The Reading / Listening - Babies' Memories - Level 6

Most people cannot recall memories of being a baby, nor of their infancy. However, some people claim they can remember things that happened in the first year of their lives. Researchers at Yale and Columbia University in the United States studied why people have no recollection of things that happened in the first four or five years of their lives. The research team also investigated whether or not babies formed memories at all. Researcher Dr Tristan Yates suggested we may not be able to remember being a baby. He said: "Our results suggest that babies' brains have the capacity for forming memories, but how long-lasting these memories are is still an open question."

The research has been published in the journal "Science". It suggests that babies as young as a year old can form and store memories. Researchers used a specially designed scanner to observe activity in an area of babies' brains called the hippocampus. This is where memories are created and stored. The research found that babies can form limited types of memories from the age of two months. It is possible that infants can detect patterns in people's faces, language and in daily routines. However, episodic memory, which allows us to recall specific events, may take longer to form. The researchers say this kind of memory may not occur until the hippocampus has more fully matured.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Babies' Memories - Level 4  or  Babies' Memories - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/29/why-cant-we-remember-our-early-years-do-babies-make-memories-at-all
  • https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00855-0
  • https://www.science.org/content/article/pioneering-study-scans-babies-brains-they-form-memories


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. MEMORIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about memories. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       memories / baby / infancy / the first year of life / brains / capacity / open questions /
       research / researchers / scanner / two months / people's faces / language / routines
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BABY MEMORIES: Students A strongly believe it is important to remember baby memories; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BEST/WORST: What are your best and worst memories of the things in this table? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Best

Worst

Childhood

 

 

Holiday

 

 

School

 

 

Internet

 

 

Boy/Girlfriend

 

 

Shopping

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. BABY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "baby". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. LIFE MEMORIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best period for memories of your life at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Infancy
  • Elementary school
  • Junior high school
  • High school
  • University
  • Part-time jobs
  • Holidays
  • Twenties

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. recall a. Unresolved; unanswered.
      2. infancy b. Say something is true without proof.
      3. claim c. Looked at something carefully to find out the truth.
      4. recollection d. Remember something.
      5. investigated e. The ability to do something.
      6. capacity f. The time when someone is a baby.
      7. open g. A memory of something from the past.

    Paragraph 2

      8. journal h. Very young babies.
      9. observe i. Watch and study carefully.
      10. limited j. Grew and developed fully.
      11. infants k. A book or magazine with news or studies.
      12. detect l. Notice or find something.
      13. episodic m. Not much or not many.
      14. matured n. About different events or experiences in life.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The research is from the universities of Yale and Columbia.     T / F
  2. The article says most people can recall memories of being a baby.     T / F
  3. Researchers say no one has any recollection of the first five years of life. T / F
  4. A researcher questioned how long babies' memories were.     T / F
  5. Research suggests that one-year-old babies could store memories.     T / F
  6. Researchers used a supermarket scanner to scan babies' brains.     T / F
  7. Babies might be to understand patterns in daily routines.     T / F
  8. A baby's hippocampus might not be developed enough for memories.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. recall
  2. infancy
  3. investigated
  4. suggest
  5. long-lasting
  6. store
  7. limited
  8. detect
  9. specific
  10. matured
  1. developed
  2. enduring
  3. indicate
  4. particular
  5. looked into
  6. notice
  7. remember
  8. basic
  9. keep
  10. early childhood

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. Most people cannot recall memories
  2. people claim
  3. people have no
  4. how long-lasting
  5. still an open
  6. Researchers used a specially
  7. It is possible that infants can
  8. episodic
  9. recall
  10. until the hippocampus has more
  1. these memories are
  2. specific events
  3. they can remember things
  4. question
  5. fully matured
  6. memory
  7. designed scanner
  8. of being a baby
  9. detect patterns
  10. recollection of things

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
recollection
all
long-lasting
recall
open
claim
investigated
results

Most people cannot (1) _________________________________ memories of being a baby, nor of their infancy. However, some people (2) _________________________________ they can remember things that happened in the first year of their lives. Researchers at Yale and Columbia University in the United States studied why people have no (3) _________________________________ of things that happened in the first four or five years of their lives. The research team also (4) _________________________________ whether or not babies formed memories at (5) _________________________________. Researcher Dr Tristan Yates suggested we may not be able to remember being a baby. He said: "Our (6) _________________________________ suggest that babies' brains have the capacity for forming memories, but how (7) _________________________________ these memories are is still an (8) _________________________________ question."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
episodic
store
matured
published
occur
observe
infants
limited

