Magic Camp – Mind Reading & Other Cool Tricks Parent Notes

Bringing out the STAR in kids! Abra-Kid-Abra 314-961-6912 www.abrakid.com

Thanks for having your child participate in our Magic Camp. These notes are provided to help you assist you child in mastering the tricks. The notes are based on our 30 hour camp. If your program is less hours, not all this material will be covered, so some of it will be extra. If you have questions on anything, please let us know. 314-961-6912 [email protected] Good luck!

Nines Trick

Effect: To a cute story, magician shows a card with the word “nine” written, but with the “i” not dotted. She places the card face down on the table, & writes a dot on another piece of paper. She rubs the dot and it disappears. When she turns over the “nine” card, the “i” is now dotted!

Props: Nine card, a pen or pencil, and a piece of paper.

Secret: The word “nine” reads the same upside down or right side up, as it is written in cursive. When “nine” is right side up, the “i” is dotted. But when it is upside down, it isn’t—the dot is below the word and covered up by the thumb, which holds the card.

As for the dot disappearing, you pretend to draw a dot on the paper but really don’t.

Preparation: Have each student put a light pencil dot on the back of the card near the top edge of the card where the dot is. At the end of the trick, this helps you pick up the card in the right position with the dot on top.

Presentation: “The other day, I turned in a paper, and afterwards I realized that I forgot to dot the “i” in the word “nine”. (Show it undotted—covered by your fingers holding the card.) I didn’t want to get points off because I forgot to dot the “i”, so I thought I would try some magic. (Set card face down on table. Note where the pencil dot is so you know how to pick it up showing it dotted in a minute.)

I wrote a dot on a piece of paper. (Pretend to write a dot with a pencil, but don’t really write anything.) Then I rubbed it with my thumb, said “Abra-Kid-Abra”, and it disappeared! (Lift thumb to show it gone.) And sure enough, when my teacher read my paper, the nine was now dotted (show it such)!”

Pick An Animal

Effect: Magician introduces her assistant, a Swami, who is all knowing. She sends the Swami out of the room, and asks someone from the audience to point to any of 9 animals shown in a 3x3 matrix on a sheet of paper. She calls Swami back in, and points to each animal, saying “Was it this one, this one, this one...?” Swami correctly names the selected animal!

Props: Pick An Animal Sheet for each student; and a blown up, laminated version for the show.

Secret: Where in the middle square the magician points tells the Swami which square was chosen. E.g. if Swami points to the upper right corner of the middle square, the animal chosen was the one in the upper right corner of the matrix (the swan). If the magician points to the lower middle, it was the lower middle square of the matrix—the horse. Etc.

Presentation: “This is my Swami. He has great mental powers. I will ask one of you to touch any animal on this page while Swami is not looking, and Swami will know which one you picked. Do you think he can do that?

Swami, please leave the room. Who would like to come up here and touch an animal. You! Which one will you touch? Does everyone see it? Only the greatest of Swamis can get that one. We’ll see if ours is up to the task. Swami! (Swami comes back in.) A round of applause for the great Swami, ladies & gentleman.

Swami, this person chose an animal. Was it (pointing to each animal, in turn) this one, this one, this one,…or this one? (Swami ponders for a moment, then names the animal.) Was he right? He was! A round of applause for the Great Swami!”

Tips:  Be sure everyone in the audience sees which animal was selected.

Ball in Vase

Effects: 1) The ball jumps from the magician’s pocket back to the vase. 2) The ball goes the other way— from the vase into the magician’s pocket. 3) The ball disappears from the vase, then reappears.

Props: Ball ‘n Vase trick (vase top & base, ball, & shell ball); & instruction sheet. When the shell ball sits on the pedestal vase, it looks like a ball is sitting there. When the shell is in the lid, the shell is not visible.

Presentation: 1) Pocket to Vase. To start, put the (real) ball in the vase. Put the shell in the lid, and cover the ball. Lift the lid (shell comes with it). Show the (real) ball. Put it in your pocket. Put the lid back on the vase. Have the audience say the magic words. Lift the lid off the vase to show the ball has returned! (It’s really the shell.) 2) Vase to Pocket. To start, the ball is in your pocket (or your magic case if you don’t have a pocket). The shell is in the lid, and the vase is closed up. Lift the lid, showing the ball (shell). Put the lid back on. Have the audience say Abra-Kid-Abra. Lift the lid to show the ball has vanished (the shell stays in the lid). Show it went to your pocket! 3) To start, have the vase closed up with the shell it in. Set the real ball aside. You won’t need it for this trick. Lift the lid, showing the ball. Cover it up. Have the audience say Abra-Kid-Abra. Lift the lid to show it vanished. Put the lid back on. Have the audience say Abra-Kid-Abra again. Lift lid to show the ball has returned. Can you make up a story with this trick?

Magic Cases (Art Project)

Activity: Have the students make & decorate their magic case. The case is used to carry their tricks, and to perform out of by opening it.

Props: For each student: 1 corrugated case, 1 plastic white handle. For every 2-4 students: box of crayons, For the class: 1 laminated sheet listing (and spelling) a sampling of magic names, and a pencil (or pen).

Conducting the Activity:  Ask each person to think of a magic name. Show a sheet with some examples and commonly spelled magic name words. They’ll write their names on their boxes.  Explain that each magician will make a box that’ll be used for 2 things: . Storing the tricks they get each day . Performing out of. When you open it, it makes a nice little “stage” with your props kept behind the wall (i.e. the box top), which says your name.  Before passing out supplies, show them how to assemble the box, put on a handle, and where to draw their magic name so it is face up when they open their lid (not upside down). . To be sure they don’t draw their name so it’s upside down when they open their box, write a small “T” at the top of the side they’ll draw on, so they know which is the top.  Distribute crayons at each table.  Pass out to each person a corrugated box and handle.  Let them assemble their boxes, draw their magic name, & decorate their box. Circulate, helping as needed.  Encourage them to bring their boxes to class each day.

If They Mess Up Their Drawing: Give them a piece of paper to start over, and glue stick the paper to their box. Diagram A: Tip on Getting the Plastic Handle into the 2 Holes: The handle looks like diagram A. With you thumb, push 1 end of the T down so the end is straight, rather than perpendicular (diagram B). Slide it in the hole. The end will pop back in place, perpendicular, keeping it in the hole. Diagram B:

Start with flat piece of cardboard. First get 1 side of the box done. Fold Put in plastic handle. Your case back & front piece in, facing each is now assembled! Have the other. Then fold side piece over them child write their magic name on and lock in place. Then the other side. the front. Then fold the top.

Grocery Store

Effect: Magician shows a card with pictures of 15 different foods. She asks spectator to think of 1 & lets the audience know which he’s thinking of. Magician then turns the card around to show 4 boxes, each with several foods. Magician asks the spectator which box(es) his food is in. Magician then reveals the thought-of food!

Props: Grocery Store card for each student, and a blown up, laminated version to use in the show.

Secret: The magician assigns a number to each of the 4 boxes. The first box is one, the 2nd box 2, the 3rd box 4, & the 4th box 8. Whichever box the spectator says his food is in, the magician adds the number of those boxes & gets a total. She turns the card back around to the side with the 15 foods, each of which is numbered. Whatever the total is—that food is the chosen one!

For example, if the spectator says his food is in box #2 & #3, the magician adds those box’ numbers, 2+4 and gets 6. On the side with 15 numbered food items, food #6 is the thought-of item.

Presentation: “On this card are a number of different foods. Can you think of 1 of them, don’t tell me what it is. Do you have one in mind? Good. I will turn around. Would you show the audience which one you’re thinking of. Let me know when I can turn back around.

Now, your food might be in 1 or more of these boxes. Is it in this one? This one? This one? This one? (Point, in turn, to box 1,2,3, & 4. Add in your head as you go along with each yes.) Very interesting. (Turn card around to 15 food side.) Is the food you are thinking of…____? It works 1 out of 15 times, I was lucky it worked that time!”

Trip Around the US

Effect: You invite a spectator to go on a trip around the U.S. (See photo.) You hand spectator a magic wand to use on the journey. Following instructions on the card, he starts in any gray square, and makes a series of moves. He ends on 1 particular monument. He unrolls the wand to find a prediction of where he’d wind up. It is correct!

