Mnemonics

Objective:
To learn the names of the planets and zodiacal constellations.

Activity:
The students will create mnemonic sentences to help them memorize the names and order of the planets and zodiac.

Materials:
paper, pencil

Previous Knowledge Necessary:
The zodiac is the group of 12 constellations through which the planets, sun and moon travel.

Procedure:
  1. Divide the students into three groups. One group is the The Planets, another is The Constellations of the Zodiac and the third is The Animals of the Zodiac. (This project can also be done individually, with each student writing her own mnemonics.)

  2. Each group must figure out a mnemonics for their catagory. 

        Group 1         Group 2         Group 3

    Mercury         Aries           ram
    Venus           Taurus          bull
    Earth           Gemini          twins
    Mars            Cancer          crab
    Jupiter         Leo             lion
    Saturn          Virgo           virgin
    Uranus          Libra           scales
    Neptune         Scorpius        scorpion
    Pluto           Sagittarius     archer
                    Capricornus     sea goat
                    Aquarius        water bearer
                    Pisces          fish

    note: Group 1 is not related to Groups 2 and 3.

    Groups can be made smaller by having two groups work on the same set.
    An example for a mnemonics for Group 1 is:
    My viper eats mostly jam sandwiches unless nature provides.

  3. The different groups can share their mnemonics to make memorization of planets and zodiac easier.
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