The research has been (9) _________________________________ in the journal "Science". It suggests that babies as young as a year old can form and (10) _________________________________ memories. Researchers used a specially designed scanner to (11) _________________________________ activity in an area of babies' brains called the hippocampus. This is where memories are created and stored. The research found that babies can form (12) _________________________________ types of memories from the age of two months. It is possible that (13) _________________________________ can detect patterns in people's faces, language and in daily routines. However, (14) _________________________________ memory, which allows us to recall specific events, may take longer to form. The researchers say this kind of memory may not (15) _________________________________ until the hippocampus has more fully (16) _________________________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  people cannot recall memories of being a baby, nor ______
     a.  of their infants
     b.  of their infants see
     c.  of their infancy
     d.  offer infancy
2)  Columbia University in the United States studied why people ______
     a.  have known recollection
     b.  have non recollection
     c.  have no recollection
     d.  have know recollection
3)  The research team also investigated whether or not babies formed ______
     a.  memories subtle
     b.  memories atoll
     c.  memories a tall
     d.  memories at all
4)  Our results suggest that babies' brains have the capacity ______
     a.  for forming memories
     b.  for form in memories
     c.  for form Ming memories
     d.  for for Ming memories
5)  but how long-lasting these memories are is still ______
     a.  an opened question
     b.  an opener question
     c.  an opens question
     d.  an open question

6)  observe activity in an area of babies' brains ______
     a.  called the hippopotamus
     b.  called the hypo campus
     c.  called the hyper campus
     d.  called the hippocampus
7)  The research found that babies can ______
     a.  form limit it types
     b.  form limited type
     c.  form limited types
     d.  from limited types
8)  possible that infants can detect patterns in people's faces, language and ______
     a.  in daily routines
     b.  in daily route teens
     c.  in daily route teen
     d.  in daily roo tins
9)  However, episodic memory, which allows us to ______
     a.  reek all specific events
     b.  recall specific events
     c.  reek call specific events
     d.  reek cale specific events
10)  memory may not occur until the hippocampus has ______
     a.  more full matured
     b.  more fully mature
     c.  more fully matured
     d.  more full mature

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Most people cannot recall (1) _______________________________________________ a baby, nor of their infancy. However, some people claim they can remember things that happened in the (2) _______________________________________________ their lives. Researchers at Yale and Columbia University in the United States studied why people have (3) _______________________________________________ things that happened in the first four or five years of their lives. The research team also investigated (4) _______________________________________________ babies formed memories at all. Researcher Dr Tristan Yates suggested we may not be able to remember being a baby. He said: "Our results suggest that babies' brains have the (5) _______________________________________________ memories, but how long-lasting these memories are is (6) _______________________________________________ question."

The research has been published (7) _______________________________________________ "Science". It suggests that babies as young as a year old can form and store memories. Researchers used a specially designed (8) _______________________________________________ activity in an area of babies' brains called the hippocampus. This is where memories are created and stored. The research found that babies can form (9) _______________________________________________ memories from the age of two months. It is possible that infants can detect patterns in people's faces, language and (10) _______________________________________________. However, episodic memory, which allows us to (11) _______________________________________________, may take longer to form. The researchers say this kind of memory may not occur until the hippocampus has (12) _______________________________________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What can most people not remember besides being a baby?
  2. What two universities are the researchers from?
  3. What is the job of Tristan Yates?
  4. What did a researcher suggest babies have the capacity for?
  5. What is still an open question?
  6. Where has the research been published?
  7. What did researchers use to look at babies' brains?
  8. What is the area of the brain that stores memories called?
  9. What does episodic memory allow us to recall?
  10. What must a baby's hippocampus do to allow them to remember more?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What can most people not remember besides being a baby?
a) bedtime
b) being born
c) infancy
d) bathtime
2) What two universities are the researchers from?
a) Yale and Columbia
b) MIT and Yale
c) Stanford and Columbia
d) NYU and MIT
3) What is the job of Tristan Yates?
a) a paediatrician
b) a researcher
c) a journalist
d) a microscope company CEO
4) What did a researcher suggest babies have the capacity for?
a) analysing memories
b) understanding jokes
c) empathy
d) forming memories
5) What is still an open question?
a) the meaning of life
b) why we forget things
c) how long-lasting memories are
d) what memory is