Props: Trip Around the US sheet, paper wand that says Gateway Arch, 2 rubber bands, and a blown up, laminated sheet to use in the show.

Secret: Although it seems like the spectator could wind up at any monument, he always winds up at the Gateway Arch if he follows the instructions correctly.

Presentation: “Who wants to go on a trip around the country? Come on up. This is a magical trip so you’ll need your magic wand. (Hand it to her.) This is our map, and you notice that we’ll be visiting a number of famous monuments—The Statue of Liberty, The Grand Canyon, The Space Needle, etc. You’ll also notice that some have gray squares—that is, a gray background (point to an example)--and some have white squares—with a white background. Here are some instructions to guide your journey. I’d like you to read each out loud, then follow the instructions. Use your wand as a pointer for the different squares. Are you ready? Let’s begin.”

(In instruction number 1, when spectator starts on any gray square, ask) Now just out of curiosity, you could have started on ANY gray square. Any particular reason you chose to start there? (Have spectator read each of the 5 instructions and make sure they follow them correctly. At the end, ask where did they wind up? (The Arch)

Very interesting. And remember, you could have started on any number of squares. You have been holding that wand the whole journey. Would you take off the rubber bands, unroll it, and read out loud what it says. (The Arch) (Show the prediction to the audience.) Thanks for helping. Let’s give her a round of applause.”

Notes:  Hold the sheet up so everyone can see it. Perhaps put it on a blackboard or easel.  Have spectator stand on the side of the words, so she can read them easily.

Wand Tricks

Props: wand instruction sheet (yellow), paper wand & rubber bands (from Trip Around the US trick).

Effects: 1) Magnetized Wand. Wand sticks to magician’s hand. 2) Sticky Wand. Magician interlaces her fingers, back of hand toward the audience. The wand, sticks to the palm side of her fingers, even with her hands interlaced and outstretched! 3) Rubber Wand—a solid wand wiggles, as though rubbery.

Secrets: 1) Magnetized Wand. As seen in the diagram in the instructions, wand is held in the right palm. The left hand fingers and thumb grasp the right wrist. However, unseen by the audience, the left 1st finger extends into the right palm, holding wand in place! 2) Sticky Wand. As shown in the diagram in the instructions, 1 finger extends into the palm, holding the wand in place so it doesn’t fall. From the audience view of the back of the interlaced hands, it looks like every other finger is interlaced—like they are all there! 3) Rubber Wand. Hold the wand loosely between thumb & first finger, about 2-3” from the tip. Move your arm up & down fairly rapidly, as the wand wiggles loosely between your thumb & first finger. With practice, you can make it look rubbery. Tap it on the table to show it’s actually solid.

Magnetic Wand Magnetic Wand Sticky Wand Sticky Wand

Presentation: You might make up a story. E.g. You were at the magic shop and a guy across the room did something odd with a magic wand. (Demo it.) To this day, you still don’t know how he did it!

Oops Card Trick

Effect: Magician announces that she will ask the spectator to name any word, she is going to spell it out, and arrive at the joker. Suppose spectator says “puppy”. Magician deals the cards face down, 1 at a time spelling 1 letter for each card” P-U-P-P-Y. When she gets to the Y, she turns over the card, but it is not the joker. She puts the cards back on the deck and asks the spectator to try it. Spectator does this and does find the joker on the last letter!

Props: Deck of cards.

Secret: Magician has glimpsed the top card secretly in advance. That is the card she says will be spelled to. Suppose it is a joker. Suppose the spectator says to spell “puppy”—a 5 letter word. When the magician deals the cards into a pile, the joker—originally on top—winds up at the bottom of the dealt pile of 5 cards. After the magician misses, she puts this pile of dealt cards back on top of the deck, which secretly puts the joker the 5th card down! So when spectator spells the word, he will find the joker on the last letter! This works for any word, with any number of letters.

Presentation: “There is a funny thing about the joker. I’d like you to name any word, and when I spell it with the cards, I will wind up at the joker. Do you believe I can do that? Name any word. (Suppose spectator says Puppy). Alright. Can you spell it with me. P-U-P-P-Y (deal 1 card face down into a pile as you say each letter). (At the last letter—Y—show the card to spectator.) The Joker! That was an impressive trick, eh? What’s that? That is not the joker. Oh. I guess I need a little more practice on that one. You try it. Spell puppy 1 letter at a time into a pile. Turn over the last card. (Joker) You did it! Have you ever thought of becoming a magician?”

The 7’s Pile

Effect: Magician jots a prediction, then deals some cards into 2 piles. Spectator chooses a pile, and prediction—which says “You will choose the 7’s pile”--is shown to be correct!

Props: Deck of cards, per or pencil, & paper.

Secret: There are 2 different “outs”, based on which pile the spectator chooses. You either show all 7’s, or 7 cards, to match the prediction.

Presentation:  Start with the 4 7’s on top of the deck (unknown to the audience).  Say that you’ve just been struck by a premonition, & you’re going to write it on a piece of paper. Write: “You will choose the 7’s pile.” Set it aside, face down on the table.  Casually deal the cards into face down 2 piles. Deal 4 cards (the 4 7s into 1 pile. Deal 7 cards into the other pile. Don’t make a big deal about how many cards you’re dealing. It should just look like you’re dealing a few cards into each pile.  Ask the spectator to choose 1 of the piles, & tell them that that is the one you’ll use.  When they choose, ask if they want to change their mind. (It doesn’t matter if they do or not.)  Say that you want to show them first the pile they did not choose. . If they picked the 4 7’s pile, turn the other pile face up and show that they are random cards. Put them back on the deck (so people can’t count them later). Turn over the pile they picked & show they’re all 7’s. Ask them to read the prediction out loud. If they picked the pile with 7 cards, count the cards in the other pile face down (4). Set these on top of the deck. Count the pile they chose. Show there are 7. Ask them to read the prediction out loud.

Spelling the Cards

Effect: Using a packet of cards, ace through 5, the magician spells each card, each time arriving at that card.

Props: Deck of cards--ace through 5, preferably of the same suit.

Setup: Put the cards in this order, face down, from top down: 5-3-2-A-4. (5-4-3-2-1, then move 4 to bottom.)

Mechanics:  Spell the value of card, one card per letter. Then turn the NEXT card face up. E.g. To start, Ace is the 4th card. So you put the first 3 to the bottom—A-C-E—then turn over the next one to show the ace. Same with all the cards.  After you show the card, set it aside. (Don’t keep it in the deck!)

Presentation: Hold the packet of 5 cards face down in your hand. “Have you ever been to a spelling bee? I’m in training for one, & I practice by spelling the names of the cards. Can I show you how I practice?” Start by spelling A-C-E. As you say each letter, move a card from the top of the (face down) packet to the bottom. After you say the last letter of the word, turn the NEXT card face up to show it, then SET IT ASIDE on the table. After A-C-E, continue with T-W-O, T-H-R-E-E, etc. When you have 1 card left (5), deal it with itself (which is funny), then turn it over to show it’s a 5.

Challenge Version with Ace thru King: Here’s a fuller version if you want to challenge the older or more skilled ones. Same trick, you just spell Ace thru King (13 cards). Put the cards in this order, face down, from top down: Q, 4, A, 8, K, 2, 7, 5, 10, J, 3, 6, 9.

Tip: If a child doesn’t know how to spell ace through five, have them use a slip with the names spelled out that they can refer to.

Your Card is In Chicago (extra)

Effect: Spectator picks a card & returns it to the deck. It disappears. Magician says it is in Chicago. Spectator spells “Chicago” and finds the card.

Props: Deck of cards.

Secret: Before the trick starts, secretly put 7 cards in your pocket, faces away from you.

Presentation:

 Deal out 10 cards from the top of the deck onto the table face up, overlapping. (So when you scoop them back up & turn them face down, they are in their original order.) Set the rest of the deck face up on the last card. (See photo below.)  Ask for an assistant from the audience. Have them stand behind the table with you, facing the audience. Ask spectator, while you are looking away, to think of a number from 1 to 10, count over that many cards, look at that card, remember it, & point it out to the people in the audience. Demonstrate with a small number, such as 3.  Spectator does this as you look away. Ask spectator if she is done. Turn around and square up the deck. “Your card is somewhere is in the deck. I will place the deck in my pocket (faces away from you, so the extra cards go on top of the deck) and try to move your card. Can everyone say ‘Abra- Kid-Abra’. Your card is now in Chicago. I was going to transport you to Chicago, but I wasn’t sure you’d like that, so I just sent the card.”  Pull the deck out of your pocket & hand it to spectator. “What number did you think of? (4—or whatever) Then it should be the 4th card. Deal the cards face down in a pile on the table and let’s look at the 4th card. (Show audience that it is not the spectator’s card.) See, I told you. Your card is in Chicago. Would you spell “Chicago”, dealing 1 card for each letter. (Have spectator show the audience the card at the last letter, O, which is his card!)

