What if? Why not? Could it be? Science is the truth…Magic is the Mystery! On the surface, science and magic probably seem to have little in common. One is an art of deception while the other is an established entity based on hypothesizing, testing, repeatability and theory, but there’s more to magic than first appears. In the first part of this three part series we’re going to follow the rules (and break them); discover there’s magic all around the world; see if it can be broken; learn a few tricks; make solid objects leap, link, and fly; predict which hand is holding the prize; solve a problem for Monty Hall; and figure out the secret of cups and balls.It’s time to find out your answer to that age old question…Do you believe in magic?
Presto! Lesson Links and Videos
Presto! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0DqCxYfeT0 [Presto is a 2008 American Pixar computer-animated short film shown in theaters before their feature length film WALL-E. The short is about a magician trying to perform a show with his uncooperative rabbit and is a gag-filled homage to classic cartoons such as Tom and Jerry and Looney Tunes. also, like the movie it was shown with, Wall-E, it has no dialogue, yet still comes off brilliantly. Presto was directed by veteran Pixar animator Doug Sweetland, in his directorial debut.]
Discovery’s Breaking Magic!
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/breaking-magic
A performance of the Chinese Linking Rings
See one performance with them here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0bVWKQHmZI
Performance and tutorial of the Chinese Linking Rings
http://www.freemagictricks4u.com/chinese-linking-rings.html
Watch how to do the linking paper clips magic trick from Magician Roger "Rogue" Quan in this office magic tricks revealed video from Howcast. http://www.howcast.com/videos/500548-How-to-Do-the-Linking-Paper-Clips-Trick-Magic-Tricks
(Note: This site is also a great place to have students come back to later when they research additional magic tricks for their magic show performance. The secrets to 23 easy magic tricks are revealed by magician Roger "Rogue" Quan in these Howcast magic videos.)
Linking Rubber Bands Trick
to-Do-the-Linking-Rubber-Band-Trick-Magic-Tricks
Another tutorial: http://prop-tricks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/perform-linking-rubber-bands-magic-trick-211198/
Penn & Teller: Cups and Balls
Watch it here: http://theawesomer.com/penn-teller-cups-balls-trick/ or here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJhYySXzOq0 (with an amazing bonus water trick following!)
To learn the seven basic principles of magic (and see pretty amazing illusion) have the kids watch: “Penn & Teller Explain Sleight of Hand” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXGr76CfoCs or at http://www.wimp.com/handexplained/ Or search for Penn and Teller Explain Sleight of Hand.
Imagining the Impossible: Magic
http://vimeo.com/4058513
Kuhn’s Videos
http://vimeo.com/3881166
http://vimeo.com/3955208
http://vimeo.com/3955750
Note: Additional Excellent Resource to have students watch- The original, world-famous awareness test from Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo or at http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/videos.html
How to Perform the Cups and Balls (Tutorial by Magician Christian Lee)
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-perform-the-cup-and-balls-trick
chan·go verb imperative : a sudden transformation as if by magic.
Things can change quickly when magic is involved. In this second part of our magical series students read a transformative tale about the power of books, they discover the magic inside their wand of a pen as they become Wizards of Words and tell complete tales using six little words and illustrate images with nouns, adjectives, and verbs. They watch a funny witch advertise her wares and find out why little old ladies made people scared. Make your mind flip with a Mobius strip, make an empty bag lay eggs, and find out how to float above ground (yes, even your legs!) Now here’s your next question…do you believe you can fly?
Chango! Lesson Links, Presentations and Videos
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore Short Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxrYDaj0dbs
or http://www.snotr.com/video/8752/The_FantasticFlying_Books_of_Mr_Morris_Lessmore
Sample Six Word Stories
www.sixwordstories.net
Where the witch from Disney/Pixar movie Brave has a bit of a commercial for her services! http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Pixar-Brave-Video-Introduces-Us-Witch-31290.html
Cut and Restored Rope Trick Tutorial
http://prop-tricks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/do-the-cut-and-restore-rope-trick-123758/
Learn the fascinating secrets of second sight by researching and reading from the article at the following link: http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1903&context=ocj
See a modern mind reading act with Billy Kidd from the Magic of Science series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmUEc156M5g
Watch a video of an attempt at recreating Robert-Houdin’s Ethereal Suspension trick at http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1qb3f_robert-houdin-extrait-rare-1966_creation
Popular musicians like David Blaine and Criss Angel perform some form of the Levitation illusion.
Watch an example at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZS4fxPri_0
Levitation Illusions by Criss Angel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drlfzj5Aivg and another at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EypeO8dmNQQ
King’s Rising Levitation Trick Instructions
watch: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-levitate-2
A lovely performance of the Orange Tree Illusion from the film “The Illusionist”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbaFEKyLw64
The Orange Tree Illusion performed live by magician Paul Daniels on his BBC Tv Series on a set very similar to one Robert-Houdin himself would have used! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yeb75Pn9i8w
Billy Kidd on the Discovery TV show Breaking Magic uses a simple trick of science to turn gravity against some strong men. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ix9Om81pMQ
Another variation with another technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKJsOSdFOTQ
Prestidigitation: sleight of hand, stage magic French, from prestidigitateur prestidigitator, from preste nimble, quick (from Italian presto) + Latin digitus finger
Houdini... Except for the legendary Merlin of King Arthur's Court, no name so conjures up the realm of magic, but he himself got his name from another magician. Students discover Houdini’s secrets and master a few elegant tricks of their own, learn of a love that lasted beyond death, and a tiny mysterious organ that caused it. They escape a crazy man’s handcuffs, ropes, and become master mentalists, able to bend spoons with their minds! Then listen to a modern day magician speak of his greatest fear and face it themselves as they pull back the curtain and prepare for their first performance! Ladies and Gentleman, it’s your turn to amaze!
