Good Discussion Ideas for Harry Potter Class?

[jenny_ravenclaw]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Curt Angeli <losangelis at y...> 
wrote:
 
> I was wondering if anyone had any other good "beyond the book" 
topics that you think young people might find intruiging.  I consider 
myself pretty good in terms of the canon, but many of you are much 
better at interesting conversations and debates.>

Hey, fellow teacher!

I am not at all claiming to be original here, but a thread that has 
been popular here is the idea of lying in HP.  Harry and friends have 
been known to be less than honest, but for reasons that are good.  I 
think younger kids in particular would have some interesting responses 
to the idea of dishonesty and if it is always bad.

Trelawney is one of my favorite topics.  You could have a discussion 
with your students about what makes a good teacher, as well as how 
students should deal with authority figures they know are wrong.  
Snape and his attitude towards students like Neville can also be 
thrown in.

Of course, you can always discuss the "don't judge a book by its 
cover" theme in HP.

Let me stop here or I'll go on all night.

--jenny from ravenclaw ********************************