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Activities to do While Reading the Harry Potter Series

I decided to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone aloud this year. My kids are already huge Harry Potter fans just from the movies, I thought it was time to introduce the books. My 3rd grader is loving pointing out all the differences between the book and the movie. In this post I share several activities you can do with your kids as you read the book.



Hogwarts Acceptance Letter

Before you begin reading, send your kids a Hogwarts acceptance letter. You can find a printable one here: Hogwarts Acceptance Letter 

Make A Wand

We did this activity after reading the Diagon Alley chapter when Harry buys his wand.

For this activity you will need:
-A wooden rod the size of a wand
-Hot glue and hot glue gun
-Black or brown acrylic paint
-Metalic or glittery paint pens

Using your hot glue gun make a handle and whatever design or texture you want on your wooden rod. You can build up several layers of glue to make a thick handle. This part may need to be done by an adult depending on your child's age and ability.



Once the hot glue is dry, paint the wand black or brown with the acrylic paint and let dry.



When the wand is dry, let your child add detail to the wand with paint pens.



Sorting Hat Online Quiz


Find out what house you and your child would be sorted into with this fun quiz: http://www.playbuzz.com/emilyz14/the-hogwarts-sorting-quiz-pottermore-version

Color Changing Bubbling Potion

After the chapter about potions class, we did a fun color changing potion experiment.

For this activity you will need:
-Vinegar
-Baking soda
-Water
-Red cabbage leaf powder
-A clear vial/test tube or clear cup or jar
-A few cups for mixing ingredients
-A spoon

In a cup, mix a spoonful of baking soda into some water. Add an 1/8 tsp of red cabbage leaf powder and watch it turn color.

In another cup, mix some vinegar with an 1/8 tsp of red cabbage leaf powder and watch it change a different color.

Pour a small amount of the baking soda mixture into your vile, test tube, or clear cup. Add a small amount of the vinegar solution and watch it fizz and change color again!



Make A Spell Book

I had my daughter make a spell book to keep track of spells and what they do as we came across them in the reading. It was a great way to sneak in some handwriting practice.

For this activity you will need:
-Construction paper
-Several pages of lined paper
-A hole punch
-Yarn
-A pen

Start by folding your construction paper in half (we used brown to look like an old fashioned book cover).

Cut your lined paper in half to make smaller pages that will fit inside your construction paper cover.

Fit the pages inside your construction paper cover and hole punch two holes along the folded side of the construction paper and through the lined paper inside.

Thread the yarn through the holes and tie to bind the book.

Let your child write "Book of Spells" on the front and decorate.

As you come upon spells in your reading, have your child record the spell and what it does in their spell book.




Make A Quill Pen

This one's easy.  Just get some large size craft feathers and hot glue them to pens. Your kid's will love writing with them!

Play Table Quidditch

For rules and instructions for building your own table top quidditch game, check out this post from From Farm To Fete.


If you enjoyed this post, check out:

-8 Activities Inspired By Farmer Boy

-9 Activities Inspired By On The Banks Of Plum Creek


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