Learning with Harry Potter

Our whole family loves learning with Harry Potter. We love the world of Harry Potter and have all read the books and watched the movies. My children and I have attended and volunteered for a Harry Potter summer camp, where I played Professor McGonagall. We even had the pleasure of going to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Florida several years ago!

Do you love to read books from the Harry Potter series or watch the movies? There are many fun, learning activities you can enjoy in your home or homeschool – you can easily put together a Harry Potter unit study and enjoy learning with Harry Potter, too!

Lesson Plans

Check out these Harry Potter Lesson Plans! They include creative writing lessons, character analysis, creating a board game, writing a script, and more.

Science

Science can look a lot like magic. There are science experiments galore that fit in the Harry Potter universe Potions Class! Here are a few Harry Potter experiments to get you started. I enjoyed teaching these at a Harry Potter camp one summer.

Latin

Incendio! Latin abounds in the Harry Potter books. Almost all of the so-called spells are merely Latin words (with other languages peppered throughout). Children find it so much fun to translate these words because it’s almost like a secret code. Here are translations of a few. For more advanced students of Latin, pick up the Latin translation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Crafts and Activities

Make your own Hogwarts Acceptance Letter. Use real sealing wax, available at craft stores, for the authentic look.

Whittle your own wands. My son used to use a simple knife and sandpaper or whittling tools to make interesting wands out of twigs. Or if you know somebody with a lathe, ask if they’ll show your child how to use it – you can make fancier wands this way.

Enjoy online activities on Scholastic’s Harry Potter page. Take the Wizard’s Challenge, Create a Creature, and more.

If you and your kids haven’t yet joined Pottermore, check it out to learn more about the wizarding world and enjoy ongoing Harry Potter stories, activities, and ebooks.

Make your own Butter Beer. We really enjoy this – it’s delicious! There are many recipes available online – try them all and see which one you like best.

Literature Study

Study the literary archetype of The Hero’s Journey in the pages of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Join Scholastic’s Harry Potter Reading Club for discussion guides, monthly activities, and a kit full of stickers and more.

Learn About the Author

Learn more about author J.K. Rowling. Did you know she is a Christian and started writing the
Harry Potter series as a penniless single mother? Be sure to visit J.K. Rowling’s official site, where you can read all about her and the latest news.

Whether you use these ideas in your homeschool, or for a birthday, Halloween party, or summer camp, I hope you enjoy learning with Harry Potter as much as we have!

Are you learning with Harry Potter? What are your favourite activities? Let me know in the comments below.

Love, Luck &
Laughter,

Kimberly