Teaching Points:

 Be sure the magician knows how to spell “Chicago”.

Book Test

Effect: Magician shows a small book. She asks spectator to name any 2-digit number. (e.g. 53) Magician then asks spectator to add the digits. (e.g. 5+3=8). She asks spectator to turn to that page (8 in this e.g.) and remember the first word on the page. Magician concentrates, jots a word on a note card, & sets her prediction on the table. Spectator announces the word. Magician shows she got it right!

Props: Magic booklet, 3-4 blank 3x5 note cards, 3x5 note card with chart on it, & a pen or pencil.

Secret: 2-digit #s go from 10-99. When you add them together, you get a number from 1-18. The magician has a few note cards. All are blank except that one, on the bottom, has a chart telling the first word on each page 1-18! Magician glances at the chart & writes the correct word on the card!

Preparation/mechanics: 1) Write page numbers. Have the students number their books at the bottom of each page. The inside front cover is #1. The last page, the inside back cover, is #30. Sorry they’re not numbered. This should just take 5 minutes. 2) Jotting your prediction. Put the note card with the chart on the bottom of the stack. As you jot your prediction, slide the bottom card partly toward you so you can see the chart. Note the correct word, & jot it on the top note card. Square up the stack of note cards. Set your prediction on the table. Put the others away.

Presentation: “I need a volunteer from the audience. Nice to meet you. I have a little book here, which we’ll get to in a moment. Can you name any 2 digit number. Add the digits together—what number do you get? Would you open the book to that page & remember the first word on the page. If the first word is a heading, then remember the first word in the heading. (As you explain this, pick up your stack of note cards & pencil, & start to jot your word.) I’m going to jot a prediction. (Set it on the table, put the other note cards away.) What was the word? (e.g. “After”) (Look like you blew it.) Ah-sometimes this trick doesn’t work…(pick up & show prediction) But tonight, luckily it did!”

Tips: When you have done the trick a few times & used up your note cards, what do you do? Use a pencil so you can erase & reuse them. Or get some more blank note cards at the office supply store. Or use slips from a pad of paper, or cut up some slips of paper that are note card size.

Read & Show A Trick

Activity: Ask the kids to get into small groups of ~3-4. Each group should find a trick in the book that they can learn, perform, & teach to the rest of the kids.

You might write the below page numbers on the board as suggestions. These are decent, simple to learn tricks that can be done with props that are available in the room—either nothing, paper & pencil, tooth picks, or coins.

Suggestions for easy, quick to learn tricks, for which we have necessary props on hand: p. 9 Mind Reading Swami divines a chosen object. It is the 3rd one the magician points to. If repeated, it’s the 6th one the 2nd time. p. 6 Four Ace Production Spectator shuffles cards. You put in your pocket & pull out the 4 aces. Before the trick you secretly remove the 4 aces & put them in your pocket.) p. 10 5+6=9 Show 6 toothpicks in a row. Can you add 5 to make 9? Secret: Spell the word “NINE”. p. 11 Reds & Blacks Spectator picks a card & returns it to the deck. You find it. Secret: You have the reds on top & blacks on the bottom. Note which half spectator chooses the card from, and have him return it to the other. It’s then easy for you to look through and find his card. p. 12 Mind Reader Swami divines a chosen number while placing his hands on the magician’s temples. Secret: Magician clenches his jaw to count to the number. (e.g. 3x if 3 was picked.) Swami can feel this through the temples, but the audience can’t see the jaw being clenched. p. 13 Find it! Spectator names any page number in the magic booklet. Magician, from an adjoining room, loudly divines the first 5-10 words on the page. Secret: Magician has a duplicate book & flips to the page called. p. 14 Stars & Circle trick Magician draws on a slip of paper 2 stars & a circle. She tears it into 3 pieces, each containing 1 drawing, & puts them in a hat. Spectator calls out “star” or “circle”, and magician, without looking in the hat, reaches in & pulls out the drawing called. Secret: The circle is drawn in the middle. When 3 pieces are torn, the circle will have 1 torn edges, and the stars will have one. p. 18 Cute Stunt Have a spectator stand against the wall with heels touching the wall. Put an object on the floor 6 inches in front of him—e.g. money, a pencil, etc. Challenge him to bend over and pick it up, without moving or raising his feet. He can’t! p. 24 He Drinks As you bring the picture in the book toward you, it looks like the person takes a drink! This is an optical illusion.

Possible other tricks, but these need coins—a nickel or quarter for p.16, and a dime for p. 17. p. 16 The Goddess weeps A spectator holds her hand beneath a coin you are holding, and the president on the coin starts crying. I.e. water (tears) drop from the coin onto the spectator’s hand. Secret: You hold a small wet napkin (or tissue) ball secretly behind the coin & squeeze it against the coin. p. 17 Magic Box Can you place a dime in the table on p. 17? It seems like you can, but it doesn’t fit! It’s an optical illusion.

Props: toothpicks, pencil, & paper.

Tree of Diamonds

Effect: The magician shows a fan of 3 cards, noting that the middle one is the “tree of diamonds” (it’s the 3, but he calls it “tree”). He turns them face down & asks the spectator to pull out the “tree of diamonds”. Spectator does. When she turns it over, it has turned into a card with a picture of a tree with diamonds—i.e. the “Tree of diamonds”!

Props: Tree of ♦ Trick. Includes envelope with 3 cards. One has a gimmicked 3♦ flap. One is a Tree of Diamonds card.

Secret/Mechanics: Hold the cards face up. Slide the Tree of diamonds card under the 3♦ flap. The other 2 cards flank the 3♦ in a fan, so it looks like a fan of 3 (ordinary) cards with 3♦ in the middle. When you turn them face down & ask spectator to pull out the 3♦, he takes the middle card, which is really the Tree of Diamonds card!

Set up. Slip Tree of ♦ beneath 3♦ flap. Show faces. Ask spec to take Tree of ♦.

Presentation: “I have some cards here. (Show them in a fan, face up.) The queen of diamonds, the king of spades (call out whatever the other 2 are), & the tree of diamonds. (Turn them face down.) Can you slide out the tree of diamonds. (Spec takes middle card.) Do you know why I say “tree”? Because I can’t say “three”. Take a look at it.

Clip Card

Effect: Spectator pinches what they think is the red queen, but it turns out to be a completely different card!

Props: 1 clip card, which has a picture of 5 cards in a spread, front & back.

Secret: Because of the way the cards are spread, clipping the middle card on the back is actually the first or second card on the front.

Show 5 card spread with red Q in middle. Ask spectator to hold fingers like this & clip the queen.

Presentation: “How many cards do we have? (5) Your job is to keep your eye on the queen. (Point to it.) Are you ready? OK, I’m going to mix up the cards. (Turn card face down & shake it, supposedly, comically, mixing the cards up.) Can you hold your fingers like this (demonstrate thumb & 1st finger like a paper clip). (Turn the card faces down) Go ahead and clip the queen. (Spectator clips the middle card.) I see you weren’t fooled at all. Have you done this before? Turn it over. (Audience & spec sees that he is clipping a different card.) You did a good job, but the queen jumped over here. Let’s give him a round of applause!”

Boomerangs

Effect: To a story, the magician shows 2 boomerangs, A & B. A is bigger than B. Then she stretches B and it is now bigger than A. At the end, both are the same size.

Props: 2 different color sheets of paper, each with a boomerang drawing, scissors, pen.

Secret: The 2 boomerangs are the same size. When 1 is below the other (see below), the lower one looks bigger.

Preparation: 1. Cut out 2 boomerangs—1 from each color paper. Throw your scrap paper away. 2. Think of a story with 2 things where 1 is bigger or more important than the other. Then it reverses. At the end, they are both equal. Write 1 of these 2 things on each boomerang. For example, you could write “tricks” on 1 and “presentation” on the other. In magic, some say that tricks are more important. You have to be able to do the tricks to perform. Others say that the presentation is more important. You can have the best trick in the world, but if you don’t have a good presentation, the audience is bored. Which is more important? They are both equally important.

