A Summer Lull

Lately, we've had no letters from Hogwarts.  It must be hot where they are too.  I know it's been too hot here to do much of anything.  Maybe the wizards and witches need to take a little siesta in the heat.

So we've been keeping up with the few lessons we have.  Our plants in the garden are growing like crazy!  It's so exciting to watch them grow. 

Hopefully, our teachers will send us some new lessons soon - we are so excited!!!  Maybe it will be potions . . . that sounds really exciting!

PotterMore - JK Rowling's new website

Pottermore

If you haven't seen this new website from JK Rowling, yet, you must check it out.  Watch and listen to JK tell about "Pottermore."  It sounds so exciting!!! 

We're registered . . . Are you?

Our First Assignments

Last week our first assignments arrived from Hogwarts.  It sure seems like Owl Mail is soooo slow!  It's very hard to wait for those Owl Posts to arrive!

The first assignment was from Dumbledore.  He told us about the most famous wizard of all - Merlin.  Merlin taught knights all about knightly duty and honor.  He created a Knight's Creed for them to memorize and meditate on.  Dumbledore passed on the Knight's Code to us, as wizards are and were the Knights of the Magical Realm.  We were to copy it four times and then send our best copy back to him.  Once we did this we would earn one house point.  If we could memorize it, we would earn 5 house points!

The second assignment came from Professor Sprout.  She told us that she had heard that we had put in a huge garden and was very pleased about it.  She asked us to go and pick one plant in the garden to take care of.  We should put a ribbon around it in the color of our House.  Then she sent us a Herbology Notebook.  In it we are to measure our plant every week on Tuesday.  We should also write down what it looks like, whether it has flowers or fruit, if it changed from last week and other ineteresting things about it.  Thing #1 chose a tomato plant, Thing #2 chose a strawberry plant, Thing #3 chose a sunflower and Thing #4 chose a bean plant.  We're looking forward to seeing how they grow and change over the summer!

Making a Quill Pen

So every witch and wizard needs an awesome quill pen to write with, right?  But who has the patience to actually trim a feather and dip it in ink over and over and over to write with?  Certainly not my little wizards!  Hence, the "fake" quill pen.  Super easy to make and cute to look at.

Start with a black ball point pen.  Buy a package of fake feathers . . . we got all kinds of fancy colored ones so we could have a different color for each child.  You will also need black electrical tape or florist tape.

(I forgot to take pictures again!)

Start by putting a feather against the pen.  Place a small part of tape over it  and start wrapping it on.  Wrap all the way around the pen, down to the tip.  It usually works to do this at an angle.  Leave the tip and the end of the pen uncovered (the end is the "refilling" part.).

Voila!  A quill pen that never needs sharpening and doesn't need an inkpot.

Butterbeer = Epic Fail!

We finally got around to trying out Hagrid's recipe for Butterbeer.  Thing #1 was so excited to try it out.  She helped prepare the recipe.  It sure smelled and looked really good.

Problem was?

She didn't like the taste.  At all.

I have to admit it was a bit sweet for me.  Good, but way sweet.  We decided that perhaps Hagrid was cheated by the owner of the Three Broomsticks and that it wasn't really the "real" Butterbeer recipe!

Thing #2 thought it was really good though.

Thing #3 didn't like it much, either.

Thing #4 took one taste and spit it out in the sink.

Hagrid's recipe for Butterbeer?

Epic Fail.

(hmmm, not sure why the photo is sideways.  Oops!)

Registration Comlete!

Yesterday, a letter arrived from Professor Dumbledore telling us that the registraion process was now complete and that we are all students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Summer Correspondence Course!

So exciting!!

Unfortunately, the start of the term had to be delayed an entire week (possibly due to Momma and Daddy wizard not planning enough prep time).  Dumbledore told us that a small incident with You-Know-Who had caused a delay.  We're a little disappointed, but anxiously waiting those first assignments!

Here's what Dumbledore had to say:

Dear students,

We are pleased to inform you that the registration process is now completed.  You are now enrolled at Hogwarts School of  Witchcraft and Wizardry Summer Correspondence Course.

Please keep a copy of your class list handy for your reference.

