Creating a Magical Homeschool Experience: Hogwarts at Home with Harry Potter and Whimsical Workbooks
Homeschooling offers the incredible opportunity to tailor education to your child’s interests and passions. For middle and high school students who adore the world of Harry Potter, what better way to engage them than by recreating the enchanting atmosphere of Hogwarts at home? By weaving the magic of the Harry Potter series into your homeschool, you can turn learning into an exciting adventure.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can bring the wizarding world to life through a unique homeschool curriculum, including the use of the Whimsical Workbook Series from booksnwhimsy.com, designed to add a touch of magic to your educational journey.
1. Sorting Hat Ceremony: Begin with a Bang
Start your magical homeschool year with a Sorting Hat ceremony. This fun activity sets the tone for the year ahead and immerses your children in the Hogwarts experience. You can create a DIY Sorting Hat or find an online quiz to sort each family member into one of the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin.
Here is the sorting hat we have-https://amzn.to/3Azr2ZZ
Once sorted, incorporate house points into your daily routine as a way to encourage good habits, academic achievements, and acts of kindness. This friendly competition keeps your homeschool dynamic and engaging.
We used decorated vases with each house and little cotton colored puff balls for points. This year we will be using craft paper with the number of points written on them as requested by my kids.
2. Magical Subjects: Tailor-Made Curriculum
Design your curriculum to reflect the subjects taught at Hogwarts, while still meeting educational standards. Here are some ideas:
- Transfiguration/Wand Study/Owl Quest/Rock Quest (Science & Biology): Explore the natural world, learning about animals, plants, and ecosystems. Use hands-on experiments and observations to understand how living things change and adapt—just like the magical transformations in the books.
Books/items we use for this-
Trees/wand study:
https://amzn.to/3MrR18g
Rocks: https://amzn.to/4dENjUO
Owl Pellets- https://amzn.to/4e0Dtg4
- Potion Quest (Chemistry): Conduct exciting experiments in the kitchen or a home lab, creating concoctions while learning about chemical reactions, mixtures, and solutions. The Whimsical Workbook Series will cleverly disguise chemistry lessons, making learning both educational and magical.
Books we love-
https://amzn.to/46ZHu21
Must have experiments book- https://amzn.to/3TakK9F
Another amazing experiments book- https://amzn.to/3ADAhIB
Beakers Set- https://amzn.to/4gdc5gK
Couldrons- https://amzn.to/4e2C88b
- Defense Against the Dark Arts:
Bible Quest(Bible Study): Study the Bible and arm yourself with scripture.
We are using this book for the scripture passage and devotional. https://amzn.to/4dRo6Xi
- Herbology:
Herb Quest (Botany): Engage in gardening projects, growing herbs, and flowers. This hands-on subject teaches biology, responsibility, and even helps you create a home apothecary.
https://amzn.to/3T5W966
https://amzn.to/3Mp5y4W
- Care of Magical Creatures:
Creature Quest (Cryptozoology & Animal Science): Delve into the study of animals, both real and mythical. Research and create reports or presentations on creatures from both the magical and non-magical world.
Books- https://amzn.to/47blBg7
Game- https://amzn.to/3XnvdkN
Coloring book- https://amzn.to/3Z3d0u2
- Charms & Spells:
Spell Quest/Letter Quest/Lit Quest(Language Arts & Vocabulary): Enhance your child’s vocabulary and language skills through the creation of spells. The Whimsical Workbook Series includes fun spelling activities that blend magical elements with traditional learning. You will also practice writing letters. Lets not forget reading each of the novels while completing literary analysis and then enjoying film study.
HP Wax Seal Kit-https://amzn.to/4765pwt
Additionally we offer Character Quest that will guide kids though studying etiquette and manners, good character traits and more. You will need this book- https://amzn.to/475AQHs
Finally we have 2 Math Quest books- Perfect for practicing math problems.
Mundane History Quest- Where we learn world history. We love Usborne for their phenomenal world history book. Ask me how to get the one we use!
Mythology we are also using- https://amzn.to/3X5LM30
Wizard Doodle Quest- Drawing and doodle fun with prompts.
3. Hogwarts Classroom Atmosphere: Transform Your Learning Space
Turn your homeschool area into a cozy, magical Hogwarts classroom. Add elements like floating candles, magical posters, and spellbooks to inspire creativity and imagination. Use house colors to decorate different areas, making each subject feel like a journey to a different part of the castle.
Consider setting up a “Great Hall” for meals and discussions, where you can enjoy Harry Potter-themed snacks while diving into deep conversations. The physical transformation of your space will help your children step into their roles as young witches and wizards, making learning feel more like an adventure.
4. Whimsical Workbook Series: Enhance the Magic
The Whimsical Workbook Series from booksnwhimsy.com is the perfect companion for your Hogwarts-inspired homeschool. These workbooks are designed to captivate your child’s imagination while providing rigorous academic content. Each workbook is filled with activities that blend the magical world of Harry Potter with educational objectives, making learning both fun and meaningful.
From math puzzles that resemble different symbols from HP to creative writing prompts inspired by the Harry Potter universe, these workbooks offer a treasure trove of resources that can be seamlessly integrated into your homeschool curriculum.
5. Magical Field Trips & Activities: Learning Beyond the Books
Don’t limit your magical homeschool to just the classroom. Plan field trips and activities that echo the adventures found in the Harry Potter series.
- Visit a local botanical garden for a real-life Herbology lesson.
- Go on a nature hike to search for “magical creatures” (wildlife observation).
- Attend a local astronomy night to study the stars, just like in Astronomy class at Hogwarts.
- Host a Quidditch match (or a non-flying version) in your backyard, blending physical education with the magic of Harry’s favorite sport.
6. Wizarding Exams Optional: A Fun Take on Assessments
Wrap up each term with “O.W.L.s” (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) or “N.E.W.T.s” (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests). Create quizzes or projects based on the material covered, but keep the tone fun and light. These assessments can be used to track progress and celebrate accomplishments, reinforcing the idea that learning is an exciting and rewarding experience.
7. Celebrate with a Feast: End of Term Festivities(We like to start the year with a feast after the sorting ceremony too!)
At the end of each term, celebrate with a Hogwarts-style feast. Allow your children to help plan and prepare the menu, which can include treats like Butterbeer, pumpkin pasties, and chocolate frogs. Use this time to reflect on what they’ve learned, share highlights of the term, and award house points.
This is the cookbook we have-https://amzn.to/3Mnx9mN
Homeschooling doesn’t have to be mundane or stressful. By incorporating the magic of Harry Potter into your daily lessons and using the Whimsical Workbook Series, you can create an educational experience that is both exciting and deeply enriching. Your middle and high school students will not only gain academic knowledge but also a lifelong love of learning. So grab your wand, don your robes, and let the magic of homeschooling begin!
Additional Fun Ideas-
We purchased these leather journals and quill pens to practing copywork each day. They make writing so fun.
https://amzn.to/3yVGpeS
https://amzn.to/4cEhxGd
Fun HP creative writing dice-
https://amzn.to/3T7p3CK
Hp Sheet Music-
https://amzn.to/3yT4Ppq
And HP recorder Sheet Music-
https://amzn.to/4e3HJeJ
Decor Ideas-
9 3/4 Light-
https://amzn.to/4dR2SZs
Flameless Candles-
https://amzn.to/3YWV58c
Floating Candles-
https://amzn.to/3APzRyR
Magical Library Shower Curtain- we used in front of a closet.
https://amzn.to/3MpaSoO
