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If your kid (or you) loves to stump their siblings, friends or family members then this easy illusion is just for them!
Start with a piece of paper (we’ve used rectangular and square with good results). To start, go ahead and measure and draw out these lines. Once you get the hang of it you won’t need to (the results are better without seeing the lines).
One horizontal line across the middle – this is to know where to stop cutting.
One vertical line to the middle of one side and two vertical lines about 1/3 in on the other side.
Cut these vertical lines right up until the center line.
Now, holding one side down, carefully turn just one side over. So you’re flipping over 1/2 of the paper.
Stand it up and take a look.
It looks like you’ve cut up a paper, but how? You can’t put it back together!
You can see how it’s a bit better of an illusion without the line. Now have people try and figure out how you did it! Obviously this works best if they can’t pick it up.
Try it out on your kids and see what they think!