This activity requires 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the length of discussion,
and should be conducted at the start of the class period.
Begin by asking students to write down everything they did yesterday
that did NOT involve memory. If students appear stumped, assure them
that they did engage in a number of activities that did not involve memory.
After having students consider this question for 3–4 minutes, ask students
to provide some responses.
Students may provide accurate but fairly limited responses (e.g., blinking,
burping, seeing, breathing, sleeping, waking up). Affirm these responses
and highlight how very limited a human would be if this were all
he could accomplish in a day.
Often students will provide responses that do involve memory (e.g.,
walking, using the bathroom, eating, talking). These responses provide a
great opportunity to emphasize the pervasive role of memory in our lives