Name Class Activity: Magic Bananas

Type of modality / Magic trick
Type of play / Solitary
Interaction pattern / Extra-individual
# of participants required / 1
Equipment/supplies / Ripe banana, needle (or pin)
Facilities required/environment / Area where individual can be alone and safely use a needle
Precautions / Being able to use a sharp needle

Task Analysis

1. Get a banana, preferably one that is pretty ripe (if it is not then it there is a higher probability of the trick being less successful).

2. Get a needle or pin that is longer than the width of the banana.

3. Take the banana and pick one of the lines of the skin and insert the needle at the top of the line so that it is going through the entire banana but not poking through on the opposite side.

4. Move the needle in a side-to-side motion several times, but being careful to not widen the hole too much.

5. Take the needle out and move slightly down the line on the banana and repeat step 4.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have reached the bottom of the banana.

7. Being careful to keep the side of the banana with the holes facing towards you, show someone the banana and say something along the lines of, “When I peel this banana, it will already be sliced.

8. Peel the banana and watch as your audience is amazed.

**Video Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNDjg3409BI

Activity Analysis

Category / Skills
Primary body position / Sitting or standing, whichever is most comfortable or setting allows
Part of the body required / Eyes, hands, fingers, and arms
Movement / 3-jaw chuck grasp (holding needle), palmar grasp (holding banana), lifting (banana and needle), bending in the arms and hands (holding and peeling banana), manipulating, pulling (when peeling banana)
Physical / Dynamic sitting/(standing), bilateral integration (holding banana in one hand, moving needle back and forth in other), fine muscle coordination, visual-motor integration
Cognitive / Alertness, divided attention, concentration, initiation, insight, judgment, orientation: person, orientation: place, reading
Social / N/A unless showing other individuals the trick in which caseà handling criticism (if trick fails), interpersonal interactions, social conduct
Perception / Tactile function, visual function, gustatory/olfactory function (when you peel banana open and if you decide to eat the banana)
Communication/language / Reception to written/spoken language, expression of spoken language, reception/producing body movement if performing in front of others.
Self-care / N/A
Psychological/emotional (possible) / Joy (if trick is successful), frustration/embarrassment if trick fails.

SIMPLIFYING AND COMPLICATING THIS ACTIVITY:

Ways to SIMPLIFY demands / Ways to make more COMPLEX
Cognitively / Complete activity with instructions in front you (either written or video) / Complete trick from memory with no instructions or aid from another individual
Physically / Do trick sitting down / Do trick while standing entire time
Socially / Attempt to unveil trick by self or just in front of one person / Attempt to unveil trick with several individuals present

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