Or you could write a name on each boomerang and talk about how they are 2 brothers. A was bigger than B. But then B ate his vegetables and now he was bigger than A. When they grew up, they were the same size. Use your imagination!

Presentation: “Which is more important: Math or reading? Some people say that math I more important (show the math boomerang bigger) because we use it when we buy things at the store, trade baseball cards, etc. Other people say that reading is more important (show reading boomerang bigger) because you have to know how to read books, signs, the newspaper, etc. So which is more important? They are both equally important (show both are the same size). We need to know both. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some math and reading homework to do!”

Alternate Presentation: “Which one is bigger? (audience says blue) I’ll stretch the red one. (Set it down so it looks bigger.) Oops, I stretched it too much. Let me stretch the blue one a little. (Set it down so it looks bigger.) Oh no, I stretched IT too much too! Let me stretch them both. (Do so.) Now they are both the same (show such).

Spelling Wheel

Effect: Magician shows a disk with pictures of 7 animals. The spectator is asked to think of 1 of the animals. The magician turns the disk over and starts tapping with a pencil various holes (there is a hole for each animal). Spectator is to spell the chosen animal to himself—1 letter for each tap—and call stop when he comes to the end of the word. E.g. Z-E-B-R-A. When he gets to “A” he calls stop. Magician pokes the pencil tip through the hole the pencil is on when spectator calls stop, turns the disk around, and the pencil tip is shown to be at the selected animal!

Props: Animal disk & a pen or pencil.

Secret:

Here are the animals from shortest to longest name: pig goat zebra monkey ostrich elephant alligator

Note the number of letters per word: 3,4,5,6,7,8, & 9.

So, here is what you do. The first 2 taps are random. Tap #3 is the pig. After that, go clockwise (to the right) around the circle, tapping every other hole. When you do this, you tap them in the order above—from shortest to longest. When spectator calls “stop”, put the pencil through that hole, ask spectator what animal he thought of. Turn the disk around and show the pencil is at that animal!

How do you know which is the pig from the back? Have the kids, on the back of the disk, put a pen/pencil mark by the pig, or circle the pig hole. That way, they’ll know which is the pig when looking at the back of the disk. Put the pig hole at 12:00.

Presentation: “I was on a safari recently in the wilds of Africa. I brought back some pictures of some of the animals. There is a zebra, alligator, elephant, etc. I would like you to think of 1 animal, but don’t tell me which. Do you have one in mind? (Yes) Good. I’ll turn around and you show the audience on the disk which one it is. Have you done that? (Yes) Good.

I will turn the disk around and make some taps with the pen. I have no idea which animal you are thinking of. With each tap, I’d like you to spell to yourself the name of your animal. For instance, if you thought of the pig, as I tap, you would spell to yourself P-I-G. When you get to the last letter, call ‘stop’! Are you ready? (start tapping as explained above, until spectator calls ‘stop’. Put the pencil tip through the hole he stopped you at.) Right here. Very interesting. Which animal were you thinking of? Amazing, because (turn the disk around, animal side toward the audience, keeping the pencil in the hole) that is exactly the one you stopped me at! Let’s give him a round of applause!”

Squeaker

Effect: As you pick up a prop, it squeaks!

Props: A squeaker (pictured below) and a sheet of ideas (listed below) for using a squeaker .

Activity: Have the kids read the ideas and try out one or two. Then encourage them to create their own ideas.

Gags with a Squeaker

1. Magic props. Pick up any magic prop and 14. Business card: Conceal a squeaker under your it squeaks. card. Start to hand it to someone & it squeaks! 2. Restaurant or Dinner Table: Pick up a roll 15. Squeaky chair. Hide a squeaker under a seat and it squeaks. Or the salt shaker or catsup cushion. When someone sits on the chair, it

bottle. squeaks!

3. Squeaky show. Put a squeaker in your shoe. 16. Squeaky buttons. Press an elevator (or other) When you step with your 1 foot, you button and it squeaks.

squeak! Perhaps if you step lightly, you 18. TV Remote control squeaks. The batteries don’t. But step normally and you do! must be low!

4. Mouse ! Squeak. Pretend you see a mouse. 19. Eye glasses squeak as you rub them. Chase it around, squeaking. 20. Squeaky baby. Wrap up a blanket as though 5. Doctor skit. A patient comes to see the you have a baby in it. The baby keeps doctor, thinking he is fine. However, many squeaking as you talk to the baby. places the doctor examines—elbow, bending over, tapping knee with a scalpel—squeak! 21. Record an answering machine message: Please leave a message after the squeak. 6. Squeak rapidly instead of talking. E.g. 1

person asks questions. The other answers 22. Card Trick Capper: After you find their selected card, say “You know how I knew that with squeaks. was your card? Easy. It squeaks!” 7. 3 Card Monte. Show 3 cards face down on the table. Show that 2 are normal but 1 23. Squeaky card box: Remove the cards from squeaks. Mix up the cards, seeing if the case. Run your finger around the inside of spectator can keep tract of the squeaky card. the case to be sure there’s nothing inside. Uh oh, it squeaks. There’s a mouse in there! Toss

8. Squeaky straw. Pretend to play the straw it to someone for inspection. like a flute. It squeaks! 24. Balloon animals. When you twist the head, or

9. Glass rim: Moisten your finger and run it rub them, they squeak! around the rim of a glass. It squeaks!

10. As you cut your food with a knife, press the How to Hold a Squeaker squeaker!

11. Loose tooth. Jiggle your tooth & it squeaks!

12. Squeaky finger. Pull on your pinky and it

squeaks. Or how about your ear lobe? 13. Computer mouse. Do you know why they call this a mouse? It squeaks!

Comedy Color Card

Effect: Magician displays a card with the names of several colors on it. What’s odd about the card is that “yellow” is printed in green, “purple” is printed in orange, etc. (See example below, although it’s printed in black & white, not color like the card.) The spectator is asked to read the color, not the word. Often, the spectator has a hard time with this, inadvertently reading the word, which is humorous!

Props: A color card for each student, and a blown up, laminated version for the show.

Secret: None. Many people are used to reading the words and not the color in which they are printed!

Notes:  This is not a magic trick, but rather, an entertaining bit.  Here is how you can read the colors quickly: Start with line 3 & read the words! You’ll be reading the colors of the words starting with line 1 on down.  You might first ask the spectator to read the names. Then ask him to read the words.

Tricky Toothpick

Effect: You tear a toothpick in half, giving ½ to the spectator to hold in his fist, and the other in your fist. Yours disappears and the spectator finds a restored toothpick in his hand!

Props/Secret: 2 toothpicks/child. Secret: You use 2 toothpicks.

Mechanics: 1. Before the trick begins, break a toothpick in half. Discard 1 of the halves. You’ll only need 1 toothpick and ½ toothpick. 2. Put the toothpick and half toothpick next to each other (photo 1). Hold the toothpicks with right thumb & 1st finger, which hides the half toothpick and shows the single toothpick (photo 2). 3. Now you are going to apparently break the toothpick in half, and display 2 halves. But really, you’ll show the 2 toothpicks, hiding the bottom half of the full toothpick. Here is how: a. Ask spectator to hold out his hand. Demo how by holding your left hand palm up. b. Left hand then comes back and grabs full toothpick in the middle. (photo 3) c. Apparently tear the toothpick in half, separating the hands (photo 4). Right hand brings its hidden half toothpick into view. The left hand naturally hides the bottom half of its toothpick, since it grabbed it in the middle. 4. Now put the “half toothpick” (really a full toothpick) in spectator’s hand and have him close it in a fist. It’s ideal to create a little confusion here. Start to put your right hand’s toothpick in his palm. Then change your mind and put your left hand’s in his palm, and if necessary, help close his hand into a fist with your left hand. (This confusion helps subtly suggest that you have 2 half toothpicks and it doesn’t matter which goes in his hand.) 5. The last step is to open your right hand, showing your half toothpick vanished, and appeared in the spectator’s hand, fused together into a whole toothpick. To vanish the half toothpick, as your left hand is putting the toothpick in your assistant’s hand, right hand casual drops to its side & drops the toothpick on the floor, behind your table, or into your magic case. Alternatively, after you put the toothpick in his hand, ask your assistant to wave his right hand over his left fist and say some magic words, and drop it while he is doing that. After you drop it, casually bring right hand fist back up, as though it’s still in there.

