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Researched by Drew B. |
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Dedication
I am going to dedicate my project to my parents because they helped me whenever I needed help.
Why I Chose This Topic
There is one reason I decided to take this opportunity to study all about magic. I chose to study about magic because one day during the summer my older brother and I were talking about what my project should be about. He suggested that I do my project on magic because we both really like magic.
Introduction
Magic is as old as the written word. There are many good magicians. One of the best magicians ever is Harry Houdini. There are a lot of different types of magic like card tricks and mind reading.
History
When magic shows started in Rome and Greece, magicians were limited in what they were allowed to take to shows to use for tricks. They were allowed to use materials the audience had handy. These shows were performed on the streets and in markets. Five thousand years ago a magician named Didi wowed crowds by cutting off and putting back on heads of geese, pelicans, and oxen.
Different Magicians
In Ancient Greece a magician had three cups. He put a pebble under each cup and then made them all appear in one cup or in his mouth. A magician by the name of Thurston made a woman fly and then made the same woman disappear. Harry Keller was the first American born magician to have a blockbuster traveling show. Max Maven is also a good magician who tells people what they are thinking of and can read people’s minds.
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini said he was born, Ehrich Weiss, on April 16th, 1876 in Appleton, Wisconsin. He was actually born in Pest, Hungary. His real name was Erik Weisz. His real birthday was March 24th, 1874. He later changed his name to Harry Houdini. He died at the age of 52 in 1926. He was an exceptional magician. He was best known for his amazing escapes using handcuffs and leg shackles. He never revealed his secrets to anyone!
Siegfried and Roy
Siegfried and Roy were famous magicians in Las Vegas using wild animals. During a show, Siegfried was bitten in the neck by a tiger. Roy said the tiger saw something scary so he grabbed Siegfried by the neck to avoid danger. Once Siegfried got a little bit better, he said he had a stroke so the tiger grabbed him. About 5 years later, they performed one last magic show in Las Vegas.
Types of magic
There are many types of magic. Some of the simplest types of magic involve illusion, rope, coins, cards and animals. In illusion magic, people see things in pictures. An example would be if you stared at a picture for about 30 seconds and then stared at a blank wall, you would see a certain image on the wall. Rope magic uses knots. For example a magician might have a tricky knot for the audience members to undo. The audience can’t undo the knot but the magician can. Coin magic involves vanishing coins. In card magic the magician finds a hidden card. The card is usually picked by the audience, viewed by the person and placed in the deck for the magician to find. You can also use magic involving animals. Another type of magic is voodoo where you take a belonging of someone’s and put their belonging on a doll. Then you poke it with a needle. When you do this, the person feels the poke.
Steps to become a magician
Do you want to become a magician? The first step to become a magician is to study and read books. The second step is to watch magicians and study their techniques and connections with the audience. The third step is that you have to meet different magicians. The fourth step is to practice your tricks in front of your family or in front of a mirror over and over to get really skilled. If you follow these instructions, you have a pretty good chance of becoming a good magician.
Wands
Wands are a very interesting part of magic. Wands can be made out of wood, ivory, or metal. Some people use wands for religious healing. Some people say wands come from a drumstick of a shaman. I only use wands for magic tricks. Most modern magic wands are black with white ends.
Conclusion
I find magic very interesting because magic dates back to caveman times. Magicians perform many different types of magic ranging from the simplest forms of magic to illusion magic to levitation. Harry Houdini was known as one of the best magicians ever. He was best known for his amazing escapes. To become a magician you need to study and read books, learn magic tricks, and practice your tricks often. Someday I hope to become a magician. All and all I enjoy magic very much!
How I Evaluate My Entire Project
(1) How thorough and complete was my project?
My project was kind of complete because I didn’t do very much. My project is pretty thorough because some of the stuff I have been working on isn’t done.
(2) What would I do differently if starting over again?
If I started over again I wouldn’t talk as much. I also wouldn’t play with soar supplies.
(3) What major strengths does my project have?
My major strengths are my optical illusions. Also my strengths are my magic tricks.
(4) What weaknesses or problems does my project have?
My major weakness is that I don’t make notes into paragraphs very well. Also my weakness is that I didn’t spell words very good.
(5) What did I learn to do better during this project?
I learned that magic started over 5000 years ago. I also learned that there are lot of different type of magic tricks.
(6) In what ways did I enjoy my study and work?
I enjoyed my work because I got to research about magic. I also enjoyed practicing my magic tricks.
Who Helped Me With My Project
I would like to thank my parents for helping me with my project at my house. I would also like to thank my ant Suki for helping me think of ideas. I would also like to thank my teacher Mrs. Heitman and Mrs. Goodpaster.
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