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Do you need to memorize Piaget’s stages for a test? You’ve found what you’re looking for. I’ll use some familiar mnemonics (“1 is a bun”, etc.) and some wacky images to get those stages – and what happens during them – into your mind. You’ll be able to remember when object permanence occurs, when children are capable of assimilation and accommodation, abstract and logical thinking, conservation of energy – it’s all here. Take the time to watch this video, learn about mnemonics and memorize Piaget’s stages of cognitive development once and for all!
Mnemonic for Piaget’s Stages
- Stage 1 – “1 is a bun” and SensoriMotor: use the “motor” part of sensorimotor and picture 4 cinnamon buns in place of the wheels on the motorcycle. To remember that object permanence occurs in this stage, use “two ants” for “permanence” and picture two ants riding two motorcycles
- Stage 2 – “2 is a shoe” and Preoperational: use “preacher” and imagine him wearing outrageously ugly or funny shoes. For magical thinking, which is typical of this stage, picture a rabbit coming out of the preacher’s hat. To remember that the conservation tasks are a challenge during this stage, picture Smokey the Bear also wearing ridiculous shoes. To remember that assimilation also occurs in this stage, picture an ass (donkey) with those same shoes.
- Stage 3 – “3 is a tree” and Concrete Operations: picture a tree with concrete leaves and the tree is growing out of a concrete pot. Next to the tree is a pile of logs (for logical thinking) and also next to the tree is a wooden commode (for accommodation).
- Stage 3 – “4 is a door” and Formal Operations: picture a very wide door and behind that door are “four males” with excellent abs (for abstract thinking, which is possible at this stage).
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In episode 183 I talked about what critical thinking is and why it’s important. Now we talk about why it’s so darn hard to teach and to use critical thinking in our everyday lives. In this episode I’ll discuss Dr. Daniel Willingham‘s advice to teachers on what they can do to effectively teach critical thinking – something that couldn’t be more important in today’s world where misinformation is all around us. Make sure to take a look at the concept map below.
