Ever feel like your students are always asking, “Wait… what were we supposed to do again?” You’re not alone. For many kids, especially those with learning or attention challenges, holding onto information long enough to use it can be tough.
That’s where working memory comes in. It helps students remember directions, solve problems, and stay focused. Some kids have a strong system for this. Others are working with less—and they’re doing their best.
The good news? Working memory can improve with practice, and one of the best ways to build it is through play.
These five quick games help boost memory in fun, low-stress ways. They’re easy to fit into your routine as brain breaks, warm-ups, or transitions.
What is working memory?
Think of working memory as the brain’s mental workspace. It’s where we hold onto bits of information just long enough to do something with them. This comes in handy with things like remembering directions, solving a math problem, or answering a question about a story. It plays a key role in learning, focus, and follow-through.
But for some students, especially those with learning differences or attention challenges, working memory can be a weak spot. These students might forget instructions halfway through a task, skip steps during problem solving, or lose track of where they are in a story or routine. Tasks that require multiple steps or sustained attention can feel overwhelming. It’s not that they aren’t trying. Their brains are simply overloading faster than others.
Here’s the good news: working memory is a skill that can be improved with regular practice. And one of the best ways to build it is through games. Games naturally invite repetition, attention, and engagement, which are all essential ingredients for strengthening working memory. When students play, they practice holding, organizing, and manipulating information in a way that feels fun, not frustrating.
1. Memory Chain/I Went to the Market
How to play: One student or teacher starts by saying, “I went to the market and bought…” followed by an item (e.g., apples). The next student repeats the sentence and adds another item. Each turn, the list grows, and each player must remember and recite all the items in order before adding their own.
Example:
Student 1: “I went to the market and bought apples.”
Student 2: “I went to the market and bought apples and bananas.”
Student 3: “I went to the market and bought apples, bananas, and carrots.”
Why it works:
This game strengthens sequential memory and attention. Students must listen carefully, hold multiple items in their mind, and recall them in the correct order.
What to say: “We’re going to play a memory game called ‘I Went to the Market.’ Here’s how it works: I’ll start by saying, ‘I went to the market and bought…’ and then I’ll name something, like apples. The next person will repeat what I said and add something new. So they might say, ‘I went to the market and bought apples and bananas.’ Then the next person repeats that and adds another item, and so on. Your job is to listen carefully, remember the list in order, and add your own item when it’s your turn. Let’s see how long we can keep the chain going!”
How to keep it fresh: You can vary the theme to keep it fresh: try “I packed a suitcase,” “I saw at the zoo,” “I brought to school…”or “On my way to school I saw…”
2. Backward Repeating
How to play: Say a short list of words, numbers, or letters. Students repeat them back in reverse order. You can start with two or three items and build up as they get more confident.
Example: Teacher says: “Dog, cat, bird.”
Student says: “Bird, cat, dog.”
Why it works: This activity challenges both storage and mental manipulation, two key parts of working memory. Students must hold the list in their head and mentally reverse it before speaking. It’s especially helpful for students who struggle with mental math or reading comprehension, as it exercises flexible thinking.
What to say: “Let’s play a memory challenge! I’m going to say a short list of words, numbers, or letters. Your job is to repeat them back to me, but in reverse order. For example, if I say ‘cat, dog,’ you would say ‘dog, cat.’ We’ll start with just two or three and add more as we go. Ready to try it out?”
How to keep it fresh: Use student names, teacher/school staff names, unit vocabulary words, or have students submit words to you to use!
3. Spot the Change
How to play: Show students a tray with 5 to 8 small objects. Let them study it for 10 seconds. Then cover the tray, make one change (remove, add, or switch an item), and reveal it again. Students guess what changed.
Why it works: Spot the Change targets visual working memory and helps students practice holding details in mind while comparing new information. This can improve their ability to follow visual directions or track changes in graphs, charts, or diagrams.
What to say: “We’re going to play a memory game called Spot the Change. I’ll show you a tray with a few objects on it. You’ll have 10 seconds to look at everything and try to remember what you see. Then I’ll cover it, change one thing, and show it to you again. Your job is to figure out what changed. It might be that I added something, took something away, or moved an item to a new spot. Let’s see how sharp your memory is!”
How to keep it fresh: You can use classroom supplies, flashcards, letters, or even a written sentence where one word gets changed. For digital classrooms, you can do this with images or slides.
4. Follow the Instructions Challenge
How to play: Give students a set of 2 to 4 instructions to complete in sequence. As students improve, increase the number or complexity of the steps.
Example: “Touch your head, jump once, turn in a circle, then clap twice.”
Why it works: Students must listen, store information, and perform actions in order. It’s great for active learners and helps bridge the gap between auditory memory and physical follow-through. Try it as a movement break between lessons or during transitions.
What to say: “Let’s play a game called Follow the Instructions. I’m going to give you a list of steps to do in order. For example, I might say, ‘Touch your head, jump once, turn in a circle, then clap twice.’ You’ll listen carefully and try to remember all the steps before doing them. As we go, I’ll make the instructions a little longer or trickier. The goal is to follow the whole sequence correctly from memory. Ready to give it a try?”
How to keep it fresh: Have students wait for a cue before they start the exercises, like for you to say “ready, go”. Over time, increase the amount of time between when you give the directions and when you give the cue.
5. Story Builder
How to play: Students sit in a circle. The first student says a sentence to begin a story. Each student must restate the full story so far before adding their own sentence. The story grows one line at a time, but each student has to repeat everything up to that point before contributing.
Example: Student 1: “Once upon a time, there was a dragon.”
Student 2: “Once upon a time, there was a dragon. The dragon lived in a cave.”
Student 3: “Once upon a time, there was a dragon. The dragon lived in a cave. One day, he found a map.”
Why it works: This builds verbal working memory and encourages language development. Students practice active listening, sequencing, and creative thinking all at once. It also helps them learn to tune into narrative structure, which can support reading comprehension and writing skills.
What to say: “Let’s play a storytelling game called Story Builder. We’ll sit in a circle and take turns adding to a story. The first person will start with one sentence. Each person after that has to repeat the whole story so far, then add one new sentence of their own. So the story will grow one sentence at a time, and you’ll have to remember everything that’s been said. Let’s see how long and creative our story can get!”
How to keep it fresh: Give students certain words (vocabulary or silly) to include in the story as a challenge! To support students who struggle with this game, write one word on the board for each part of the story to serve as a visual cue.
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If you are anything like me, you’ll probably love these ideas, but forget about them when it’s time to play! To help, I created a free printable with the details and examples. It’s perfect to print and keep by your desk, or leave for a substitute! Head over to the freebie library section of this website to snag it!
