hogwarts magical studies: day seven
Today was Herbology class! For this one, I had a bag of sprouting tulip bulbs I got at Wal-Mart for $1.50, a bunch of small cardboard 'pots' for them, and a box of potpourri I labeled as 'magical herbs' for them to study. Also, for extra points, today was 'wear a hat day', with bonus house points for wearing a witch or wizard hat. Some people made those out of paper and brought them in!
Day Seven: Herbology
So, I started them off digging in our playground for suitable potting soil. They all tromped out and filled their pots, and then went back in to sit inside the 'herbology classroom', our library center which I filled with potted plants of all kinds.
They all sat in the tables and started potting what I called 'fairy flowers'. I explained that the fairy would be born in the flowers and the instant it blooms and opens, the fairy will fly out into the world. I explained that this pot is only good for transporting it and they should repot it at home ASAP, when they take their flowers home on Friday. Tulips probably suit the bill for what fairy flowers look like, anyway! That done, I had them clean up their hands and their areas and sit in their house groups.
I took out the 'magical herbs' and gave everyone a scoop in a bag, telling them that this was a good sleep spell, used for sprinkling in front of their house or for keeping in their room. I then asked them to inspect what was in the bag and try to label the magical herbs. No one got lavender, although some of them recognized the daisies, roses, and rose leaves. They got 10 house points for each correct assumption.
After class, everyone cleaned up and asked if they could continue to play Quidditch! We had two games, although the second one didn't end well because of poor sportsmanship. Hopefully they'll all behave a bit better tomorrow.
Tomorrow, we will (hopefully, there's snow,) do Divination!
Day Seven: Herbology
So, I started them off digging in our playground for suitable potting soil. They all tromped out and filled their pots, and then went back in to sit inside the 'herbology classroom', our library center which I filled with potted plants of all kinds.
They all sat in the tables and started potting what I called 'fairy flowers'. I explained that the fairy would be born in the flowers and the instant it blooms and opens, the fairy will fly out into the world. I explained that this pot is only good for transporting it and they should repot it at home ASAP, when they take their flowers home on Friday. Tulips probably suit the bill for what fairy flowers look like, anyway! That done, I had them clean up their hands and their areas and sit in their house groups.
I took out the 'magical herbs' and gave everyone a scoop in a bag, telling them that this was a good sleep spell, used for sprinkling in front of their house or for keeping in their room. I then asked them to inspect what was in the bag and try to label the magical herbs. No one got lavender, although some of them recognized the daisies, roses, and rose leaves. They got 10 house points for each correct assumption.
After class, everyone cleaned up and asked if they could continue to play Quidditch! We had two games, although the second one didn't end well because of poor sportsmanship. Hopefully they'll all behave a bit better tomorrow.
Tomorrow, we will (hopefully, there's snow,) do Divination!