A Course on Beedle the Bard

Day 2: The Fountain of Fair Fortune: Class 2

2008-12-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

As you have just read, today's tale is the fountain of fair fortune. I want you to think with in yourself. If you were pulled by the hedge towards the fountain, would you reach out to the nearest person and bring them too? If they were a stranger? Or a friend? What if everyone brought someone else, do you think that they would all have their woes cured? Now remembering that the waters don't have any magical powers at all, how do you think that one person, all alone would be cured of their woes? I want you to think about these things on your own and write a short paper of exactly (and I mean exactly, I'll count them!) fifty words that answers all these questions in your opinion. If you don't finish it by the time that class ends, then it is your homework.

Day 2: The Fountain of Fair Fortune: Class 1

2008-12-30T09:00:00.000-06:00

Please turn to page 20 and read today's tale: The fountain of fair fortune. You have half an hour to read and discuss.

Now it is time for Professor Dumbledore's notes. Page 35 if you will. Read and discuss.

It is time for your first class. Please take your book and head over to the next classroom.

Day 1: The Wizard and the Hopping Pot: Class 4

2008-12-29T14:00:00.000-06:00

As today's tale was the Wizard and the Hopping Pot today's hands on class will be potions. As the first problem presented was warts, a wart-curing potion is in order. Please take out the following ingredients:

Wartcap powder
Nettles
Porcupine quills
Concentrated Dandelion juice
Vinegar
Dried toad skin
Dragon's blood
Fresh mooncalf cream

Take 2 grams dragon's blood and mix it with two tablespoons dandelion juice until it is reconstituted and a deep red brown. Let that sit while you slice the toad skin into thin strips. Next, being careful not to touch it, add 1/8 of a teaspoon of the wartcap powder to the dandelion juice. Set this aside to do the next step. Bring 1 cup of vinegar to a boil and add two stems fresh nettles. Keeping at a boil, drop in five porcupine quills and half of the toad skin strips. Simmer until a purple foam forms on the top. Skim off this foam and add it to the dandelion juice. Now comes a tricky part. Set the bowl of dandelion juice next to your cauldron of vinegar. Slowly add 1/2 a cup mooncalf milk to the dandelion juice. Stir both at the same time in opposite directions, the juice clockwise and the cauldron widdershins for three minutes. When three minutes are done, stop stirring and let settle. When settled, take the cauldron off the heat. Both mixtures should be a light lavendar. Take a spoonful of the vinegar and add it to the juice, stirring slowly. Take another spoonful and do the same. Repeat for ten more spoonfuls. After this, slowly pour the juice/vinegar back into the cauldron. Quickly add the remaining toad skins. Let sit for three minutes while you find a metal pan that is about two or three inches deep and can hold the whole mixture. Pour the mixture in the cauldron into the pan. As it touches the metal it will solidify into the consitancy of butter. To use, spread a goodly amount of this butter onto the afflicted area and bandage it in a soft cloth. Within three hours the warts will disappear. It is best stored in a metal lined glass container.

That is all. Please leave me a sample of your potion and exit the classroom.

Day 1: The Wizard and the Hopping Pot: Class 3

2008-12-29T13:00:00.000-06:00

Please turn to page 11 for this class and reread Professor Dumbledore's notes.

Professor Dumbledore does a good job pointing out the opinions of the time. While witchcraft persecution has significantly been reduced and replaced by disbelief, muggle hatred lives on. It is important that tolerance is taught instead. If muggles are going to turn their reactions to neutral, we should be able to too or by not prove that we are an inferior race. They can forgive and forget while we can't.

Your project is to design a poster that promotes muggle tolerance. Use the wizard's hopping pot as a main theme of the poster. These posters will be hung in this classroom for all to see.

Day 1: The Wizard and the Hopping Pot: Class 2

2008-12-29T10:00:00.000-06:00

May I have your attention please! At the reading at the beginning of today you read the Wizard and the Hopping Pot. This tale advocates good deeds for your neighbors and turning bad to good. Many people think today that muggles would be more forgiving of witchcraft and that we should remember the wizard's pot and help our neighbours. Others, however, think that muggles are getting along fine without us and will continue to burn us if they are helped. Please look over the tale and form your own opinoin. Validate it in writing and post it in the comments for all to read. Read over others opinions and see if they change your own. That is your class work and homework

Day 1: The Wizard and the Hopping Pot: Class 1

2008-12-29T09:00:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone! Here is how this course will work. Each day will start out with a reading. You will have the opportunity to read the day's tale and discuss it with your neighbour. You will then be asked to read the section written by Professor Dumbledore. Afterwards, there will be a minimum of three lessons. The first will relate to the tale, the second will relate to Professor Dumbledore's comments and the third will be a hands on lesson related to the tale: i.e. today's hands on lesson will be a potions lesson because that is what the Hopping pot is about. Also, the comments section will always be open to discussion about the current lesson. All class work and homework should be sent by owl to homeschoolhogwarts@gmail.com.

So please open your books and turn to page 1, The Wizard and the Hopping Pot. You have half and hour to read and discuss.

Now please go to page 11 for the notes. Again, you have half an hour to read and discuss.

No homework! Off you go to the second class.

Supply List

2008-12-28T11:57:00.006-06:00

A copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard
is required for this course! You are encouraged to check out your copy from your local library or buy it here: The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Other supplies recommended but not required are listed below. As always, libraries are encouraged!

Quill pens
Ink
Parchment (lots of it!)
Cauldron
Wand
Bowl

Potion ingredients
Wartcap powder
Nettles
Porcupine quills
Concentrated Dandelion juice
Vinegar
Dried toad skin
Dragon's blood
Fresh mooncalf cream