Procedure

1. Create a list of concepts, vocabulary terms, figures, etc., related to a lesson or unit.

2. Assign a student to each term.

3. Have them think about how to construct a "memoir" that is exactly six words. For example, a U.S. History student may write "I'm as slick as my oil" for John Rockefeller in order to remember that he was a businessman involved in the oil industry.

4. For this activity, incomplete sentences are allowed. Breaking up ideas into chunks makes them easier to remember, like dashes do for phone numbers. Less is more. Aim for accuracy and focus on word choice.

5. Invite students to tell a story with the facts. For example, if the subject was Rosa Parks, they might write, "Refused to move. Launched a movement." If they had read the short story, "To Build a Fire", they might write, "Man vs. Nature. Nature wins. Again."

6. Create a large class list of these six-word memoirs for students to use. These memoirs can help students learn terms and study concepts.