6) Where has the research been published?
a) online
b) the journal "Science"
c) in a special newspaper
d) on a doctors' forum
7) What did researchers use to look at babies' brains?
a) AI
b) a microscope
c) a magnifying glass
d) a specially designed scanner
8) What is the area of the brain that stores memories called?
a) Broca's area
b) the hippocampus
c) the cortex
d) the frontal lobe
9) What does episodic memory allow us to recall?
a) TV shows
b) specific events
c) sounds, sights and smells
d) colour
10) What must a baby's hippocampus do to allow them to remember more?
a) more fully mature
b) get rest
c) get sugars
d) think more

Role play

Role  A – Elementary School
You think elementary school is where we have our best memories. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their times don't form as good memories. Also, tell the others which of these has the least enjoyable memories (and why): junior high school, high school or part-time jobs.

Role  B – Junior High School
You think junior high school is where we have our best memories. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their times don't form as good memories. Also, tell the others which of these has the least enjoyable memories (and why): elementary school, high school or part-time jobs.

Role  C – High School
You think high school is where we have our best memories. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their times don't form as good memories. Also, tell the others which of these has the least enjoyable memories (and why): junior high school, elementary school or part-time jobs.

Role  D – Part-time Jobs
You think part-time jobs are where we have our best memories. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their times don't form as good memories. Also, tell the others which of these has the least enjoyable memories (and why): junior high school, high school or elementary school.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'baby'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'memory'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • nor
    • first
    • four
    • all
    • Dr
    • open
    • journal
    • specially
    • area
    • age
    • specific
    • kind

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Babies' Memories

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'baby'?
    3. What do you think of babies?
    4. What is your earliest memory?
    5. Would you like to be able to remember being a baby?
    6. What's your happiest memory?
    7. Would you like a memory machine to store all your memories?
    8. How often does your memory fail you?
    9. What can you remember about the first five years of your life?
    10. What might good baby memories be like?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'memory'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How good is your memory?
    5. Would a memory reader help with police investigations?
    6. Would you like to read the journal 'Science'?
    7. Would you like to access all of your memories?
    8. Do we need to keep all of our memories?
    9. What have you forgotten that you would like to remember?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Most people cannot recall memories of being a baby, (1) ____ of their infancy. However, some people claim they can remember things that happened in the (2) ____ year of their lives. Researchers at Yale and Columbia University in the United States studied why people have no (3) ____ of things that happened in the first four or five years of their lives. The research team also investigated (4) ____ or not babies formed memories at all. Researcher Dr Tristan Yates suggested we may not be able to remember (5) ____ a baby. He said: "Our results suggest that babies' brains have the capacity for forming memories, but how (6) ____-lasting these memories are is still an open question."

    The research has been published (7) ____ the journal "Science". It suggests that babies as young as a year old can (8) ____ and store memories. Researchers used a specially designed scanner to observe activity in an area of babies' brains called the hippocampus. This is where memories are created and stored. The research found that babies can form (9) ____ types of memories from the age of two months. It is possible that infants can (10) ____ patterns in people's faces, language and in daily routines. However, (11) ____ memory, which allows us to recall specific events, may take longer to form. The researchers say this kind of memory may not occur until the hippocampus has more fully (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     not     (b)     nor     (c)     never     (d)     ne'er    
    2. (a)     fast     (b)     first     (c)     firstly     (d)     faster    
    3. (a)     recollected     (b)     recollects     (c)     recollect     (d)     recollection    
    4. (a)     waiver     (b)     whether     (c)     whither     (d)     weather    
    5. (a)     doing     (b)     boing     (c)     being     (d)     being    
    6. (a)     lengthy     (b)     lengthen     (c)     long     (d)     longing    
    7. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    8. (a)     farm     (b)     frame     (c)     form     (d)     firm    
    9. (a)     submitted     (b)     committed     (c)     remitted     (d)     limited    
    10. (a)     detect     (b)     infect     (c)     subject     (d)     erect    
    11. (a)     episodic     (b)     series     (c)     sequence     (d)     show    
    12. (a)     matured     (b)     nature     (c)     immature     (d)     maturity

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Most people cannot elcarl memories
    2. people have no coeoelnilrct
    3. The research team also genisitdeavt
    4. Yates eegudtgss we may not be able to
    5. babies' brains have the atcpiyca
    6. how nn-goagtlsil these memories are

