In this video I show you how to make (and actually use) one of my favourite online teaching props: the Magic Pencil. It’s a simple DIY build, but it feels like “real magic” on camera—especially when you need kids to interact with the screen. I use this pencil almost every day to get my students to draw a line on the screen, trace, underline, circle, or follow directions without me repeating myself a hundred times. I walk you through the materials I use—like an empty tinfoil roll for the body, a Sriracha bottle cap for the tip, felt or craft foam for colour, and black tape for that classic pencil look. The secret sauce is the adhesive-backed rare earth magnet, which helps the prop do what it’s supposed to do smoothly during class. If you teach online ESL (VIPKid, GoGoKid, or anywhere), this is one of those props that earns its keep fast: it’s cheap, sturdy, and it turns “Please draw a line” into a fun little moment that keeps kids engaged.