• Ancient Runes - Guest Instructor Bill Weasley
• Arithmancy & Logic - Professor Vector
• Astronomy - Professor Sinistra
• Care of Magical Creatures - Guest Instructor Rubeus Hagrid
• Charms and Spells - Professor Flitwick
• Defense Against the Dark Arts - Professor Lupin
• Herbology - Professor Sprout
• House Elf Home Economics - Guest Instructor Dobby the Elf
• Muggle Studies - Professor Burbage
• Potions - Professor Snape
• Physical Education - Madame Hootch
• Transfiguration - Professor McGonagall
• Wizard Literature - Professor Waters
• Quill Writing - Professor Dumbledore

This is quite a heavy courseload, but we are sure you will handle it with utmost care and attention.  You will notice we have several guest instructors this term.  We expect you will give them the same respect due any professor.

Remember also that you are working towards earning house points.  Your parents ave been given house jars and will be reporting to Hogwarts.  Be sure to keep about your choires and assignments.  Keep earning those points!  Check your owl post often to assignments. Your supplies will arrive shortly - due to a small incident with You-Know-Who, the start of the term has been postponed one week until June 20th.  I know you are disappointed, but keep up your chin.  Assignments will arrive beginning that day.

Good luck and have a magica summer!

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster: Hogwarts

Hagrid's Response

Once the children wrote their notes to Hagrid, we sent them back via Owl Post.  We waited for a very, very long time (almost a whole day!) before a response came.  Here's what Hagrid said:

To meh frinds,

Thankee fer the note about yer animal choice.  Yeh did a great job o' telling meh how yeh'd take care o' such a frind.  Professor Dumbledore says I kin send yeh yr pet once yeh've earned 10 house points.  Whin I hear from the 'eads o' 'ousholds that yeh've gotten yer points, I'll send yeh yer pet o' choice by an owl.  So's git workin' frinds!

While yeh wait I thought yeh mite enjoy a bit o' butterbeer.  It's a favorite drink o' miny Hogwarts students.  I won this 'ere recipe off teh owner of teh Three Broomsticks down in Hogsmede 'at other day.  Share it with yer mim and mebee she'll 'elp yeh make ome up.

Enjoy yer treat and keep workin' 'ard at earning those house points.  Then a lit'le frind will be on it's way to yeh in a jiffy!

Yer frind,
Hagrid

Then he shared the Butterbeer recipe with us.  We still have to try it out - Momma had to go to the store and ge the ingredients.  But we'll be sure to let you know how it tastes!

In the meantime, we're working on earning some house points.  Some of the children are working harder than others . . . I'm thinking a letter from Professor McGonagall "yelling" at them for not doing chores might be just the thing.

Choosing a Familiar Animal Pet

Yesterday's Owl Post contained a letter from Hagrid to all the children here.  In it he asks the children to choose which animal they would like as a pet and tell him why.  He wants them to tell him how they would take care of it as well.  When they return the letters, he will consider their request and ask Professor Dumbledore if and when he can send them along.

They can choose from an owl, a cat, a turtle, a toad or a rat.

Thing #1 chose an owl.

Thing #2 chose an owl.

Thing #3 also chose an owl.

Thing #4 chose a cat.

Now where in the world are we going to find THREE owls!???!!

Hopefully Hallmark isn't sold out of their graduation owls. 

**********

Writing as Hagrid is a special challenge.  That particular accent and tone is hard to come across on paper.  I pretty much dropped all "H"'s, made you into yer or yeh, me into meh and dropped some letter from words.

Here's the text from Hagrid's first note:

Dear Frinds,

"Owdy!  Hagrid 'ere.  Professor McGonagall tells me that yer new students 'ere at Hogwarts.

I'm the caretaker 'ere and also git to take care 'o the animals.

Did yeh know that each student 'ere at Hogwarts gits to pick their own pet animal to take care 'o?

So write meh a lit'le note and let meh know what kind 'o animal yeh mite want.  Yeh can pick from a frog, a turtle, an owl or a cat. Tell meh why yeh mite want that there particular animal and how yeh would take care 'o it.

Send meh yer note from the Owl Post and when I git to readin' it and decide, I'll send one along to yeh.

Yer Frind,

Hagrid

What Our Letters Said

I've had several people ask me what exactly the acceptance letters said.  So here it is!

