Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

Kara Lynn Anderson writes, “What is most in need of study is how children and teenagers think and feel about just this: a book which they made popular, which is not dismissed as just ‘kid's stuff,’ but that their parents and teachers enjoy as much as they do.” Considering Anderson’s point, what makes a book good? Is the criteria the same for children, teenagers, and adults?

Teaching Suggestion: This discussion invites students into the world of reviewing a novel, offering them a chance to evaluate its qualities and express their opinions before and while reading. It might be helpful to create a list of good qualities, then post it as resource students can refer to and review as they read the book throughout the unit.

• "Harry Potter and the Susceptible Child Audience" by Anderson - article analyzing the role of children in reading and advocating for literature they like
• Short video by The Atlantic with different perspectives on what makes a great story

Short Activity

Write a short poem about what home means to you. What makes a home? What should a good home offer a person?

Teaching Suggestion:

Home can mean different things to different people. For Harry Potter, home seems to be much more Hogwarts and his friends than his physical house with his uncle, aunt, and cousin. Students might brainstorm by free-writing or drawing, then sharing with peers to see how their definitions are alike or different. Some students might have multiple definitions. Discussing when or where they personally feel most at home could help them expand on their initial ideas.

• Merriam-Webster: dictionary definitions of home
• “What Is Home?” - New York Times article reflecting on home and what it means (Subscription may be needed to view.)

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

If you could have any magical ability, what would you like to be able to do? Consider everyday tasks that could be made easier, problems that could be solved, or something that would simply be fun!

Teaching Suggestion:

Since the book is filled with magic and has become iconic in the magical canon, this prompt can offer students a way into the setting of the novel. Giving students the chance to let their minds flow free and creatively imagine themselves in the world of magic can provide them with better context and a more extensive imagination before reading. Compiling a class list of ideas can be a resource to refer to during reading or for a creative writing extension project.

• This historical article includes photographs and history about the inspiration behind magical items in Harry Potter books.
• “Magical Eraser” is a poem by Shel Silverstein about one magical ability.

Differentiation Suggestion: Some student groups might benefit from a class discussion to brainstorm a list of everyday tasks or problems that might have magical solutions. For English language learners or learners interested in communicating through visual images, drawing the magical ability could be an alternative option.