first, adding details later.
Turning Presidential Names into Memorable Images
The key is to transform each last name into a vivid mental picture. The more bizarre, funny, or unusual the image, the better you’ll remember it. For example, picture “Washington” as a “washing machine.” The image is random and easily visualized, making it stick in your memory.
We’ll create similarly memorable images for each president and link them together in a strange, unforgettable story. Remember, the goal is to visualize the story, engaging as many senses as possible, not just rote memorize it.
Weaving the Presidential Story: A Memory Journey
Here’s a sample story using the Linking Method. Read through it a few times, visualizing each scene:
A washing machine (Washington) overflows with green apples (Adams). A chef (Jefferson) wearing a maid’s uniform (Madison) scoops them up and rows away in a boat (man rowing – Monroe). He squints at a dam (Quincy Adams) where Michael Jackson (Jackson) dances. Suddenly, a burning van (Van Buren) crashes into him. Harry Potter (Harrison) appears, transforming the wreckage into a necktie (Tyler).
The necktie pokes (Polk) Harry Potter until a tail (Taylor) sprouts from him. A filmer (Fillmore) captures the scene, but his camera shoots arrows, piercing (Pierce) a book-shaped cannon (Buchanan). The cannon fires, hitting Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln) sitting on a toilet (Johnson).
Lincoln’s son receives a college grant (Grant) and endures hazing (Hayes), which involves shaving Garfield the Cat (Garfield). Garfield defends himself with King Arthur’s sword (Arthur) and flees to Cleveland, Ohio (Cleveland). He calls Harry Potter (Harrison), who joins him in Cleveland (Cleveland).
They climb Mount McKinley (McKinley), encountering teddy bears (Teddy Roosevelt). Escaping on a raft (Taft), they name a volleyball Wilson (Wilson). They find a CD playing hard rock (Harding), feeling cool (Coolidge) while they vacuum (Hoover) the raft. They crash into roses (Roosevelt).
Becoming truthful men (Truman), they use eye power (Eisenhower) to spot a plane. They hitch a ride to JFK Airport (JFK) and eat PB&J sandwiches (LBJ). They shed their knickers (Nixon), jump into a Ford car (Carter) with a ray gun (Reagan), and shoot a bush (Bush). They pick up Clinton (Clinton), hit another bush (Bush Jr.), and explode into a bomb (Obama).
Enhancing Your Presidential Memory Palace
To remember the order better:
- Review: Re-read the story frequently at first, then less often over time.
- Numbering: Assign numbers to every fifth president to create reference points. For example, Washington is 1st (on the dollar bill), Monroe is 5th (five oars on the boat).
- Adding Details: Enhance each image with details relevant to the president. For example, picture George W. Bush as George of the Jungle swinging from a “W”-shaped vine in a bush.
This technique provides a fun and effective way to quickly learn the US presidents. With practice, the story will fade, and you’ll recall the presidents effortlessly.
