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Christopher Taylor V.I.P. British Columbia Canada 2314 Posts |
Are there any other practitioners of didactic magic? I am refering to the use of magic to express and illustrate concepts such as "What is science?" Are there any teachers out there that present magic as a form of drama/theatre. How about amgic as a complete form of language arts: reading instructions to learn an effect; writing a script; listening to other students to offer comments and suggestions; speaking/drama in perfromance.
Christopher |
Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
I have taught magic in schools. I also wrote part of a course for a highschool. Magic can fit in with science really well, as well as math. I even performed some magic for a health class that was discussing laughter as being healthy.
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Christopher Taylor V.I.P. British Columbia Canada 2314 Posts |
Mrbilldentertainer: When you say that you have taught magic in schools, I take it that you are not a classroom teacher but a magician invited by a teacher. If so, what was the purpose of teaching magic in the school? I am interested too in the "course" you wrote. What core subject was it supporting?
Christopher |
Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
The course was called Science in Society. The basics of it was that in the beginning eras of human history, that science was used by magicians/witchdoctors/religious heads to perform miracles...
I already mentioned the health class that I was invited by a teacher. Magic was also taught in a drama class for obvious reasons. You can show students some magic tricks which are fun compared to everyday lessons. This can boost their confidence and learning of the subject course, know that they can use it outside of the classroom. Great examples of this is mathematical magic. What better way to get students thinking about patterns than with a magic trick based on math? Science is also a given with magic. There is actually a pretty good company out there called Mad Science that teaches kids science in an entertaining manner. Some parts of their lessons touch on the Science of Magic |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
I used to take old children's magic books apart and glue the page on a piece of cardboard so that the effect was on one cardboard and the secret on another. In order to obtain the secret, kids had to read the effect and pass a simple reading test on the contents to make sure they understood it. Then they received the secret card along with an envelope of the props needed for the trick. They took the secret to a closed off reading carel in the back of the room and worked on reading the secret and practicing the trick. Then they had to show me that they could perform the trick before they were allowed to perform the trick for the rest of the class. The class rated their performance.
Depending on how well they did, they then could go on to a more difficult trick, or stay with the easy ones until they improved both their reading and their performing techniques. I don't think a teacher who was not a magician would be able to handle this, but for me and many of the kids, it was a window to reading and also to magic. I should also mention that I had many other subjects besides magic tricks for them to choose from, like cooking, science experiments, computer programing, and so on. Still, magic was very popular as a reading topic. FYI, I taught for 25 years in the elementary public schools.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
Christopher Taylor V.I.P. British Columbia Canada 2314 Posts |
Spellbinder: Well done! That is exactly the kind of suggestion that is invaluable to other teachers who use magic in the classroom. Would you say that your magic had a strong influence on the school's culture?
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Last week and next, I will be sharing on the art of story telling in High School English Classes. Seems as the first teacher spread my name and program around and I got an email for an additional class.
Use of dialects, body posture/status and of course magic and other props to illustrate the story were used. Be safe, Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Captain Jack New user Sacramento 53 Posts |
In my last year of being a Program Director for a paramedic training academy, I started using magic as a teaching aid. I used the stratosphere to help teach the concept of how bloodborne pathogens work. I also used some basic card techniques for teaching the fundamentals of how the body achieves homeostasis in advanced physiology.
Every man be a fool for 10 minutes each day. The trick is not in exceedin' the time limit!
Properly warned ye be, says I! |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Last week I was the guest speaker in a middle school drama class.
Although the magic went over well, it was theatre games(ala Whose line is it anyway) that got them energized. My start was in theatre, prior to adding the magic. Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
dave burgess New user 75 Posts |
I am a part-time pro magician and a full-time high school U.S. History teacher. I use magic in the classroom all of the time to help illustrate points and concepts. I also use it to make certain pieces of key information more memorable. I now teach a seminar on using techniques of magic and showmanship in the classroom. My first seminar was this summer and was well received. I have another on December 6th and hope it goes over as well as the one this summer.
Dave Burgess |
Grasshop34 Veteran user Cincinnati, OH 308 Posts |
I am a fourth grade teacher and often use magic to motivate and practice skills. For example, I taught four magic tricks the other day to my students that all required mental math. Most of them were mind reading tricks and the parents and students really liked them. I am always looking to incorporate magic in the classroom that is educational. I love reading all the different ideas. The tricks I taught were two card tricks, the 1089 trick, and a mind reading trick that required six cards and you are able to know what number someone is merely thinking of. The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever, and also could practice their mental math skills.
Jason |
Isramagia Regular user Bayamon, Puerto Rico 114 Posts |
Christopher;
You may be interested in the book, "Performing Magic for Children"; they discuss magic and pedogogy. And it's an excellent book on magic for kids (overall) Peace; Izzy
Izzy
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