Harry who? Harry Houdini!

Step into a world of illusion and uncover the artistry behind Harry Houdini’s mystifying feat: making an elephant disappear! Spark curiosity through a class discussion about illusions and their impact on human perception by asking one simple question:

• What is an illusion?

Divide students into groups and ask each group to research one of the following four ideas:

• Harry Houdini’s life and background
• The rise and fall of the Hippodrome Theatre
• How Houdini made an elephant vanish
• How the public reacted to this vanishing act

Encourage students to use a range of sources, such as newspaper articles, photographs and historical texts. Have each group share their findings with the class. Conclude the unit with a debate by asking:

• Was Houdini’s vanishing elephant act a form of art?
• How did his illusions challenge reality?

Invite students to voice their perspectives, supported by evidence from their research. As a culminating event, have students design their own illusions or artistic interpretations inspired by Houdini’s magic, showcasing their grasp of perspective, creativity and the boundary between reality and imagination.

To support this unit, use the Well, THAT’S Debatable… Activity.