Etymology: The Language of Harry Potter

CLASS DESCRIPTION
How did J.K Rowling come up with the names for all her characters? How can the root-words in each spell or potion reveal a little about what it might do? What actual stories and events from world history and mythology helped to inspire Harry’s wizarding world? We will investigate all these questions and find out more about the secrets behind the novels, all while studying elements of plot and storytelling to make language and literature come alive!

This 10-week course will help students unlock the mysteries of the English language using examples found in the Harry Potter series! This course focuses heavily on reading and writing, so be prepared to cover the first three novels in the series and complete short writing assignments along the way.

Although this is mainly an English/Language Arts course, we will also look into other background information on the Harry Potter series, including everything from History and Popular Culture to Ancient Legends and Mythology.

CLASS FORMAT
No live classes—view lessons on YOUR schedule. In general, expect 1.5-2.5 hours to work through the lesson plan each week, and an additional 2-5 hours working on assignments (it really depends what assignment your child chooses to do and how they manage their time). For classes with two levels, the material is the same for both—the depth of the assignments differs. Younger students should usually be placed in Level 1. Older students, or younger students who want more of a challenge, should be placed in Level 2.

Each lesson consists of a fully narrated PowerPoint presentation with images and videos to enhance the topics. Students will have access to our learning management system, Canvas, for viewing their lesson, printing worksheets, taking quizzes, viewing/submitting assignments, participating in discussions, and viewing grades/feedback. Read more details about class format.