Presentation: “Can you hold out your hand. (Gesture with left hand palm up, showing how. Then apparently break toothpick in half as described above.) You hold this part of the toothpick (start to give him your right hand’s half toothpick), I’ll hold the oth—no, tell you what, you hold this one (left hand’s full toothpick, close his hand into a fist so he doesn’t peek), I’ll hold this one.

Can you wave your hand over your fist. (Demo this, waving your left hand, as your right hand casually drops to your side and drops the toothpick on the floor. He waves his hand over his fist.) Do you know any magic words? Look, my half disappeared! (Show your right hand empty.) What happened to yours? (He opens his hand and finds full toothpick.) The 2 halves have fused back together! How about a round of applause for my magical assistant!”

Toothpick Conundrum

Effect: You show 9 toothpicks on the table. Can you make 10? How about 28? You do.

Note: This is more of a puzzler than a trick.

Props: 9 toothpicks per student, which they keep. Plus a rubber band to keep them together in their case.

Secret:

To make 10, you spell “TEN”! See disgram below.

To make 28, you make roman numerals! See 2nd diagram below.

Victory Cartons

Effect: A person is magically produced from 2 nested, empty cubes.

Props: 2 nylon cubes. 1 (tube—4 sided, no top or bottom) fits over the other (house, which has a top & a secret hole in the back). Needs 3 people: magician, assistant, & person who appears.

Secret: The person who appears hides behind the boxes & climbs in thru a hole in back of the small box.

Mechanics:

1. Start Position 2. Unfold house. Set it down. 3. Unfold tube. Show it empty. 4. Clap & asst Asst crawls in house. Set it over house. Spin boxes pops out! Audience around.

asst magician

appearing person

appearing person 1. Magician holds folded house. Appearing person hides behind L-shaped tube. Asst stands nearby. If the L shaped tube won’t stand on its own, the asst helps hold it in place. 2. Magician pops open the house & casually sets in on the stage, next to the tube. Appearing person immediately crawls in, careful not to touch the sides. 3. Magician walks around the front of the house to the tube. Going around the front allows a couple extra seconds for appearing person to crawl in. Magician & asst unfold the tube, hold it up toward audience to show it empty, then place it over the house, with large corners up. Spin the boxes around 360 degrees. 4. Magician claps & holds arms out. Appearing person pops out the top with arms held out (ta da)! Magician & asst help appearing person out of the boxes (lift her out via hand under arm pits?) All 3 bow.

Teaching Points:  During the show, open with this trick. Or, appearing person can secretly walk behind the boxes as they being slid in.  Let 3 kids at a time come up & practice this. Have them work on another trick while waiting.

Fun Ideas to Throw In:  Magician sticks her hand in 1 side and it comes out the other (really person’s hand in the box), looking like a very long hand!  Magician sets an item in the box, and looks away. Item comes flying out of the box (tossed out by person inside). Magician is perplexed, sets the item back in. Again, it comes flying out.  For the finale, the person appears from the box—after some of the above comic byplay.

Opening the cubes: 1) Be sure no one is nearby! 2) Let them spring open to the square position.

Closing the cubes: #1 #2 1. Fold 1 corner to opposite corner (#1 below). 2. Then fold the 2 outside corners (A & B) together (#2). A B Now you have a square. 3. Fold diagonal corners together, forming kind of a taco-shape. 4. Gently fold 1 end of the taco toward the middle. Then the other end folds in. The result is a circle, which is actually 3 circles atop each other. 5. Put the 2 cubes (each folded into circles) in the bag.

Double Trouble Ropes (Sawing a Person in Half)

Effect: Two ropes are pulled through a person from the audience.

Props: 4 pair of red ropes, each approx 7’ long, & a red rubber band for each pair. KIDS DO NOT KEEP!

Secret: The 2 ropes are doubled. When knotted in a certain way, they appear to penetrate.

Preparation: 1) slide a red rubber band onto the middle of 1 of the ropes. Double or triple loop it so it’s fairly snug. 2) Double the 2 ropes (as in above diagram). If you hold the ropes in the middle where the u’s abut, it looks like you are holding 2 normal pieces of rope. It’s not apparent that they are u’s. 3) Stick the middle of 1 piece of rope underneath the rubber band (photo 1). This keeps the u’s together a bit. 4) Hang the ropes over a chair with the 2 u’s & rubber band out of sight behind the chair back. You are ready to begin!

Presentation: “May I borrow an assistant from the audience. (Assistant comes up. Introduce yourself, shake hands.) I notice that some of you seem a bit skeptical. You say, ‘If you are really a magician, let’s see you saw a person in half.’ So, Bob, I appreciate your bravery and you volunteering to assist me in this demonstration.

To saw you in half, we will use 2 razor sharp pieces of rope. (Pick up ropes from back of chair. Hold them where the rubber band is, naturally concealing it. Hold up the ropes to show them.) May I get 2 helpers to help hold the ropes. (Shake hands, introduce yourself. Put 1 helper on either side of your assistant, making a row of 3 people, each facing the audience. Give each helper a pair of ends, passing the rope behind the assistant. Photo 2.) Just hold these loosely. I’ll tell you when to pull. Would each of you hand me one of your ropes. We’ll tie a knot around my assistant and give the rope back to each of you to hold. (Taking 1 piece of rope from each of them—doesn’t matter which--tie a single overhand knot, then give the ends back to each assistant, so they’re each holding 2 ends again. Photo 3.) On the count of 3 pull, and we will attempt to pass these ropes right through your body. Is your life insurance paid up? Just curious. Are you ready? 1-2-3 days ago I was doing this trick The rope passed thru the boy, his upper body fell to the floor, and we are now visiting him in the hospital…in rooms 303 and 304. 1-2-Are you sure you want me to do this? (Yes) OK. 1-2-you’re not scared or anything, are you? (No) 1-2-Are you sure you want me to go thru with this? (Yes) 3! (When they pull, the ropes both wind up in front of the assistant, apparently having come “through” the assistant.)

How do you feel? Take a bow. A round of applause for them. Don’t move around much for a couple days.”

Teaching Points:  Build up the danger/drama of this trick.

Newspaper Prediction

Effect: Magician writes a prediction. Magician shows a newspaper column, and runs the scissors up and down the column, asking spectator to call stop. Magician cuts at the line at which spectator calls stop. That line is found to match the prediction!

Props: A page with 3 newspaper columns for each student, a scissors, a pad of paper, & pen.

Secret: The column is upside down and glued to the (right side up) heading. The line chosen will always be the bottom line, “the point of meeting was to say”.

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Presentation: “Sometimes I have feelings about events that are going to happen. I’m getting one now, so I’m going to write down a prediction. (Write “the point of meeting was to say”. If you forget this, look at the last line of the column subtly.) I’ll set it over here (face down) in full view.

I need a victim—I mean a volunteer from the audience. (Introduce yourself, shake hands, have the stand a few feet to your right, facing the audience. Not so close that they can see the words are upside down. Hold up the newspaper column in your left hand, scissors in your right. Stand with you right side facing the audience.) I have here a newspaper column. Bob (pointing to someone in the front row), as I run these scissors up and down the column, can you say stop at any time. (run the scissors up and down only among the upsidedown words. When spectator says stop, affirm,) Right here? (yes) (Snip, cutting in the white space between the rows of words. The bottom piece falls to the floor. Start to pick it up. Then stop yourself.) I don’t want to touch it. Bob, would you pick it up please, and read the line at which you stopped me (point to top line. Quietly ditch the top piece in your case or pocket. He’ll read “the point of meeting was to say”). Well, I didn’t say I’d get it perfectly, did I, Bob? Would you open the prediction and read it out loud. (It matches. Take a bow.)

Tips:  Step back from the audience ~10 feet, so they can’t tell the words are upside down. This is a stage trick, not a close-up trick.  If it takes you a while to write the prediction, write it beforehand.  Ideally, write the prediction large enough for everyone in the audience to read.  You can also make this with a newspaper column. Just rubber cement it upside down to the heading. If the audience is far enough back, they won’t notice the line between the two.