    Paragraph 2

    1. published in the ralonju "Science"
    2. a specially designed scanner to sebeorv activity
    3. tecetd patterns in people's faces
    4. sdieiocp memory
    5. recall cfiiscpe events
    6. until the hippocampus has more fully edmtuar

    Put the text back together

    (    )     activity in an area of babies' brains called the hippocampus. This is where memories are created and
    (    )     being a baby. He said: "Our results suggest that babies' brains have the capacity
    (    )     claim they can remember things that happened in the first year of their lives. Researchers at Yale and Columbia University
    (    )     for forming memories, but how long-lasting these memories are is still an open question."
    (    )     four or five years of their lives. The research team also investigated whether or not babies formed
    (    )     in the United States studied why people have no recollection of things that happened in the first
    (    )     memories at all. Researcher Dr Tristan Yates suggested we may not be able to remember
    (    )     memory, which allows us to recall specific events, may take longer to form. The researchers say this kind
    (  1  )    Most people cannot recall memories of being a baby, nor of their infancy. However, some people
    (    )     of memory may not occur until the hippocampus has more fully matured.
    (    )     stored. The research found that babies can form limited types of memories from the age of two months. It is possible
    (    )     that infants can detect patterns in people's faces, language and in daily routines. However, episodic
    (    )     The research has been published in the journal "Science". It suggests that babies as
    (    )     young as a year old can form and store memories. Researchers used a specially designed scanner to observe

    Put the words in the right order

    1. of   recall   baby   .   memories   People   cannot   a   being
    2. in   first   year   lives   .   the   of   Happened   their
    3. that   have   of   recollection   People   things   happened   .   no
    4. be   suggested   able   to   .   Yates   not   may   we
    5. the   memories   .   forming   for   brains   have   capacity   Babies'
    6. as   can   .   young   old   a   Babies   year   as
    7. Observe   in   of   activity   babies'   brains   .   an   area
    8. form   limited   Babies   of   can   types   memories   .
    9. Episodic   us   memory   recall   events   .   allows   specific   to
    10. This   kind   may   not   of   occur   .   memory

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Most people cannot recall / call memories of being a baby, nor of their infancy. However, some people clam / claim they can remember things that happened in the first year of / at their lives. Researchers at Yale and Columbia University in the United States studied who / why people have no recollection of what / things that happened in the first four or five years of their lives. The research team also investigated whether / weather or not babies formed memories at tall / all. Researcher Dr Tristan Yates suggested we may not be capable / able to remember being a baby. He said: "Our result / results suggest that babies' brains have the capacity for forming memories, but how long-lasting them / these memories are is still an open question."

    The research has been published in / on the journal "Science". It suggests that babies as young as a year old can form and store / stare memories. Researchers used a specially designate / designed scanner to observe activity in an area of babies' brains called the hippocampus / hippopotamus. This is where memories are created and stored. The research found that babies can form limited / remitted types of memories from the age of two months. It is possible that infancy / infants can detect patterns in people's faces, language and in daily / day routines. However, episodic memory, which allows us for / to recall specific events, may take longer to form. The researchers say this kind of memory may not occurrence / occur until the hippocampus has more fully nurture / matured.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    M_st  p__pl_  c_nn_t  r_c_ll  m_m_r__s  _f  b__ng  _  b_by,  n_r  _f  th__r  _nf_ncy.  H_w_v_r,  s_m_  p__pl_  cl__m  th_y  c_n  r_m_mb_r  th_ngs  th_t  h_pp_n_d  _n  th_  f_rst  y__r  _f  th__r  l_v_s.  R_s__rch_rs  _t  Y_l_  _nd  C_l_mb__  _n_v_rs_ty  _n  th_  _n_t_d  St_t_s  st_d__d  why  p__pl_  h_v_  n_  r_c_ll_ct__n  _f  th_ngs  th_t  h_pp_n_d  _n  th_  f_rst  f__r  _r  f_v_  y__rs  _f  th__r  l_v_s.  Th_  r_s__rch  t__m  _ls_  _nv_st_g_t_d  wh_th_r  _r  n_t  b_b__s  f_rm_d  m_m_r__s  _t  _ll.  R_s__rch_r  Dr  Tr_st_n  Y_t_s  s_gg_st_d  w_  m_y  n_t  b_  _bl_  t_  r_m_mb_r  b__ng  _  b_by.  H_  s__d:  "__r  r_s_lts  s_gg_st  th_t  b_b__s'  br__ns  h_v_  th_  c_p_c_ty  f_r  f_rm_ng  m_m_r__s,  b_t  h_w  l_ng-l_st_ng  th_s_  m_m_r__s  _r_  _s  st_ll  _n  _p_n  q__st__n."

