Good Discussion Ideas for Harry Potter Class?

[Petra Pan]

Curt Angeli, in part:
> My question is:  I am looking for
> some good discussion topics.  Last
> year, we did name origins,
> animagi, comparisons of the
> Marauders and the trio + 1?, and
> rumors.  Obviously, this year,
> discussion will include the
> Order of the Phoenix, and we also
> are going to talk about the
> sorting hat and discrepencies
> (Hermione better in Ravenclaw,
> Percy in Slytherin?).  
> 
> 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.

Say, have you considered letting 
the kids come up with some of the 
topics this year?  If you were to 
collect some ideas from the kids 
from the very beginning, you can 
always supplement your own take on 
the topics with research into the 
archives of the main HPFGU list 
before you schedule the discussions.
  
I would personally love to hear what 
the kids suggest spontaneously 
(without any kind of prompting from 
adults), especially the kids in that 
age group.  <hint...hint>  Betcha 
you'll get some very interesting 
ideas.

Also, I would imagine that the kids 
from last year might have shown some 
interest in certain issues or topics 
that you can pursue further this year 
in addition to what you did last year.  
You can of course always plumb the 
archives of the main list for either 
new ideas or further thoughts on ideas 
youve already done in class before.

Then theres the structured threads 
from about a year ago that were built 
around the discussion questions at the 
end of Philip Nel's book.  If you 
hadnt looked at those yet, heres the 
start of them:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
HPforGrownups/message/37242

As far as "beyond the book" topics, Id 
suggest nudging the kids toward thinking 
about how what they enjoyed about Harry 
Potter might apply to other stories that 
they are exposed to, such as other books 
for 'children' and movies etc.  Besides 
the usual (Chronicles of Narnia and Lord 
of the Rings), you might consider some 
of Eva Ibbotsons books since they have 
themes and sense of humor in common with 
the HP books.

One book that I dont hear a lot about 
is Paul Gallicos Manx Mouse, which I 
checked out of the library after reading 
somewhere JKRs recommendation of it.  
It's lovely, uplifting and worth a 
read.

If you pursue this line of thinking, 
you might find this old post of mine of 
some interest esp. since Ive put most 
of my thoughts about Eva Ibbotsons 
The Secret of Platform 13 as compared 
to HP in it.  Its my first post as 
Petra Pan from about a year ago.  :)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
HPforGrownups/message/37257

Also, recently I stumbled upon a book 
by Richard Barber and Anne Riches 
entitled "A Dictionary of Fabulous 
Beasts."  Theres some overlap with 
JKRs FB&WtFT which would be 
interesting enough on its own for 
compare and contrast (well, maybe not 
for the 4th graders) but it also covers 
a lot of creatures mentioned in canon 
but not in FB&WtFT.  Be sure to check 
out the definition of the bicorne... :)  
And in deference to OotP, you might 
check out this books entry on the 
phoenix.

As far as filmed stories that could 
figure into the conversation, 
theres Star Wars of course:

"Never. I'll never turn to the 
Dark Side!"

The Princess Bride also comes 
immediately to mind:

"Hello, my name is [Harry Potter]. 
You killed my father [and mother]: 
prepare to die. Now, offer me money
...power too [and immortality.] 
Promise me that...Offer me everything 
I ask for."

"Anything you want."

"I want my [parents] back, you 
son-of-a-b*tch."

     *     *

"When I was your age, television was 
called, books."

     *     *

"Is this a KISSING book?!?"

     *     *

"You mean, you'll put down your rock and 
I'll put down my sword and we'll try and 
kill each other like civilized people?"

     *     *

"My way is not very sportsmanlike."

     *     *

"In the meantime, rest well and dream of 
large women."

     *     *

"You are trying to take what I have 
rightfully stolen!"

     *     *

"I'm not a Witch; I'm your wife!  And 
after what you just said, I'm not even 
sure I want to be that any more!"

     *     *

"It just so happens that your friend 
here is only mostly dead. There's a big 
difference between mostly dead and all dead."

     *     *

"Bye-bye boys!"

"Have fun storming the castle!"

     *     *

more at http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?0093779

Hmm...<light dawns>...*WILLIAM GOLDMAN* 
is the one who should be adapting the 
HP books for the big screen!

Petra
a
n  :)

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