I like using magic tricks to get student’s attention. Along the way, they are learning a lot as you explain and show using language. A great way for rich language learning. Here’s a favorite I used to use with my kids.
I”ll guess your birthday Magic Trick
Ask your students to do the following, calculating for their own birthday. Go slow and repeat the instructions so they follow along. Use the board to show an example.
- Enter the number 7 (7)
- Multiply by the month of your birth (7×6=63)
- Subtract 1 (63-1=62)
- Multiply by 13 (62×13=806)
- Add the day of your birth (806+8=814)
- Add 3 (814+3=817)
- Multiply by 11 (817×11=8987)
- Subtract the month of your birth (8987-9=8978)
- Subtract the day of your birth (8987-8=8970)
Now the fun! – Ask a student to tell you their result. In your head, quickly do the following
- Divide by 10 (8970/10=897)
- Add 11 (897+11=908)
- Divide by 100 (908/100 = 9.08 )
Tell the student their birthday! (for example, using my own – Sept. 8th).
They will be amazed! Tell a few more students when their birthday is. For homework ask them to try and find out how you did it! They’ll come up with some creative answers!
There are a lot of amazing science and math tricks that teachers can learn easily and which offer very powerful engagement AND language learning activities.
This post was submitted by David Deubelbeiss.
Comment Form
See any spam in the comments? Please msg Dmitry and he'll trash it right away :)
About Teaching Recipes
What's a teaching recipe? It's a step by step guide or general description of the ideas you use to keep your classes exciting and educational. It can be a lesson plan, a numbered list of steps, a game idea, or whatever you like! We invite you to share your teaching recipes, and browse the ones other teachers have shared.
Photostream
Categories
- Adults (1)
- Advanced (48)
- All Ages & Levels (62)
- Beginner (28)
- Business (14)
- Elementary (81)
- False Beginner (40)
- High School (89)
- Intermediate (71)
- Kindergarten (33)
- Middle School (98)
- Recipe (160)
- University (59)
We Support
- Potato And Leek Soup: Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I'll make sure to b [...]
- Potato And Leek Soup: Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I will make sure to b [...]
- Potato And Leek Soup: Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I'll make sure to boo [...]
- Potato And Leek Soup: Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I will make sure [...]
- Potato And Leek Soup: Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I will be sure to [...]
15 Responses to Magic Tricks
Mark from Easy Magic Secrets
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Very Cool!
I hope you don’t mind, but I shared this on my blog (with a link back to this site of course):
http://easymagicsecrets.com/for-all-you-math-geeks/
February 7th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Sure! It is a quite common thing but I used it so often when first substitute teaching, I could do it so fast it really seemed like magic. Students would think I looked in their files or something….
Daniel K
March 4th, 2010 at 9:44 am
I love using magic, too! I found that back when I worked at an academy, it was a great way to open class and break the ice a bit, or as a reward to close class. As a Korean public school teacher (with about 30 students per class), however, it’s a lot harder to find opportunities to use magic in the classroom.
One challenge I found at the academy, though, was sometimes a few students (especially in the bigger classes) would interpret magic time as free, “speak in Korean with their friends” time. It would take effort to draw them back into the magic trick.
I also had students who became obsessed with certain tricks, and some even figured out how to do them by themselves! With an advanced class I had been doing lots of magic with, I actually copied the pages from the magic book and let them try to learn it by themselves!
pei yi
May 23rd, 2010 at 2:52 pm
why is it must be 7 at first?
Julie
January 4th, 2011 at 11:39 am
Hi!! thank you for the useful icebreaking magic! planning to use it in my class.:)
by the way, the example in the post has the number “6″ instead of “9″ in the second step: 7 X 6
hyip
January 27th, 2012 at 5:29 am
Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem. You’re amazing! Thanks! your article about Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes Best Regards Yoder Schaad
App For Android
January 28th, 2012 at 3:27 am
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes . Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.
invest solid trustpay
January 29th, 2012 at 12:23 am
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes . Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.
android market
January 30th, 2012 at 4:48 am
I got what you specify, thanks for swing up. Woh I am pleased to make this website through google. Thanks For Share Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes.
android market
January 30th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks! your article about Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching RecipesBest Regards Cassetta
android market
February 2nd, 2012 at 1:15 am
Excellent goods from you, man. Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely fantastic. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it wise. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a great Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes informations.
android market
February 2nd, 2012 at 1:15 am
Magnificent goods from you, man. Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too magnificent. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it smart. I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes informations.
liberty reserve
February 2nd, 2012 at 8:45 pm
This is the penalize Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes diary for anyone who wants to seek out out near this issue. You respond so often its most debilitating to present with you (not that I truly would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new reel on a topic thats been graphical nigh for eld. Respectable personalty, just zealous!
liberty reserve
February 4th, 2012 at 6:24 pm
This is the proper Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes blog for anyone who wants to seek out out about this theme. You request so such its virtually debilitating to present with you (not that I real would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new twirl on a content thats been graphical about for age. Overnice block, just uppercase!
Potato And Leek Soup
February 6th, 2012 at 4:37 am
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of Magic Tricks | EFL Teaching Recipes . Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.