Spelling Test

Effect: You show a rubber banded packet of cards with a bunch of misspelled words. (Photo #1) Spectator initials the bottom of the card. You put this card face down on the spectator’s palm. You mention that you wish you could make the words be spelled correctly by magic. When the spectator turns over the card, the words are all spelled correctly!

Props: 10 copies of a business card with correctly spelled words, 1 thick rubber band, & a 3/4 size business card with misspelled words; 1 or 2 rolls of scotch tape for the group.

Secret: All the cards in your stack have correctly spelled words. A 3/4 card with misspelled words is tucked under the rubber band on the face of the packet. (The portion beneath the rubber band, which they sign, is the 2nd card.) This makes it look like the top card has misspelled words.

Preparation: Lay a card (with correctly spelled words) on the table. Set the misspelled 3/4 card next to it. Tape the 3/4 card to the end of the full card, forming a tape hinge, so the 3/4 card can swing back & forth. (Photo #2)

Place 1 full card in between the 3/4 card & the card it’s taped to. Put the rest of the cards in a stack beneath this. Put a rubber band around the stack so it covers the edge of the hinged 3/4 card. It should look like a rubber banded stack of cards with misspelled words.

Mechanics: Have spectator place his initials at the bottom of the card (actually he’s initialing the 2nd card). Tilt the end of the stack with his initials up at a 45 degree angle, so he can’t see the card well. Grab the initialed card near the end he initialed it, pull it out of the rubber banded stack (photo #3), casually turn it upside down (photo 4) & set it on the spectator’s palm. Have the spectator put his other hand on top of the card (to help prevent peeking prematurely!) Ditch the cards in your pocket, so the spectator doesn’t grab them at the end.

Presentation: “Are you a good speller? I’m pretty good at spelling. In fact, I made a spelling list. Look. Cat: K-A-T. Dog: D-A-W-G. Get: G-I-T. Pretty good, eh? Do me a favor, can you write your name at the bottom of this card. If you like, I can give this card to you so you can practice your spelling. Would you like that? I’ll put this card in your hand. Go ahead & cover it up with the other hand so no one takes it. These words are spelled right, aren’t they? What do you mean no? What isn’t spelled right? Cat? How do you spell it? C-A- T? That’s how I have it, isn’t it? Let’s see your card. (Show words are correctly spelled.) That’s how I had them spelled all along!”

Tips: 1. Practice pulling the card out of the stack naturally, so you don’t arouse suspicion. 2. It’s important to ask the spectator to hold out their hand, demonstrating how you want them to do so with your palm up left hand. While spectator is doing this, this provides a moment of misdirection for you to pull out the card—as the spectator is focusing on holding out his hand. 3. Pulling signed (or initialed) card from the stack: There are 2 ways to do this. A) Flip it upside down & set it on spectator’s palm. B) Turn the whole packet upside down, slide spectator’s card out (already upside down—photo #4), & set the upside down card on spectator’s palm.

X Marks the Spot

Effect: As you spread the cards face up, the spectator chooses a card. She puts it back in the deck. You turn the cards over, spread them face down, and 1 card in the deck is seen to have a different color back from all the rest. You turn it over—it’s the spectator’s card!

Props: 2 Deck of cards-1 red back & 1 blue back-for every 2 students. Each student gets half a red deck & half a blue deck.

Preparation: Students pair up. Each pair gets a red & blue back deck. Cut the top half of each deck and swap, so each student winds up with a full deck of 52 different cards. One half (e.g. the top half) is red back and the other (e.g. the bottom half) is blue back. Put the joker should be in the middle of the 2 halves.

Mechanics/Secret:  Spread the cards face up between your hands, asking the spectator to touch any card. Pull it out, asking if there is any particular reason they picked that card.  Close up the deck and insert the card back in other half. (E.g. if they picked a card from the top half— above the joker, put it back subtly in the bottom half.) Note: Their card is now a different color back from all the other cards in its half!  If you put the card back in the bottom half (of the face up deck), you are ready for the next step. If you put it back in the top half, cut the face up deck at the joker. Now their card is in the bottom half of the face up deck.  Turn the cards face down. Spread the top half until you come to 1 card that is a different color. Turn it over to show it is the one they picked! Note: Don’t spread too far, as you don’t want them to see the bottom half of the deck.

Presentation: “Do you play cards? Can you touch any one of these cards (spread them face up between your hands. Suppose they touch the 8♥. Note which half of the deck they picked it from. Set 8♥ face up on table & square up the deck.) Any particular reason you selected that one? (Return it casually to the other half of the deck. E.g. if they picked it from the top half—above the joker—stick it back in the bottom half—face up, of course.)

(If you put the card back in the bottom half of the face up deck, proceed to next step. If you put it back in the upper half of the deck, casually cut the deck in half at the joker, bringing the half of the deck with her card to the bottom of the face up deck.)

(Turn the deck face down. Spread the cards between your hands until you come to 1 card with a different color back from the others.) There is something odd about this deck. I don’t know if you were aware that out of all the cards, 1 has a different back from all the others. (Pull out the different color back card, & set it face down on the table.) What puzzled me is how you knew that that card (turn it face up) is the 8♥!”

Tips:  Keep the cards in new deck order. This makes it easy for the kids to find the card, & to know that the first 2 suits have 1 side marked, & the last 2 suits have the other side marked.

Movie Star Cards

Effect: You mention that you have 12 different cards with the names of different movie stars. The spectator and you each pick a card. They match, each saying Johnny Depp! Wait a minute, the audience thinks. They are all the same! You show that the remaining cards are all the same—but they all say Julia Roberts!

Props: 12 index cards and a pen (or sharpee) to use for each student.

Prep: Choose the names of 2 movie stars. Be sure the kids know how to spell them. Have them write, e.g. “Johnny Depp” on 2 cards & “Julia Roberts” on 10.

Mechanics/Secret: 1. Before you begin, put cards face down in a pile with the 2 Johnny Depp cards on the bottom. 2. Deal the top 6 cards in a pile & give it to a spectator. You hang onto the remaining 6. 3. You each put your piles behind your back, pick 1 card, bring it out in front of you, and swap cards with the spectator. You choose 1 of the Johnny Depp cards that’s on the bottom. Keep the cards face down so neither of you can see what’s on them yet. 4. Tell the spectator to put the card you gave him behind his back, turn it face up, and put it in the middle of his pile. You’ll do the same, you claim. Actually, you put the card he gave you atop your pile, pull out the Johnny Depp card on the bottom, turn it face up and bury it in the middle. Note: You should now each have a pile of 5 face down Julia Roberts cards with a Johnny Depp card face up in the middle. 5. You each bring your piles out from behind your backs. You each spread the cards, finding 1 card face up in each pile: Johnny Depp. You each coincidentally chose the same movie star! But wait, all the cards are the same! Each of you turns you packets face up and spreads them out. They are all the same—but they all say Julia Roberts!

Presentation: “Do you like to watch movies? Who is your favorite movie star? I collect cards with the names of different movies stars. (Spread them out casually, face down). I’d like to try a trick with them.

(Deal 6 cards into a pile. Give it to spectator.) This is your pile. You and I are going to do exactly the same thing. Ready? Put your packet behind your back (you do so also). Pick any card, keep it face down, and bring it out in front of you (rest of the packet stays behind your back). (You bring out a card—Johnny Depp as described above.) Let’s swap cards (do so, keeping them face down). Now put your card behind your back, turn it face up, and put in somewhere in the middle of your pile. (You put his face down atop the packet, pull out the bottom card—Johnny Depp—turn it face up and bury it in the middle of your packet.) Have you done that?

Now, let’s bring out packets out from behind our back. Let’s spread through them and find the cards we picked, that’ll be face up. Which of your movie star cards is face up? (Johnny Depp) Funny, Johnny Depp is face up in mine! I know what you are thinking: All the cards are the same. Did any of you think that? You guys are pretty smart. I’m going to let you in on a secret. The rest of the cards ARE all the same. But they all say Julia Roberts ! (Turn face up to show this.)

$5 To $1

Effect: Magician shows 2 bills, a $5 and a $1. Spectator & magician each hold one. They change places!

Props: A play $5, 2 play $1s, a glue stick, & kids scissors.

Secret: The $5 bill is gimmicked. It has ¼ of a $1 glued to it, enabling it to look, when folded, like the $1.

