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Mnemonic devices: simple ways to remember complex info.

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Monday, December 27, 2010

SCIENCE: Colors in the Visual Spectrum

If you're trying to remember the names - and order - of the colors in the visible spectrum, memorize this name:

ROY G. BIV

Every letter in Roy's name stands for a color in the spectrum, in order:

Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet

Monday, December 20, 2010

RELIGION: The Seven Deadly Sins

Trying to memorize the Seven Deadly Sins? Remember this:

Lucifer Glares, Grandma Slowly Writes Endless Prayers

The first two letters of each word stand in the sentence stand for the seven deadly sins:

Lust
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth
Wrath
Envy
Pride

Sunday, December 12, 2010

GOVERNMENT & SOCIAL STUDIES: The Articles of the Constitution

Trying to memorize what the Articles of the Constitution helped establish? Remember this:

Let Every Judge Stand And Defend Rights

The first letter of each word pertains to memory prompts for the seven articles:

1. Legislative Branch
2. Executive Branch
3. Judicial Branch
4. State powers and limits
5. Amending the Constitution
6. Debts, Supreme Law and Oaths
7. Ratifying the Constitution

Thursday, December 9, 2010

SPACE & ASTRONOMY: The Planets

To remember the order of the planets, from closest to furthest from the sun, use this sentence:

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos

The first letter of each word stands for the name of a planet:

Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

(To count Pluto as a planet, just end the sentence with "Nine Pizzas" instead of "Nachos")

Thanks to aluminumtulips for the suggestion!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

BIOLOGY: Taxonomic Rank

Trying to remember the order of taxonomic classification from the broadest to narrowest rank? A little Nintendo might help. Just remember the following sentence, as the first letter in each word stands for an order in the taxonomic rank:


Donkey Kong's Princess Called Out For Gorilla Smashing

Domain - Kingdom - Phylum - Class - Order - Family - Genus - Species


Thanks to migo13 for the submission!