Harry Potter Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources

Today’s release of the trailer for Part II of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (see below if you missed it!) prompted me to put together some lesson plans and other resources to use with the books. I admit that I absolutely love the series, and read them entirely on my own before I had my own children (so in my early 30’s, not as a young adult)! I then read them again prior to each movie release, and again aloud to my son. He is now 9 and has read them again on his own (some several times). This epic series is a perfect way to engage your students and children for now and for years to come. There are so many different ways to incorporate the books into lessons across the curriculum. If you have any of your own lesson plans to contribute, please leave a comment. Thanks! Here is the trailer I promised (with resources and lessons below):

Harry Potter Lesson Plans

• Create a Hogwarts Floor Plan (Grades 3-8) – Students will learn about the concept of scale and other mapping skills as they create a floor plan of Hogwarts School.
• Creative Writing Unit – Several lessons and activities
• Lesson Plan for Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone – Grade 6 – To encourage students to find the voice in the novel and to allow them to find their own individual ways into the experience through various projects.
• What’s All the Fuss About Harry Potter? (Grades 6-8 –  Literature , Ed Technology , Special Ed)
• Great Collection of Lesson Plans & Classroom Guides
• Units and Lesson Plans for Homeschooling
• Scholastic – Discussion Guide for the First 4 Books
• Owl Mail – Thematic Resources and Professional Development Workshop for Educators by Midge Frazel
• Harry Potter’s World – Lessons in Science and English from the U.S. National Library of Medicine –
  

  ENGLISH LESSON PLAN

  In Boggart and Fear, students examine two text selections that feature a boggart—a shape-shifter that turns into whatever one fears most—from books 3 and 5, Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix, respectively. Students evaluate various characters’ fears represented by the boggart and build connections between their analyses of the characters’ fears and the students’ own experiences.

  SCIENCE LESSON PLAN

  In Genetic Traits, students review or learn genetic terms and concepts, such as DNA, chromosome, gene, allele, homozygous, heterozygous, recessive and dominant genes, genotype, phenotype, complex traits, Mendelian inheritance, and Punnett Square; and apply them in identifying possible inheritance patterns and genotypes of magical ability demonstrated by several characters in the series.

Harry Potter Webquests

• A Day in the Life – The Task:  As we search for details in the life of the famous boy you will attend classes at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In addition you will explore other sites where Harry enjoys spending time. You will want to become friends with a couple of Harry’s buddies. Finally you will need to dig up some facts on the person behind the characters and events as the life of Harry is revealed.
• Taming Word Problems
• Webquest for Grades 2-5
• Webquest for the Sorcerer’s Stone
• The Magical World – Webquest

Harry Potter Printables and Activities

• Printables from Classroom, Jr. – Discussion guides, unit plans, worksheets, puzzles and more!
• Nice collection of coloring pages, puzzles, bookmarks and more
• Printables and Activities from Activity Village UK
• Reference Desk (scroll down to find it)
• Huge list of web resources
• Haiku
• Huge collection of Activities

There are literally thousands of products featuring these famous characters, from books to games to clothing. Here are a few of my favorite items at great prices that are sure to please your students, children, and yes, even you!

I would love to hear how you incorporate Harry Potter into your lessons, whether they are at home or in the classroom! Please leave a comment sharing your favorite ways to use this fabulous series!