To Make This: 1. Fold the $5 bill & the two $1 bills in quarters (in half, then in half again) separately, as follows. Have them face up. Fold the left side underneath (so the president is outside). Then repeat this, folding it into quarters, folding the left side underneath again. 2. Cut ¼ off the right end of a play, face up $1 bill. 3. Glue stick it onto a face up, play $5 bill—2nd quarter from the right end. So it covers a little of Lincoln’s face. Note: Try to get it exactly flush by pushing the $5 bill against a wall (or put it in your magic briefcase & push it flush against 1 of the sides). Then push the $1 bill piece also against the wall as you glue stick it so they line up as perfectly as possible on the top & bottom.

Mechanics: 1. Show the bills casually, face up. The $1 bill crosses over the $5 bill, covering up the gimmick. 2. Turn the pair of bills bottom up. 3. Hold a bill in each hand. Fold each into quarters (without letting the gaffe show). A good way to do this is to push the bills forward with your thumb, folding them in half. Then fold in half again (along the pre existing folds, of course). 4. Place the folded $1 atop the folded $5. Have spectator open her hand palm up. Set the 2 bills on top of her palm. Guide her in closing her hand into a fist and turning her fist over, her fingers facing the floor. 5. Reach in & grab the top bill, which should be the $5 with its $1 gaffed side showing. 6. Put this on your fingers, so when you close into a fist, it turns over. Open to show it has instantly changed to a $5! Unfold it to show a $5. Have spectator open her hand & unfold her bill—now the $1!

Presentation: “I’m going to show you a trick with a $5 and a $1. I’m going to fold them up. Is it safe to trust you with my money? OK, good. Can you hold out your hand. Close them up in a fist. I will reach in & let’s see if I can pull out the $5. No, I got the $1. You hold onto the $5 tight. If I say Abra-Kid-Abra, I now have your $5. Which one do you have? (The $1!)

Afterthoughts:

They can make this up with real bills if they wish at home. But don’t accidentally spend them!

T-Shirt Number Prediction

Effect: A spectator writes a number, and goes through calculations, arriving at a final number. You show a prediction number on your sleeve. It’s wrong! Wait a minute. You lift your arm up, turning the number upside down. Now it’s correct!

Props: pencil & paper, 1089 t-shirt.

Secret: Although it seems like the spectator could wind up at any number, she always winds up at 1089.

Presentation:

1. Ask spectator to write any 3 digit number where all the numbers are different. (e.g. 321. See example below). Sure you don’t want to change your mind? 2. Have her reverse the number & write the bigger number above the smaller. 3. Have her draw a line beneath the lower number, & subtract. 4. Have her reverse the total & put it below. 5. Have her add the 2 numbers. (Look away so you don’t see the total.) 6. “Now you could have picked any number. But you wound up at 1 particular number. I had a feeling that you might wind up at that number. In fact, I made a prediction. (Show # on sleeve—6801.) Is that right? (spectator: no) No? What number did you wind up with? (1089) 1089? Oh, wait a minute. (Lift arm, turning the # on your sleeve upside down.) That’s the one I have!”

321 Spectator’s original number -123 Reverse the # and subtract 198 +891 Reverse, then add 1089

Tip: Have the kids write the above equation (321-123…) on the inside lid of their magic box. Then they’ll have it as a reminder on how the math goes.

Instant Magician Skit

Effect: Magician asks for a volunteer from the audience. She (the magician) is going to make a magician out of the volunteer. She stands behind the volunteer and uses her hands as though they are (comically) the volunteer’s (see photo). Amid some comic byplay, the spectator does 1-3 funny tricks.

Props: 3’ piece of rope; 2 animal balloons (1 is an extra) & pump; electric deck of cards, plastic black top hat. (The kids don’t keep anything.)

Presentation:  Pick a kid from the audience. This should be your partner who you have rehearsed this with.  Asst stands in front of magician, and puts hands behind his back. Magician stands behind asst and puts her arms beneath asst’s armpits, so it looks like the asst’s arms & hands are the asst’s, but they are really the magician’s. (The audience can tell this—it’s a gag, not a mystifying trick. It’s funny.)  Here are a number of different gags you can do. Encourage the kids to put a number of these into a routine, and to make up their own. o Introduction: Magician announces “Ladies and gentlemen, the Great Vardo!” Asst puts hand across his stomach and bows. o Hat sequence. Use a magic hat. . Put hat on asst’s head. Adjust with both hands on either side. . Open gesture with both hands, as though to say, “Here I am! Wallah!” . Take hat off, replace it. Other hand crosses stomach as asst bows. Hat falls off during bow. o Wipe forehead with sleeve. Perhaps lift off hat first. o Scratch forehead—as though trying to figure out something. o Card Manipulation. Asst cascades the cards masterfully from 1 hand to the other. Then slips up—perhaps reaches up to scratch his forehead—and cards are seen to be tied together. Asst can gloat triumphantly as he cascades the cards. Perhaps wink at someone. Then be embarrassed when his ruse is revealed! o Knot in rope. Tie a simple, overhand knot a few inches from 1 end of the rope. Right hand holds rope near the end (call it End #1), covering this knot. Left hand brings up other end (end #2) & puts in right fist. Right hand makes a downward throwing motion, letting go of end #2. Nothing has happened. Repeat. The 3rd time, right hand hangs onto end #2 & lets go of end #1, making it appear that you have magically tied a knot in the rope! When it doesn’t work, quietly tell asst to blow on the rope. Then the trick works. o Animal Balloon. . Asst stretches the animal balloon & it snaps him in the hand, causing him to go “ouch”! (It doesn’t really hurt, you’re just acting.) . Magician tries to blow up a balloon by mouth a couple times, pats his stomach, but it doesn’t work. He scratches his forehead, frowns, thinks. Then grab pump & inflates it. . When tying knot in balloon, magician gets his fingers caught in the knot! . After making a couple twists, take off hat, wipe brow. . When you finally make a dog, bring up a kid to give it to, & lead the applause for him.

Comedy Mind Reading Skit

Effect: This is a comedy spoof on mind reading that is fun to perform. There are several Swamis sitting in chairs side by side on the stage blindfolded. Several magicians—1 for each Swami-- roam the audience, asking their Swami various questions about objects people have, which Swami seems (comically) to get right.

Props: 4 skit Sheet. (If possible, swamis and magicians memorize.)

Presentation: The emcee introduces his Swami, and explains that even though Swami will be blindfolded, he can still see. He blindfolds the Swami (e.g. puts a sheet over his head). Then he sends 1-10 magicans out into the audience. Each asks question(s) about the audience or objects they have. They can read from their script, or they can memorize the questions. If using a script, each person’s part should be highlighted on their particular script. Swami should memorize his answers.

Emcee: We have with us tonite ___ Mind Reading Swamis. Let’s give them a round of applause. These Swamis can see all, even if their eyes are closed. To be sure they don’t peek, can we have ___ volunteers from the audience. Would each of you stand behind 1 of the great Swamis & cover their eyes with your hands. Now, we have ___ magicians who will circulate among the audience, and ask the Swamis questions. Magicians!

1. This guy is wearing something on his wrist. Keep it moving, we don’t have a lot of time. A watch

2. This lady is wearing something on her finger. It has a certain ring to it. A bell. No! A ring

3. What is this guy wearing under his clothes? Under wear?

4. What color is this guy’s sweater? Uhh You’re taking this too seriously. Cheer up, we’re not going to a funeral. Black

5. What’s your middle name? (she whispers) What’s her name? Make it snappy. Ginger

6. What’s this guy’s name? He’s a handsome devil. Is he? That’s right, Izzy. Nice to have you with us. Where are you from? (whispers) Where’s he from? It’s a city. I’ll give you a hint. It starts with an F. Philadelphia Hey, it begins with an F! Phoenix Phoenix, that’s what we’re looking for.

7. How many people work in his office? About half of them

8. I have a coin from this person. What is the denomination of this coin? Presbyterian Denomination means value. What is the value of this quarter? 25 cents Correct.

9. Is this boy a male or a female? Male Well done.

10. Is this person in the older or the younger group? Older Wrong. Younger Brilliant!

Emcee: Ladies and gentleman, a round of applause for the Great Swamis and their magicians!

