Here are some tricky challenges, using objects, to play with your youth group.

1.

      Challenge: A dollar bill is placed flat on a table. An empty pop bottle is turned upside down so that its mouth rests on the center of the bill. Without tipping over the bottle and allowing nothing to touch the bottle other than the bill of the table, the dollar bill is removed from beneath the bottle.              

      Solution: Using the thumb and index finger of each hand, the dollar bill is carefully rolled-up from one end, permitting the roll to push the bottle slowly off the bill, without tipping the bottle over.

2.

      Challenge: Four rectangular cards of identical size are placed in a T-formation. A square is formed by moving only one card.

      Solution: The top card is moved upward until the opened space forms a square.

3.

      Challenge: Three glasses are set on a table in a row. The glass on the left is rightside up; it is glass number one. The glass on the right is also rightside up; it is glass number three. The center glass is upside down; it is glass number 2. Three moves are made. On each move, two glasses are picked up and turned over, but the same two glasses may not be turned in consecutive moves. After the three moves, all of the glass are upside down. How is the trick performed?

      Solution: First move: glasses two and three are turned. Second move: glasses one and three are now turned. Third move: glasses two and three are once more turned, and all the glasses are now upside down.

4.

      Challenge: Here’s how we’ll settle who tips the waiter,” says the challenger to his friend at lunch. He tears one paper match out of a matchfolder. “I’ll toss it. If it lands on either side, I’ll pay. If it lands on edge, you pay.” Should the friend accept the bet?

      Solution: No. Just before tossing, the challenger will bend the match between thumb and forefinger so that it will land on its edge.