(Hogwarts Crest)

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Summer Correspondence Course 2011

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,Supreme Mugwump,

International Confed.  of Wizards)

Dear Mr./Miss ________________________

We are pleased to inform you thatyou have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the summer 2011 term.  You will find that the usual list of necessary books and equiptment is not enclosed within.  Due to the shortness of the session, all magical items will be sent to you via Owl Post.  Most other items cannot be found on Diagon Alley, therefore your proessors shall let you know if there is something you need from a Muggle shop.  I hope I need not remind you to behave appropriately when out amongst the Muggles.

You home has been connected to the Floo Network via your kitchen sink.  A bit unconventional, I agree.  Mr. Weasley has also managed to charm your home computer and you will be able to finish some assignments that way.

As pleased as we are to use Muggle technology to improve contact with wizards living in the Muggle world, we are a place of tradition.  It is because of this that we ask you to place an Owl Post stop at your home.  Please check to see that your sign is in good shape and that your Owl Post vessel is free from spiders.

Term begins on 13 June 2011.  All your lessons will arrive via Owl Post from your professors.  Be sure to complete any assignments in a timely manner.  Your first assignments will be arriving shortly.  Please check your Owl Post often.

Yours, Sincerely,

Prof. Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

I downloaded a font called "Hogwart's Wizard" from Mugglenet.com and used that.  They also have some other neat fonts there.  I printed it on regular computer paper and then made "parchment" paper as described in another post.  I goggled "owl post" images and found one I liked.  I printed that on the back side at the bottom.  Rolled each letter up like a scroll and tied with orange and green ribbons (only because that was what I had!). 

Voila!

Harry Potter Sweet Treats

In honor of the beginning of our Hogwart's Summer School adventures, here are a couple recipes for some Harry Potter treats that I've found. 

Yummy, yummy, yummy! 

(source)

Don't those Butterbeer Cupcakes look super yummy?  Can't wait till it cools down enough to turn on the oven and try these out!

And if Butterbeer's your thing, here's a recipe from Mr. CrazyLife's cousin.  It's a tasty treat!

 

Harry Potter's Butterbeer

1 c club soda or cream soda

1/2 c butterscotch syrup (ice cram topping)

1/2 Tbs butter

Measure butterscotch and butter into a glass 2 cup measuring cup.  Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until syrup is bubbly and butter is completely incorporated.  Stir and cool for about 30 seconds.  Slowly mix in club soda/cream soda.  Mixture will fizz quite a bit.  Serve in two coffee mugs or small glasses: a perfectly warm Hogwarts treat for two!

Also good with vanilla ice cream mixed in ala Root Beer Float style.

Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans

Buy a bag of your favorite Jelly Belly favorites.  Mix them all up.  Place in brown paper bags and tie the top with hemp string.  Then print and glue a Bertie Bott's label to the front of the bag;  There is a neat one here.

Edible Magic Wands

Take large pretzel rods and dip the ends into melted chocolate.  You could use plan white and milk chocolate, but it might be fun to use some colored chocolates as well.  Then before the chocolate hardens, roll them in baking sprinkles.

Check out on Muggle.net Rosmerta's Recipe Index.  Lots of fun Harry Potter Recipes there.

For more ideas on Harry Potter Sweet Treats, try a google search for that phrase or for wizard treats or something like that.  Birthday party sites have some great ideas too.



Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Syltherin

Yesterday's Owl Post contained letters for each of the children from the Head Boy or Head Girl of the House they had been sorted into.

If you know anything about Harry Potter, you know that there are four houses at Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slythin.

And if you know us, we luckily have four children.  Coincidental, no?

(And Momma only had to doctor up one sorting hat quiz to make it work!)

Thing #1 was sorted into Gryffindor or "Grufflegrinder" as she calls it.  She was so excited that she squealed - again!  I'm lovin' it!

Thing #2 was sorted into Slytherin.  He tends to like things on the dark side, like Darth Vadar (is it because of the cookies?), so it seems a  fitting match.

Thing #3 was sorted into Hufflepuff.  Another good fit.

Thing #4 was sorted into Ravenclaw.

Each of their letters gave them important information, such as house colors and symbols.  And even more important information like the summer term passwords.

It also told them to work hard at earning house points.  They said that the parents (that would be Momma and Daddy CrazyLife here) already knew about house points and would be reporting to each head of household the number of points earned or lost.  The letters urged them to work hard at schoolwork, do their chores and play lots of wizard games to earn points.

