Mind Reading Trick

This magic trick is fun and interesting and uses minimal materials.
Remember, it's always a good idea to practice at home first!

Suggested Materials:

* 1 x small pocket-sized object eg. small toy, lego block, peg
* 1 x secret helper (ie. a friend in your class)

Suggested Instructions:

Step 1: At school, choose 3 volunteers to come to the front of the room. Ask all 3 to stand facing the rest of the class, side-by-side in a line from left to right.

Step 2: Hold up your small object to the class then place it on a table very near to your 3 volunteers.

Step 3: Turn your back and ask that any 1 of your 3 volunteers silently step forward to take the object from the table and then return to their place in the line. Everyone in the class (except you) must clearly see who took the item.

Step 4: With your back still turned, ask all 3 volunteers to place their hands behind their backs.

Step 5: Now turn around. Tell the rest of the class that if they concentrate really hard on the person who has the item you will be able to read their minds.

Step 6: This is where your secret helper comes in. You must have prearranged with your secret helper to send you a secret signal from the audience. If the volunteer on the left has the item, your secret helper should give 1 slow blink. If the volunteer in the middle has the item your secret helper should give 2 slow blinks. If the volunteer on the right has the item your secret helper should give 3 slow blinks.

Step 7: Start by looking around the room at the faces of your classmates as if you are trying to read all of their minds. Now, raise your index fingers to your temples as if you are concentrating extra hard. This is your secret helper's signal to begin blinking.

Step 8: As you raise your fingers to your temples, look only at the face of your secret helper so that you can count the correct number of blinks. Once you have counted the blinks look around the room again so that no-one suspects you have a secret helper.

Step 9: Then stun your classmates by correctly naming the person who is holding the item! Incredible!

Step 10: Practice this trick at home before trying it at school. Be sure to practice with your secret helper so they know what to do and when to do it. Be sure to keep it a secret!