Banana Bandana Skit

Props: banana, yellow bandana, plastic baggy, a paper lunch bag, 3-4 napkins to clean up the mess

Number of Participants: 2

Positioning to Start: 2 are center stage. Banana & bandana are in bag. Plastic baggy is in Sidekick’s pocket.

Skit: Magician: I can do magic & I’m going to show you a trick. (Pulls bandana out of bag) Sidekick: Can I do magic too? Magician: Ok. Go in the bag & pull out a bandana. (Sidekick pulls out banana, & stands a little behind & to the side of Magician, so when Magician is facing the audience, he can’t see what Sidekick is doing.) Have you got it? Sidekick: Yes, I’ve got it. Magician: Good. Now do exactly as I do. First, open it up & display it to the audience. (Sidekick peels banana, sets down peel, & shows banana to audience as Magician displays bandana to audience.) Now, fold it in half. (folds bandana in half) Sidekick: Are you sure? Magician: Yes, fold it in half. (Sidekick reluctantly folds banana in half) Fold it in half again. (Magician folds bandana in half again as Sidekick folds banana in half again). One more time (each folds his object in half once more.) Magician: Smash it down nice & tight. (smashes it down) Sidekick: Are you sure? Magician: Yes, just smash it down. Sidekick: OK. (smashes it down) Magician: Now, stick it all inside your hand & squish it. (Sidekick does so, reluctantly) Now, put in your pocket. (Puts bandana in pocket) Sidekick: (looking at the mess in his hands) No. Magician: Come on, put it in your pocket. Sidekick: OK, if you say so. (Puts banana in pocket. Audience can’t see but it goes into baggy) Magician: Have you put it in your pocket? Sidekick: Yes. Magician: Good. Now, repeat after me. Bivity (Magician swings both arms up to right. Sidekick does the same, saying Bivity). Bovity (Magician swings both arms up to the left. Sidekick does same, saying Bovity.) Boo! (Magician smashes both hands against pocket that has the bandana) Sidekick: No. Magician: What do you mean, no. Come on, do it with me. (Does hand motions again as he says:) Bivity, Bovity, Boo! Sidekick: (Has donee Bivity & Bovity, but will not do boo & smash banana) No way. I am not doing that. Magician: Alright, let me help you. Bivity (Magician swings Sidekick’s arms up to the right, as Sidekick says Bivity). Bovity (Magician swings Sidekick’s arms up to the right as Sidekick says Bovity). Boo! (Magician smashes Sidekicks hands against pocket containing the banana. Both clowns say:) Ooh! (Magician says) What was that? Sidekick: You smashed my banana. Magician: Banana? You were supposed to use a BANDANA! That was my lunch! (Magician chases Sidekick off stage.)

Notes: Practice without a real banana. Use a real one in the show.

Comedy Game Show Skit

Summary: 7 kids are involved in this skit (or less if you have a smaller group). There is an emcee and 2 equal teams (say, of 3 kids each). The emcee alternates asking each team a question. One team gets all the easy questions, and 1 all the hard ones. The easy ones are so obvious, they’re funny. The hard ones seem easy, but the easy answers are wrong.

Logistics: The emcee is in the middle of the 2 teams. The kids can be sitting or standing. Have the kids memorize their answers (which is easy—they say the obvious answer that the question prompts). If you have 1 or 3 people per team, use 3 questions for each team. If 2 per team, use all 4 questions per team. Try to have a kid be the emcee. However, if you have an even number of kids & want to involve them all, you might emcee.

Props: 4 skit Sheet.

Easy Questions:

1. What color is an orange? (orange)

2. What kind of ball is used in football? (football)

3. What month is the Fourth of July in? (July)

4. What kind of dog stars in the movie 101 Dalmations? (Dalmation)

Hard Questions:

1. How long was the Hundred Year War? (116 years)

2. What country gave us Chinese Checkers? (Germany)

3. What was King George VI’s (6th’s) first name? (Albert)

4. What country makes Panama hats? (Ecuador. They became popular in Panama.)

Mind Reading Puzzlers

3. Amazing Crossword 1. Longer is Shorter 2. 3 U’s? 4. A to Z

“U” is the least often The alphabet goes What word becomes used vowel. Can you from A to Z. shorter when you add 2 think of a word that has letters to it? 3 U’s? What word starts with Ac ross Z and ends with A? Hint: The word has 5 Hint: It’s an unusual 1. Uncle ___ 2. Cherry ___ letters. word, as there are not 3. Fine ___ many with 2 U’s, let alone 3. Down 1. Health ___ 2. Fresh ___

5. He! He! 6. Groaners 7. A Mile in Between 8. Stop and Snap

1. Little Timmy fell off Mrs. Rendrag and her son, Can you name a word Four words have a his bicycle, bumped his Nitram finished washing that starts and ends mile between their head, and was knocked and drying the dishes. with “he”? unconscious. When he first and last letters. "Now that we're done with

came to, he was the dishes," Mrs. Rendrag speaking French! How stated, "let's do the STOP Hint: It contains the How many of them do you explain this? AND SNAP." These letters “ADAC” in that can you name? words "stop" and "snap" order. It may give you 2. How far can a dog run don't make sense. Can into the woods? a headache to solve you make a simple change these problems, but 3. Claim you can jump of letters to find out what keep at it! higher than the ceiling. she actually said? Can you do something similar How can you prove this? to uncover their real names? www.abrakid.com © 2012 1280 www.abrakid.com © 2012 1172, www.abrakid.com © 2012 1294 0243, 1278 www.abrakid.com © 2012 1259

9. What can it be? 10. In the Middle Solutions 1A Solutions 1B

1. short 6. 1. He lived in France. Larry had it before. Paul Professor Wordsmith 2. Halfway. After that had it behind. Steve never claims that “P” is the 2. unusual had it. Girls have it once. middle letter of the she is running out out of the woods. Boys can't have it. Mrs. alphabet. How can that be 3. S A M Mulligan had it twice. Mr. right? Or has he been 3. Ceilings can’t jump!

Lowell had it once before reading too much fiction? P I E 7. smiles, smiley, and twice after. What is it? smiled, smiler A R T 8. pots and pans. Mrs. In show, students hold Gardner and Martin. placards. 9. The letter L

Mind Reading Puzzlers p.2

11. My Neighbor’s 12. Unusual 13. Unusual 14. An Odd Book? Cat Sentences Sentences II

What is the name of my What is unusual about What is unusual about Normally June comes these sentences? these sentences? before July, and July neighbor’s cat. The five boxing wizards comes before August.

No lemons, no melon. jump quickly. Did Hannah say as I have a book where The quick brown fox August comes before July, Hannah did? and July comes before Doc, note. I dissent. jumps over the lazy dog. June! What sort of crazy A fast never prevents book is this? a fatness. I diet on The jay, pig, fox, zebra, cod. and my wolves quack!

15 . Mind Reader 16. 3 Bunnies 17. Dog to Cat 18 . Next Pair?

Ask a spectator to think of Why are these rabbits Can you change a dog into a What is the next pair of www.abrakid.com © 2011 cat in the below puzzle? any word. Claim that on a called the 3 musketeers? letters in this sequence? slip of paper, you have Change 1 letter in each row, written the word she is so that each row’s letters ___ST thinking of! form a word. Example: ___ND

T O Y T O Y ___RD Ask what word she is _ _ _ T O T ___TH thinking of. She names it. _ _ _ P O T ____ _ P E T P E T Show your paper, proving you were right! D O G _ _ _ How is this possible? _ _ _ C A T www.abrakid.com © 2012 1286 www.abrakid.com © 2012 1304 www.abrakid.com © 2012 1248 www.abrakid.com © 2012 1311

Solutions 2A 19 . Change the 20 . Fill in the Solutions 2B

Sign Blank 11. “What”. This is a 16. Because they “must get statement, not a ears!” A sign in the library says: question. What number word goes 17. DOG Private in the blank to make this 12. The are palnidrones. DOT No correct? same forward as COT backward. Reading CAT Allowed "In this quote there are 13. They are pangrams. 18. TH. These are the ___ e's." Each uses every letter Can you add punctuation last 2 letters of: of the alphabet. first, second, third, so it says that it is ok to 14. Dictionary. It lists fourth, fifth. read in the library? in alphabetical order. 19. Private? No! 15. Write “the word you Reading Allowed. www.abrakid.com © 2012 1293 www.abrakid.com © 2012 1256 are thinking of” on the 20. seven slip!