Mind Tricks

[ColwynsMommy]

I lead a science group for kids 4-7 once a month. I got an email with this experiment, which is basically about how the brain works and how you can trick it. The kids thought it was really fun, so I thought if I could find a bunch of other similar games/experiments, we could do that for this month's group.

My kids have tried the trick where you make someone else's face disappear by holding a mirror perpendicular to your face, so that's an option. A friend suggested those pictures of an old/young woman, or the vase, that illustrate perception. Does anyone have any ideas? Anything where you're 'tricking' your brain somehow..

Thanks!

[moominmamma]

One my kids like it to have a bowl of hot water, a bowl of cold water and a bowl of lukewarm water. You put one hand in the hot, one in the cold, and leave them there for a few minutes. Then you plunge both hands in the lukewarm water. They'll perceive the temperature very differently.

Another potent area of exploration is optical illusions. We have this neat book filled with them. Perhaps your library carries it?

Miranda