Alchemy
Alchemy is an elective taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry concerning the study of the four basic elements, as well as the study of the transmutation of substances. It is intimately connected with potion-making and chemistry but for purposes of clarity, this post will focus on transformation of rocks and minerals.
“I’m particularly interested in Transfiguration, you know, turning something into something else, of course, it’s supposed to be very difficult.” —Hermione Granger regarding transformation
There are many myths and legends about the formation of the rocks of the Earth or about the rocks themselves. Every culture has its own beliefs about specific stones and those beliefs are often tied to that culture’s history, geography, and spiritual practices.
For this class students are required to become familiar with the many magical properties of common stones. Begin by writing the definitions for igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock in a notebook. Include a detailed sketch of the rock cycle.
Additionally, create a two-page spread for each stone studied. Include the following information for each:
- photo or sketch
- list any historical or literary references to the gemstone
- describe the process by which it is formed
- list its magical properties
Some stones to consider are:
- Agate
- Quartz
- Ruby
- Opal
- Flint
- Moonstone
- Jade
- Obsidian
Put together a collection of rocks and minerals. Identify and label each as igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.
Take it Further
Learn to play Marbles, generally a Muggle game. Wizards play a variant known as Gobstones, where the enchanted marbles spit a putrid fluid into the face of the loser.
Astronomy & Divination
At Hogwart’s, Divination is an elective course that teaches methods of divining the future, or gathering insights into future events, through various rituals and tools. For the purposes of this course, we will focus on the ancient tools used by early navigators particularly in regards to the study of astronomy.
Generally out-of-bounds except for classes, the Astronomy Tower is the tallest tower at Hogwarts Castle. It is where students study the stars and planets through their telescopes with Professor Aurora Sinistra.
A Star chart is a written document used to represent the positions and movements of the stars, much like a map. Astronomers usually use these for research or study. An O.W.L. level wizard should be able of fill in a blank star chart based on some hours of sky gazing.
Similarly, a Moon chart is used to represent the position, movement and phases of the Moon. However, it is difficult to interpret and thus a Lunascope is often preferred.
Begin by researching the constellations common in your hemisphere and/or those referenced in the books.
Illustrate each cluster of stars in your notebook and make note of when the constellation was first discovered and how it was named. Include the names of the distinct stars (if possible). Constellations to consider include:
- Orion
- Bartholomeus
- Lupus
- Leo
- Ophiuchus
- Canis Major
- Scorpius
Create personal chart (also referred to as a birth chart) showing the relative positions of the planets at the time of an individual’s birth.
If possible, obtain a telescope with which you can observe the planets and distant stars.
Take it Further
Create a model of our solar system. Include the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, and other major planets.
Make an illustrated wall timeline of geologic time.
Draw maps of the earth at various times in history, showing movements of the tectonic plates. Include time periods that show Pangaea, Laurasia and Gondwanaland, and the modern arrangement of continents.
Illustrate the layers of the atmosphere in a poster. Label and describe each layer.
This post is part of a five-day hopscotch. Join me each day this week as we dive into each course.
Care of Magical Creatures (Zoology)
Alchemy & Divination (Geology) – this post