Memorising the Planets of the Solar System

When I was a student, I had a tough time memorising Planets in order. I would like to share an effective method of memorising nine planets from the book ‘Master Your Memory’ by Tony Buzan.

First write down the names of all Planets of our Solar System on a piece of paper.

Now check with the order I have written and see if you have got it right. This is in order from the Sun:

1. Mercury 2. Venus 3. Earth 4. Mars 5. Jupiter 6. Saturn 7. Uranus 8. Neptune 9. Pluto

Tony Buzan proves that it is easy to memorise things and recall it faster if we link it with a story and visualise it. Tony Buzan with his excellent story telling skill take us through the following wonderful world:

Imagine that you are standing in front of Sun. See it clearly, feel its heat and admire its orange glow. And there is this planet thermometer, filled with that liquid metal that measures temperature: MERCURY.

The Sun heats up and eventually it bursts the thermometer. All you see is that tiny balls of that liquid metal Mercury on the floor.

Next you see is this most beautiful little goddess standing right next to you. What shall we call her? Yes, VENUS.

Then you see Venus playing with this scattered Mercury. Finally manage to pick up one of the Mercury Globules. She throws it in a giant arc way up in the sky. And this lands in your garden with a big thump. Your garden is on planet EARTH.

Because of the big thump, it effected your next-door neighbour who is a little red faced and about to fume up. Who is this God of War? MARS

Mars is really furious that he is just about to attack you when, striding you on the scene comes a giant. He calms Mars down. He has an initial J on his forehead that stands for JUPITER.

As you look up to Jupiter, he is wearing this T-shirt with the word ‘SUN’ emblazoned in golden letters. Each of this letters stands for the first letter of each of the three big Planets of the Solar System: SATURN, URANUS and NEPTUNE.

Sitting on Jupiter’s head is this barking dog called PLUTO, laughing his little heart out.

Now re-run this fantasy in your mind and then see how easy it is to remember!

This definitely works. I use this method of linking with story when I teach young children. They enjoy story and same time as a teacher I feel am successful. You may try this method in young children at lower level school.