Also in the Owl Post were four jars with ribbons that corresponded to the house colors.  In the jars were "magic" rocks.  The rocks will help keep track of points.

Thing #1 tried to tell me that they didn't start the point jars until the 13th when the summer term starts, but I managed to convince her that Professor McGonagall had sent me an email (via enchanted Muggle computers, of course) telling me that points started as soon as the jars arrived.



Making "Parchment" Paper

One important aspect of life at Hogwarts is that all correspondence takes place on what my kids call "old-fashioned" paper.  That would be parchment paper to the rest of us.

Now, you can always go out to Staples or some other stationary supply store and buy yourself some parchment paper to use . . . but where's the fun in that?

It's much more fun to make your own parchment paper . . . and it's really simple to do too!

Step 1 - Print on regular computer paper whatever you want. 

Step 2 - Fill a baking tray or similar pan with very strong black tea.

Step 3 - Place your papers into the tea and press down until they are all covered.

Step 4 - Let them sit for at least an hour in the tea solution.

Step 5 - Remove papers from tea and blot dry with paper towels.

Step 6 - Place on clean baking tray and put in 200 degree oven for 5 minutes or until dry and slightly crispy.

Step 7 - Step back and enjoy your work!

Acceptance Letters

Today, we came home from school and saw this:

Looks like the Owl Post paid us a visit!  How they got inside our house, we're not really sure.  But what a suprise!

Inside were 8 scrolls.  Four of them were acceptance letter to the Summer 2011 term at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  The other four were our first assignments: a Sorting Hat quiz.

Here is Thing #4 proudly showing off her acceptance letter.

Thing #1 reading the directions for the Sorting Hat quiz.  She decided that after the leters were retuned to Hogwarts, they probably put the quizes inside the Sorting Hat and then it decided which house to put them in.

 

Thing #2 taking his quiz.

Once we finished our Sorting Hat Quizzes, we rolled them back up and put them in the Owl Post box we made so the owls could take them back to Hogwarts and the Sorting Hat. We could hardly wait to see what houses we ended up in!



Getting Started - the "Pre-Term"

Before getting started with our Summer School, I did a lot of internet searching and book reading and planning.  I wanted to have an idea of where we were going and what we were going to do.  If you plan on doing your own Hogwarts Summer School program, I suggest googling terms such as "Hogwarts Home School" or "Hogwarts Summer School" or even "Harry Potter ideas" or "Harry Potter crafts."  Things like "Wizard science" are good too.  There are soooo many great ideas out there that it's so easy to find things you like and adapt them for your program.

Some of the sites I used when planning were:

• Hogwarts Homeschool - this does not appear to be an active site as the last post was on July 16, 2010 , but there are lots of good ideas and links here
• Hogwarts Summer Correspondence School Yahoo Group - this is still an active group, although most of the information is in the links and files.  There are separate groups for each "classroom" which makes it easy to find information, although a bit cumbersome to join all the groups.
• Hogwarts Homeschool on Facebook - this appears to be related to the Hogwarts Homeschool above, but has more recent posts and more great ideas
• Mugglenet - TONS of great ideas and Harry Potter information
• Dirt and Sunshine -  A Harry Potter party planning page with different downloads and printables

There are many other blogs, sites and more that have great ideas.  Search and be amazed!

Before you get started with Owl Posts arriving, it's probably a good idea to get an outline of what you want to do and exactly how "into" this project you are going to get.  I mean, you could go all out and make robes and get wands and all that.  Or you could just pick a few experiments and have fun.

I'm kind of in-between.  We're going all out on some things . . . such as Mr. CrazyLife making wands on his lathe.  But we're not going to do the whole robes/hats/broomstick/cauldron thing.  Enough to keep the magic going, but not enough that I'm going to go crazy (well, crazier than normal anyhow) putting it all together.

My outline for the first week of our Hogwarts journey looks a bit like this (consider it a "pre-term" or getting ready and organized period):

Day 1 - Acceptance Letters from Professor McGonagall and Sorting Hat questionaires arrive via Owl Post.  Kids fill out quizes and make an Owl Post box.  Return quizes to McGonagall via the Owl Post and wait for results.

