The last time I did this magic trick, the students lined up to have a turn! Tell the students that you can read minds. Ask for a volunteer. Ask the volunteer to think of a boy’s name, but not to tell it to you because you are going to read their mind. Write down “white” or “black” on a piece of paper and crumple it up without letting the students see what you wrote. Put it down beside you. (The last question you will ask them is to choose white or black). Then, ask the student what name they picked and write it down on a piece of paper and crumple it up. Put it down beside you.

Next, ask the student to think of a girl’s name, but not to tell you as you will read their mind. Write down the boy’s name they just told you on paper and crumple it up. Put is down beside you. Ask the student what the girl’s name was and write it down. Crumple up the paper and put it down beside you.

Finally, ask the student to choose black or white, but not to tell you. Write down the girl’s name they just said on paper and crumple it up and put it down beside you. Then, ask what they choose and write down the colour they say and crumple up the paper and put it beside you.

Then, open up one of their papers, read the answer and then find your corresponding paper and read the answer. Of course, there is a 50% chance of getting the correct answer for white or black, so perhaps read that one last.