Harry Potter Book 2: The Chamber of Secrets - Middle School Level

Let's enjoy the world of Harry Potter together! We'll explore basilisks and acromantulas, make a comic strip about muggles, decide on regulations for underage wizards and help Gilderoy Lockhart come up with catchy new book titles . And all the while, we'll be learning language arts skills!

In this course, learners will read and interact with volume 2 of the Harry Potter Series: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. We will use a variety of methods to engage our imaginations, connect with and respond to the text, think critically about the themes in the book, build knowledge of literary devices and develop writing skills. 

Class sessions will consist of whole-group and small-group conversations in which learners will take responsibility for helping to lead the discussions. Outside of class, learners will be responsible for reading or listening to assigned chapters, completing weekly activities, and preparing for class discussions. I will provide weekly, individualized feedback and an end-of-course summary to each student.

The major difference between this course and its high school counterpart is the depth to which we examine various literary devices and the amount of writing we do.  Class discussions will also be more in depth.

In order to give wizards-in-training a wide degree of control over their own learning, this course offers two different pathways:

Pathway 1 – O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level): 
Participate in class meetings and complete any follow-up activities you choose. You have until the end of the course to submit your work. Students who choose this pathway will receive anecdotal feedback for all work they submit and a summary detailing the topics covered in the course. Letter grades are not offered with this pathway.

Pathway 2 – F.R.O.G (Formal Regimen Offering Grades): 
This pathway is offered for parents and learners who want a letter grade and certificate of completion for their records/transcripts. Students are expected to participate in class meetings and complete all work by the end of the course. In this pathway, certain activities are required; others are optional. In addition to grades, learners will receive anecdotal feedback about their work, a course summary and a certificate of completion.

Skills covered:
Comprehension
Identifying important events
Connecting text and real-world issues
Critical thinking/analysis
Vocabulary building
Overview of literary devices, including alliteration, foreshadowing, simile and hyperbole
Writing
Optional enrichment activities, include: artwork, crafts, cooking, making videos and more

For Class #1: 
Nothing to be done before meeting

For Class #2:
Read chapters 1-2
Complete "For Our Meeting" assignments

For Class #3:
Read chapters 3-4
Complete "For Our Meeting" assignments

For Class #4:
Read chapters 5-6
Complete "For Our Meeting" assignments

For Class #5:
Read chapters 7-8
Complete "For Our Meeting" assignments

For Class #6:
Read chapters 9-10
Complete "For Our Meeting" assignments

For Class #7:
Read chapters 11-12
Complete "For Our Meeting" assignments

For Class #8:
Read chapters 13-14
Complete "For Our Meeting" assignments

For Class #9:
Read chapters 15-16
Complete "For Our Meeting" assignments

For Class #10:
Read chapters 17-18
Complete "For Our Meeting" assignments

LEARNER TIME
1 hour per week in class, and an estimated 1 - 2 hours per week outside of class.