Mental Colors

Do you possess extraordinary powers? Can you read minds? That's what your friends will ask you after you perform this magic trick.

A piece of paper
A pencil or pen

SOMETIMES WE USE MATERIALS THAT REQUIRE ADULT SUPERVISION…LIKE SCISSORS SO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY AROUND WHENEVER YOU DO MAGIC TRICKS!

1. To begin, take a blank piece of paper and fold it into nine squares. To do this, simply fold and unfold the paper into thirds on all four sides sides, creasing sharply as you do it so that the paper will be easier to tear later.
2. Give your friend/assistant a pen and ask them to write the name of a special color in the center square of the paper, with other decoy colors surrounding it in the other squares. Make sure your back is turned from the paper as your friend does this. You can also cover your eyes or wear a blindfold if you’d like, as long as you can’t see your friend writing.
3. Have your friend tear the paper’s squares apart once he or she has finished writing all of the colors down. Have them shuffle all of the squares with the different colors on them around so that the center color is no longer in the center. Your back must still be turned as this happens.
4. Turn back around and sort through the squares, holding each up to your friend and studying it carefully. Make your friend think you’re trying to read his or her mind when you’re actually studying the edges of the square. The center square with your friend’s chosen color will be the only square with all four of its edges ripped.
5. Once you find square with four ripped edges, proudly present the chosen color to your friend and take a well-deserved bow!