Some Educational Ideas.
We'd like to give you a few ideas to help maximize the educational value of having one of our assemblies visit your school. Most of our assemblies already have lots of great messages that can be discussed in class. But there are some other things teachers can do to encourage creative thinking.
It seems like a few times each year, I receive a large envelope from a school filled with thank-you cards from students. I love them. Not only does it make me feel appreciated, but it's also educational for me. Many of the students draw pictures of me and my show. With a little analysis, I quickly find out which tricks and routines were the favorites.I also get some surprises. I've seen drawings of me with lightning bolts coming out of my eyes and flames at my fingertips. Trust me, I DON'T use any fire in my show and I WISH I could make lightning bolts come out of my eyes.
For younger grades, having the students draw their perception of the show can spark their imagination...and probably provide the teacher with a laugh or two. You may also want to have a class discussion about the show. It was a shared theatrical experience and students will be eager to talk about what they saw and how it made them feel.
For older students, I'd like to suggest an essay. Have them choose a trick they saw me perform and then write down how they think the trick was done. This exercise would help with both writing skills and problem-solving skills. It also teaches critical thinking.
The art of magic is very educational. Some elements of magic include scientific principals, mathematics, psychology, public speaking and other areas of study.
One last suggestion. Make sure your school library has some magic books handy. No doubt, they WILL be checked out after my assembly.
