Gather a group of small articles and place them on a table. Begin with
not less than twenty articles and increase the number as those making
the test become accurate. Have the children gather around the table and
look intently at the objects upon it, striving to make a picture of the
group in their minds. After they have looked at the table for thirty
seconds cover it and have them write a list of all the articles they
can recall from their mental impression. The one writing the longest
list is the winner.
It is well to allow them a second observation of twenty seconds after
they have written the first list and see how many more they can add to
it. After the child has written all that he thinks he can, have him
close his eyes and see the mind's eye picture of the top of the table
and in this way concentrate on the picture. You will find that in most
cases this will recall to mind other objects, they will gradually
become definite in the picture and can be added to the list. Few
people are able to write more than twenty objects from a one minute
observation of a table containing thirty, but there are some who can
do much better at the first trial. These are usually persons who have
been engaged in some line of effort which causes the development of the
faculty.
This is an excellent mental exercise and should be repeated as often
as you can induce the children to play it, adding to the articles and
changing some for variety. Play this at the children's parties. Older
persons enjoy it as well as the younger ones, especially after they see
how difficult it is.