Day 2 - Letters from the Head Boy or Head Girl of each house arrive (luckily I have four children and there are four houses - I only had to "doctor" up one quiz to make it work out!) welcoming the children to their house and giving information on house colors, symbols and passwords.  They encourgage the kids to work hard earning points by doing chores, finishing school assignments and participating in wizard games.  It tells them that their parents will be reporting points to the heads of houses.  Also included in the Owl Post this day are jars with different colored ribbons - one for each house - and "magic" colored rocks (decorative glass pebbles) to help keep track of house points.

Day 3 - A little note from Hagrid arrives via the Owl Post.  He asks each child to write him a "lit'le note" to tell him what kind of familiar animal they would like to have.  The note has to tell why they want that animal and how they would take care of it.  Return notes to Hagrid via Owl Post.

Day 4 - A return note from Hagrid, telling the children that he has considered their requests and after talking to Professor Dumbledore, he thinks he can fulfill them.  However, the animals cannot be sent out until they have earned 10 points for their house.  (this is so that I can get the children to pick up bedrooms, etc during the first week out of school without too much of a fight and it gives me time to find some stuffed animals of choice!)

Day 5 - A letter from Professor McGonagall telling them that the registration process is complete and giving them a "class schedule" listing what classes they will have and who the professors are.  It will also instruct them to make a Summer Term Binder to keep all their correspondence and assignments in.  They will have 3 days to finish the binder before the term starts and can earn extra house points for creativity on the binder.  The letter will tell them that they should be on the lookout for a post containing all the supplies they will need for the term.

Day 6 or 7 - A package containing a magic wand (day depends on when it gets finished!) and a letter from Mr. Ollivandar telling them about the magical properties of their wand - what type of wood it is made from, what the core is and how long it is.  There is also a wand registration form they must fill out and return to the Ministry of Magic.

Day 7 - Today the Owl Post will bring each child a package containing supplies for the summer term.  In addition to the wand, there will be two "Quill" pens (made from pens/pencil and fake feathers), a cauldron (or black bowl) of some sort and some copies of books they will need.

Day 8 - Summer Term begins and the first assignemnt arrives!

Disclaimer

The information on this blog is in no way connected to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, Warner Brothers or any other official entity.  It is an unofficial site and entirely for educational/entertainment purposes of my own family and friends.  Rights to characters or their images is neither claimed nor implied.

Most of the ideas on this blog are of my own creation.  Some ideas were found elsewhere on the web and I have tried to give credit where I can.  If  you see something here that should be credited to you, please let me know and I will add the citation. 

I hope that covers it!

We're Going To Hogwart's!

Every summer I try to find something fun to do with the kids.  Something that wil keep us busy and also keep them reading and practicing "school" things.  Sometimes we've done summer camps.  One year we did a reading challenge.  We attend summer events at the library and parks.

But this summer . . . . . We're going to Hogwarts!!!!!

Thing #1 recently got into reading the Harry Potter books.  She's booked through them :) at a record pace.  And now Thing #2 and #3 are reading the first book out loud with me.  They love the magic and mystery of them.  And they thing (and I can't argue with this) that Hogwarts would be the coolest school ever to attend!

Later today, when the children come home from school, they will find a magic "Owl Post" tube containing acceptance letters for each of them to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Summer Correspondence School.  The letter details what they need to do as students and advises them to be on the lookout for more Owl Posts with their assignments.

The first assignment is also going to be in the container - a quiz to fill out so they can be sorted into Houses.  They will work to earn points for their Houses all summer and the house with the most points (or more likely all the children!) will earn a special House Prize at the end of the summer.

The second assignment will come later this week - a note from Hagrid asking them to "write him a lit'le note telling meh what kind o' animal yeh'd like to take care 'o."  They will have to detail howthey will take care of their animal and can choose from: an owl, a turtle, a rat, a cat or a frog.  A few days later (or whenever Momma can find stuffed animals of choice) Hagrid will send them some animals to take care of.

Assignments will follow over the course of the summer from various professors - all by Owl Post.  The letters will be on "parchment" (regular paper dyed light brown in a tea bath), rolled up and tied with a ribbon; different colors for different professors.  The class schedule allows for the study of the followin subjects: Astronomy, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, Quill Writing, Spell Writing, and Herbology.  We might even have a game or two of Quiddich!

Mr. CrazyLife is as excited about this as I am.  He's going to help Mr. Ollivander and spin up a couple of magic wands for us.  :)

This is going to be fun!!!!!!