Magic: Tricks and Illusions
These fun sites feature many online optical illusions. Students can try to unravel the mystery behind these illusions. Learn how to perform many magic tricks, including how to make a quarter disappear and how to float above the ground. There are links to eThemes Resources on famous magicians, the history of magic, and tessellations.
Grades
- 4,
- 5,
- 6
Links
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Mark's Amazing Card Trick
See if this magic trick works for you. Pick a card, then the computer will be able to guess which card you picked. To learn how this trick works, see the next eThemes link.
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How Stuff Works: How Does this Card Trick Work?
This site will explain how the above card trick works. Make sure you try the above link first to see the card trick.
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PBS: Zoomdo: Magic Tricks
Here are two magic tricks you can try the disappearing quarter and the disappearing salt shaker.
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Internet Magic
Try these many online magic tricks and optical illusions.
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Magic: The Science of Illusion
Click on the wands at the left to see several magic tricks you can try. The links will open as two-page PDF files.
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ThinkQuest: Abra-Cadabra
Click on "Tricks You Can Do" for many magic tricks you can try.
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Exploratorium Online Exhibit: Optical Illusions
Here are many optical illusions with explanations for how they work.
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Magic Eye Image of the Week
Can you see the image in this magic eye picture? There are links to other magic eye puzzles.
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ThinkQuest: Optical Illusions: Magic of Art
This student-created site is all about optical illusions. Includes information about the history of them and the artists who have used them, including MC Escher. NOTE: This site includes an inactive guestbook.
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Optical Illusions Resource Center
Here is an index of optical illusions. Teachers will want to review these sites before using them in the classroom. NOTE: This is a commercial site that sells merchandise.
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eThemes Resource: Famous People: Magicians
Learn about famous magicians and the tricks that made them popular. Includes biographies of Harry Houdini, David Copperfield, Siegfried and Roy, Lance Burton, and more. Watch videos of their performances and read about the secrets behind their tricks. There are links to eThemes Resources on the history of magic and magic tricks.
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eThemes Resource: Magic: History
Read about the history of magic and how it has evolved through the years. Find out why people used to believe the word abracadabra was important. View photographs of cups and balls that were used to perform an old illusion. There are links to eThemes Resources on famous magicians and magic tricks.
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eThemes Resource: Math: Tessellations
These sites explain how to create tessellations with polygons using rotation and reflection. Also includes information about artist M.C. Escher and examples of his tessellation artwork. There are several interactive games for manipulating patterns online. Includes a link to shapes and symmetry.
Education Standards
