The Harry Potter books appeal to a wide age range. The first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is appropriate for students in grades 4-6, while the later books would suit students slightly older.

The questions become progressively more challenging or involved moving down the page. The main focus here will be on book 1 and the overall series.

The Basics

Make a title page for your work that includes your own name, the author's name, the publication city and year of the book, the book title, the date of the project, etc. Be sure to make your artwork interesting and unique.

Make a chart of the most important characters in the book, and another with the secondary characters. Beside their names, make columns for their personal details. You might include some of the following categories: School House, Age, Relationship to Harry, Favourite Thing To Do, Best Friend etc.

In your own words, summarize the story in a page or less.

Describe the similarities and differences between life as a wizard and life as a muggle.

Compare the details from the book with those in the movie. What parts are different? Why do you think that is?

What If

If you could make up your own spell, what would it be and what would it do?

Create your own potion recipe and instructions. What does your potion do to the person who drinks it?

Draw, paint or sculpt your own magical creature. What is its name? Where is it found? What different qualities does it posses which make it unique? Would it make a good pet?

Challenging Questions

Why do you think Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia agreed to take care of Harry?

Do you think that Hagrid is reliable? Discuss.

Why do you think wizard training starts so late?

Why would muggle clothing seem odd to wizards?

What would you see if you looked into the Mirror of Erised? What do you think (Hermione, Hagrid, Snape, Draco, Filch, Professor McGonagall, Neville) would see?

In what ways would having the Philosopher's stone improve your life? In what ways would it make your life worse?

What is a bezoar used for, and where would you find one?

Do you think the wizarding world could benefit from muggle inventions?

Do you think that in the future of the Harry Potter world, the secrecy that wizards keep from muggles would be maintained? Discuss.

Challenging Writing Activities

Write a newspaper article from a wizard's point of view describing a muggle item not commonly seen or used in the wizarding world.

Create a limerick that Peeves might use.

Choose a secondary character and write a short biography about them based on their life either before or after Harry's time at Hogwarts.

Where would Professor Snape (Trelawney, McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick) go for a holiday, and why? Write a postcard from him to your choice of professor.

Write a journal entry from Hermione's point of view.
Some suggestions: the day she receives her acceptance letter to Hogwarts; the day she arrives at Hogwarts; the day she overhears Ron complaining about her; the day before final exams

Write a journal entry from Professor Dumbledore's point of view.

How do you think owning the Philosopher's Stone would affect your daily life? Consider your friendships, career(s), hobbies, family, etc.

Taking it a Step Further

What do you think a wizard exam would look like for potions, transfiguration, charms, etc.? Create your own exams, then see if the muggles around you can pass a wizarding exam.

Set up an owl mail station in your classroom, and encourage the students to use it to share personal as well as class-wide news. You can take this a step further with pen pals or email friends.

Choose a magical creature and research its mythology. In what ways do different authors describe the same creature? Draw or model your creature as well. Would it make a good pet? Why or why not?

Although it seems silly to us now, the study of alchemy in the middle ages was highly regarded and practiced by many scientists. What sciences were born from this? Choose a scientist from the middle ages, and explain how alchemy may have caused him or her to make scientific discoveries.

If Nicholas Flammel has been alive for over 600 years, what are the most significant changes in the world that he might have experienced within his lifetime? Make a timeline to show the most significant events and changes.

Create a diorama of one of the places found in the series. Consider Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, the Muggle world, the homes of various characters as well as places within Hogwarts.

Writing Challenges Based on the Entire Series

Choose one of the following and discuss its significance throughout the series:
- hands
- jewellery
- socks

What effect did hearing the prophesy have on Harry's actions? Discuss.

Discuss the role that personal choice has in the series using two different characters for contrast.

Was Sybil Trelawney a fraud? Discuss.

What do you think happened to number 12 Grimmauld Place after the series?

What long-term effect, if any, do you think the events in the books would have on the following:
- House Elves
- Giants
- Goblins
- Centaurs
- Squibs
Discuss.

Compare this story with another "hero's quest" story. Contrast the different ways the authors approach various common elements (prophesy, rule of three, final battle, magical artifacts, magic spells, etc.).