Welcome back! We trust you had a most magical holiday break. As much as we love to extend the merry-making, it’s time to get back to work.
This month our theme is “China”! With such a long, rich history, China lends itself to Hogwarts with little Potterfication.
Some of the things we’ll be studying this month:
Transfig: Paper lanterns
Dragon Study: Asian Lung
Divination: Reading tea leaves
Muggle Studies: A trip to Chinatown.
Special lesson from Dumbledore: the Phoenix
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Chinese New Year (the year of the ox) falls on the 26th of January this year. If you’re lucky enough to have a Chinatown near you, find out when they’re having their parade, & add that to your calendar. Loud parades not your thing? Don’t be sad at missing out, because the celebrations generally last for days – there is sure to be something for your family.
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Websites: Chinese New Year, Dragon Study
Books: Happy, Happy Chinese New Year!
If you follow any of the book links, then scroll down to see Amazon’s suggestions, you’ll find loads of books on the same topic. We cannot tell you how many amazing books we’ve stumbled upon this way.
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As soon as lessons get completed, we’ll have them up for you to use. In the meantime, see what you can come up with on your own. Are your students teeny? If so, focus on Chinese crafts & food. Older kids will enjoy both of those, but will get so much out of all China’s history has to offer. Definitely look into all the inventions that hail from China! Perhaps the head of a Chinese Wizarding school could send some lessons? A cultural exchange project?
Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
~Kat.
4 comments
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Thursday, 1 January, 2009 at 10:53 am
Amanda
Don’t forget Astronomy: the Chinese calendar! My sister’s into Chinese Astrology, so she’s always explaining the different personality types based on the year, day and time you were born — the kids love it!
I’ll think we’ll join you for Chinese studies this month!
Tuesday, 20 January, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Christina
Well today we did lots of Hogwarts Homeschool. We did Charms, Muggle Studies and Honeydukes Home Economics. The cooking did not turn out as directed but it was still fun and could still eat it so a success. Trying to think up ways to Potterfy Valentine’s Day so any and all suggestions welcome. Amanda-I’m going to try and do a Potter Valentine’s Day party. Want to come on up the hill???
Wednesday, 21 January, 2009 at 5:22 pm
hogwartshomeschool
amanda~ i’m happy to hear you’re enjoying studying china as well!
christina~ valentine’s day was in ‘chamber of secrets’, so that may spark some ideas for you – at the very least it will make you laugh. you can study cupid (mythology), or make candy (potions). i like your idea of a party. what i would do is research the holiday & its history, and take notes of what sticks out as possible things to study. once you have a short list, you’ll find ideas pop into your head. let us know what you come up with!
Sunday, 25 January, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Christina
I’ve started hunting. We are going to play two games. Taking yarn and putting in the shape of a valentine, the kids will be doing exercise inside and outside of the yarn valentine shape. Kinda a more difficult Simon Says game. The second game is each kid writes their name on a valentine along with a silly exercise. I pull each valentine out of the jar and the kid leads the silly exercise. We are also going to make pretzels in the shape of a heart. We are going to make a heart shape container using paper plates to put valentines in that the kids are going to exchange. Also the kids are going to guess how many conversation hearts are in a jar. Of course, the kids are going to exchange valentines. I think this will be enough for a 2 hour party. Plan to hunt in Hogwarts materials for some potions recipes. Going to have another look at Chamber of Secrets..don’t remember it in there but always looking for a good laugh (: Thanks for the direction and laugh!