When Rachel Díaz of Culver City, California, “magically” refilled a soda can for her son, the nine-year-old’s first words were “Cool!” And then: “How’d you do that?”

Science-based magic tricks stand out not just for being fun but for sparking interest in the science that makes the trick happen. “Making science fun is essential to creating the most important aspect of learning: desire,” says Steve Hinkley, president and CEO of the Adventure Science Center in Nashville, Tennessee. “When children find joy in something, they seek more of it.”

Tell kids to hold the can with one finger over the hole—then shake. The can will look like it’s “magically” refilling! (Keep that sink handy—it can get messy.) If they’re performing this