I work for a curriculum development company developing textbooks and activities that teach English through the use of creativity. There is an activity about putting on a circus as one of our units and my boss asked me to teach some magic tricks in there that they can do as part of the circus. Specifically something they could do using a newspaper in some way.

I think it's a good idea to teach magic to kids. It could very well spark an interest in magic that carries on their whole lives. My question is what do you think is acceptable to expose?

Can you think of a couple tricks that are old and common enough to put in the book without crossing into unethical exposure? What would you put in?

One that might work is the demonstration of air pressure -- science rather than magic, but it will pass the test. Take an 18 ruler or similar stick and set it on the table with about 4" hanging over. Lay a sheet of newspaper over the section of the stick on the table. Challenge a kid to lift the paper with the ruler by hitting the exposed end. Everyone will want to try.

Another is making a Jacob's Ladder and cutting a hole in a post card that you can walk through. Yes, these are stunts -- but all found in old magic books. Having a knife and fork change places in a rolled up newspaper might be OK too -- the one using a napkin normally.

How about pushing a cup thru a table after covering it with paper. One of the first things I learned as a kid. Its in several beginer books out there.

Gimpy

Actually, if you print instructions in a book that is sold, then it isn't exposure. Otherwise, every magic book would be exposure. Somebody is paying to get the secret to the trick. But you need to go through and find something in the public domain that is not copyrighted, unless, of course, you plan to pay the copyright holder for the right to print their material in your text.

Try some of the stuff at Lybrary.com Most of what he produces is in public domain, there are a number of much older magic books there, the material in which, could possibly be used.

While I see your point, do you think that's true of publishing it in just any random book? A book on magic will be bought by magicians or people who are going out of their way (at least a little) to learn magic. They have put in a little effort to get the information and that, in my opinion, should be the price for having it.

Publishing it in a book designed to teach English, on the other hand, seems more like exposure to me. These people didn't go out of their way to learn magic. They went out of their way to learn English and are learning magic accidentally. That's why I want to be careful what I expose in there. However, like I said, it wouldn't hurt to give a little exposure to the kids to spark interest.

When I was in 2-3 grade we received a publication called "Weekly Reader" designed to expand our reading skills into magazines and newspapers. About every third month a magic trick was presented and described. Cub Scout books offered instructions on both 'magic' and 'scientific' tricks. Thus, any educational venue is legitimate for introducing the idea of doing magic as a hobby with some 'show and tell' included. We must give kids 'exposure' to magic with stories about magicians that necessitates some 'exposure' of the secret nature of things; just as we 'expose' kids to sex in stories with some 'exposure' of the 'secret' consequences.

Just wanted to correct that most products on Lybrary.com are copyrighted. Yes, we do have public domain material but of the 2000 magic download products most are copyrighted and permission for inclusion in other products is necessary.

If what you do empowers and educates, it is not exposure.

Teach them the newspaper tree. It has a high play value, young kids can enjoy it (they sometimes have difficulty with the "what I see and know is different than what you see and know" aspect of magic), and it encourages experimentation.

Brad

Good morning Bryan Smith.
Using magic tricks to teach English...hum....
I got it, ask Francis Menotti to use his wonderful effect Exdislycally Shunuffled.
If they still want to learn English after that you've done a fine job.
John Kardel

What is your age group?
How about a trick with a Key card principle

The age group is elementary students from around 7 to 12. I just picked up Howard Thurston's "200 Tricks You Can Do" off Lybrary.com because it was cheap. I could definitely teach them some stuff out of that book as a lot of them are really simple and and don't really divulge any secrets (that are still secrets these days, at least).

Years ago I was asked to teach magic to kids at a Junior college on the weekends. The program was called the Kids College. I kept it simple and talked about magic history and demonstrated all sorts of magic. Kids loved it. Provided the plastic cup and balls as well as sponge ball tricks. Kids are like sponges, all you need to do is create a small spark in them and wow, watch them run with it.
Jim