    Th_  r_s__rch  h_s  b__n  p_bl_sh_d  _n  th_  j__rn_l  "Sc__nc_".  _t  s_gg_sts  th_t  b_b__s  _s  y__ng  _s  _  y__r  _ld  c_n  f_rm  _nd  st_r_  m_m_r__s.  R_s__rch_rs  _s_d  _  sp_c__lly  d_s_gn_d  sc_nn_r  t_  _bs_rv_  _ct_v_ty  _n  _n  _r__  _f  b_b__s'  br__ns  c_ll_d  th_  h_pp_c_mp_s.  Th_s  _s  wh_r_  m_m_r__s  _r_  cr__t_d  _nd  st_r_d.  Th_  r_s__rch  f__nd  th_t  b_b__s  c_n  f_rm  l_m_t_d  typ_s  _f  m_m_r__s  fr_m  th_  _g_  _f  tw_  m_nths.  _t  _s  p_ss_bl_  th_t  _nf_nts  c_n  d_t_ct  p_tt_rns  _n  p__pl_'s  f_c_s,  l_ng__g_  _nd  _n  d__ly  r__t_n_s.  H_w_v_r,  _p_s_d_c  m_m_ry,  wh_ch  _ll_ws  _s  t_  r_c_ll  sp_c_f_c  _v_nts,  m_y  t_k_  l_ng_r  t_  f_rm.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  s_y  th_s  k_nd  _f  m_m_ry  m_y  n_t  _cc_r  _nt_l  th_  h_pp_c_mp_s  h_s  m_r_  f_lly  m_t_r_d.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    most people cannot recall memories of being a baby nor of their infancy however some people claim they can remember things that happened in the first year of their lives researchers at yale and columbia university in the united states studied why people have no recollection of things that happened in the first four or five years of their lives the research team also investigated whether or not babies formed memories at all researcher dr tristan yates suggested we may not be able to remember being a baby he said our results suggest that babies brains have the capacity for forming memories but how longlasting these memories are is still an open question

    the research has been published in the journal science it suggests that babies as young as a year old can form and store memories researchers used a specially designed scanner to observe activity in an area of babies brains called the hippocampus this is where memories are created and stored the research found that babies can form limited types of memories from the age of two months it is possible that infants can detect patterns in peoples faces language and in daily routines however episodic memory which allows us to recall specific events may take longer to form the researchers say this kind of memory may not occur until the hippocampus has more fully matured

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Mostpeoplecannotrecallmemoriesofbeingababy,noroftheirinfancy.
    However,somepeopleclaimtheycanrememberthingsthathappenedi
    nthefirstyearoftheirlives.ResearchersatYaleandColumbiaUniversityi
    ntheUnitedStatesstudiedwhypeoplehavenorecollectionofthingsthat
    happenedinthefirstfourorfiveyearsoftheirlives.Theresearchteamals
    oinvestigatedwhetherornotbabiesformedmemoriesatall.Researcher
    DrTristanYatessuggestedwemaynotbeabletorememberbeingababy.
    Hesaid:"Ourresultssuggestthatbabies'brainshavethecapacityforfor
    mingmemories,buthowlong-lastingthesememoriesareisstillanope
    nquestion."Theresearchhasbeenpublishedinthejournal"Science".Its
    uggeststhatbabiesasyoungasayearoldcanformandstorememories.R
    esearchersusedaspeciallydesignedscannertoobserveactivityinanar
    eaofbabies'brainscalledthehippocampus.Thisiswherememoriesarec
    reatedandstored.Theresearchfoundthatbabiescanformlimitedtypes
    ofmemoriesfromtheageoftwomonths.Itispossiblethatinfantscandet
    ectpatternsinpeople'sfaces,languageandindailyroutines.However,e
    pisodicmemory,whichallowsustorecallspecificevents,maytakelonge
    rtoform.Theresearcherssaythiskindofmemorymaynotoccuruntilthe
    hippocampushasmorefullymatured.

    Free writing

    Write about babies' memories for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    It would be great if we could remember being a baby. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. MEMORIES: Make a poster about memories. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BABY MEMORIES: Write a magazine article about spending money on accessing memories of when we were babies. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on memories. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on accessing memories of infancy. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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