"Magic exists. Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind and the silence of the stars? Anyone who has loved has been touched by magic. It is such a simple and such an extraordinary part of the lives we live." Nora Roberts
Here is a short CST quiz-based activities page, to help celebrate 'World Magic Day', which is on 31st October.
INTRODUCTION
Begin the session by asking members ...
- Who likes this genre of entertainment?
- Has anyone been to see a magician or a similar show? What was it like?
- Did anyone have a 'Magic Set' as a child?
- Does anyone know any card tricks?
What's the most magical thing you've ever experienced?
- Nature's glory
- World travel
- Waking up each day
- Finding love that's perfect for me
- Becoming and being a parent
- An educational or career achievement
- Something else
IDIOMS
Next, complete the idioms together, by way of a shout out ...
Magic CIRCLE or CARPET
Wave the Magic WAND
Cast a SPELL
Be under no ILLUSION
Charm the birds out of the TREES
Out of thin AIR
Pick a card, any CARD
Practice makes PERFECT
Pull the rabbit out of the HAT
Third times a CHARM
Sleight of HAND
Go on a charm OFFENSIVE
Conjure something UP
Now you see it, now you DON'T
Can anyone think of any others to add?
First singalong ...
LYRICS
Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff And brought him strings, and sealing wax, and other fancy stuff
Oh, Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee
Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail Noble kings and princes would bow whenever they came Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name
Oh, Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee
A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys Painted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys One gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more And Puff, that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar
His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane Without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave So Puff, that mighty dragon, sadly slipped into his cave
Oh, Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee
MAGIC WORDS
Which band had a hit in 1982 with 'Abracadabra'?
Which Arabic hero used the phrase 'Open Sesame'?
Which children's TV character said "Izzy Wizzy, Let's Get Busy"?
True or False. William Shakespeare's play 'Macbeth' had 'The Three Witches' casting spells to the spell 'Hocus Pocus'?
What did Harry Potter's spell 'Wingardium Leviosa' make happen?
What does 'Hey Presto!' mean?
FAMOUS MAGICIANS
Clips are included ...
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 | Name this mime artist? True or False. In WW2 he used his mime skills to save 70 Jewish children by quietly smuggling them across the Swiss border? |
 | Name this magician? Who was the resident singer on his TV show? |
 | Name the magician & his side kick? What was his speciality? |
 | Name the magician? He was elected President in 1993 of which organisation? |
 | |
 | |
 | Name the magician? Which trick is he best remembered for? |
 | |
 | Name the magician? Known to be the most commercially successful magician in the world, how much do you think he is worth? |
 | |
 | Name the magician? In a famous piece of 'performance art', how many days was he suspended in a perspex box over the Thames (nearest guess)? |
 | Name the magician? On which mode of transport would you usually find an item with this name? |
Singalong break ...
LYRICS
Magic moments, when two hearts are carin'
Magic moments, memories we've been sharing
I'll never forget the moment we kissed
The night of the hay ride
The way that we hugged to try to keep warm
While takin' a sleigh ride
Magic moments, memories we've been sharin'
Magic moments, when two hearts are carin'
Time can't erase the memory of
These magic moments filled with love
The telephone call that tied up the line
For hours and hours
The Saturday dance I got up the nerve
To send you some flowers
Magic moments, memories we've been sharin'
Magic moments, when two hearts are carin'
Time can't erase the memory of
These magic moments filled with love
The way that we cheered whenever our team
Was scoring a touchdown
The time that the floor fell out of my car
When I put the clutch down
The penny arcade, the games that we played
The fun and the prizes
The Halloween hop when everyone came
In funny disguises
Magic moments filled with love
AD BREAK
What is your favourite?
Or would you prefer ...
ROUND 2. Magic Tricks
Discuss together how the above common magic tricks are explained (answers below) ...
- Pulling a rabbit out of a hat
- Sawing a lady in half
- Levitation
- Vanishing woman
- Metamorphosis or swapping places
Here are the explanations ...
ROUND 3. Some Magic TV & Movies
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 | Name the 1940 movie? What happened when he told a lie? |
 | Name the 1953 movie? Name the fairy? |
 | Name this 1960s children's TV programme? Name the characters? TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3DcChXNyYQ |
 | Name this 1960s children's TV programme? Name the zookeeper? TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN79RT9bc6c |
 | |
 | Name the 1968 movie? Name the two adult characters? |
 | |
 | Name the 1992 movie? What would your three wishes be? |
 | Name this 2001 movie? Name the characters? Sorting hat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4K2F_OALPQ |
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ROUND 4. Magic Songs
The idea here is to randomly play the first few bars of these songs and ask members to guess at which song and artist the record is.
Here is the playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Dd2cEwy916IzFi2TSV1AS?si=6abcf1f0fa2a416d
Afterwards, ask members which track/s they want to hear in full.
PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES
(song added to the playlist)
Ask members when their birthday is, or what their star sign is. Bring in a red top newspaper and read their stars. Ask who believes there is any truth in Astrology?
Here are the twelve symbols ...
Or you could learn a card trick together ...
Here is an easy one, but there are many more on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M70hhflpCbI
Steve Miller Band
Ali Baba
Sooty
False. They say "Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble." ('Hocus Pocus' was the stage name of a well known magician of the early 1600s. Most likely William Vincent.)
Levitate or "Take flight"
'Presto' means quickly in Italian, so it relates to fast slight of hand
Harry Houdini / Escapism
Marcel Marceau / True
David Nixon / Anita Harris
Ray Alan / Lord Charles
Ali Bongo / 'The Magic Circle'
Tommy Cooper / "Just like that!"
Paul Daniels & Debbie McGee / "You'll like this. Not a lot!"
Uri Geller / Fork bending
Penn Jillette & Raymond Teller / Teller is the silent one
David Copperfield / $1bn
Derren Brown / Hypnosis
David Blane / 44 days
Dynamo / Bicycle
'Wizard Of Oz' / Wicked witch of the west
'Pinocchio' / His nose grew
'Peter Pan' / Tinkerbell
'Magic Roundabout' / Florence, Douglas & Zebedee (the others were Ermintrude, Dylan & Brian)
'Animal Magic' / Johnny Morris
'Mary Poppins' / Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke
'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' / Carractacus Potts & Truly Scrumptious
'Bedknobs & Broomsticks' / Angela Lansbury & David Tomlinson
'Aladdin' / Robin Williams played the Genie
'Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone' / Harry Potter, Hermione Granger & Ron Weasley / Leslie Phillips played the Sorting Hat
'Lord Of The Rings' / Gandalf
