Has anyone ever performed science experiments as a magic trick to educate children? This is something I have been thinking about since I work with kids in the inner city. Are there any good books out there on Science Magic? I have been thinking that performing science in a fun way could help give children a desire to learn. But then again, maybe some clowns have the opinion that clowns just entertain. But could clowns entertain and educate?

Have you every heard of "Mad Science"? Birthday Parties (http://www.madscience.org/locations/southernmass/BP.aspx)

I think they're nationwide, and they provide more science than magic, but it's done in a very entertaining way--even for birthday parties!

I can picture a similar thing being done by a clown.

That is so what I am thinking about...got to think about how to put the clowning with it. Thanks for the link. I am looking for some books to learn how to do stuff like that.

look up "Doktor Kaboom" he's a mad scientist character, complete with spiky hair and german accent, that does school shows and such.. he doesn't do so much magic as really cool chemical experiments and stuff but it's really entertaining, and almost clownish at times..

Doktor Kaboom! (http://www.doktorkaboom.com/video.html)

I love mad scientists.

i just typed science is magic on the search and this site came up
Science Magic Tricks (http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistrymagic/tp/sciencemagictricks.htm)

Pinky, are you talking about doing this in schools, parties, etc? What kind of access do you have to chemical ingredients?

We do minor expedients with the kids at my work. We make exploding milk, and float or sink ( you could use funny props to get the point across). There are a lot of easy expiraments that kids love, its just about how to make it funny.

My high school chemistry teacher did a Mad Scientist show on Halloween each year. He had the advantage of a stockroom full of chemicals along with bunsen burners and dry ice. I am sure there are good tricks that you can do with household supplies that don't get too messy.

Before I retired from teaching science, I often used magic in my classroom to illustrate science principles. Magic is a great attention grabber. Optical illusions are easy and pack small, play big. One I used with good success was the old 2 hot dogs or rainbows. I had a big set and then I had the kids make their set to take home to fool their parents. There are two books I have had for many years on science magic tricks. One is Science Magic, 101 Experiments You Can Do by Ormond McGill. The other is Secrets of 123 Old-Time Science Tricks and Experiments by EDi Lanners. Both of them are still available on Amazon.com. Of the two, the McGill book is the best. It has great effects that can easily be done, many with house-hold things or simple chemicals that can be bought from a teacher supply store, a REAL pharmacy or drug store, or ordered on-line.
Another possibility is doing environmental magic. You can do this in a small way or go "big-time" as an entire themed show. Good for doing schools or community events like Earth Day. Check out YouTube for JohnMaverickMagic Eco Show. Also Steve Petra "It's Alive!" puppet show about the working of the human body. Great comedy ideas! Steve Axtell has a new effect called the Green machine. A re-working of the old square circle with an environmental theme. See in use at http://www.Axtell.com (http://www.axtell.com/).

I've used sulfur hexafluoride. Great for levitating items, "pouring" on fires, etc.

If you use a clear tank that the audience can see and have the sulfur hexafluouride setting in it, you can just drop an item in and let it float. Boat props work well in a theme.

Using an exaggerated prop that you can pour the sulfur hexafluouride on and have in trinkle down a ways to a waiting fire is also nifty for the eye.