1st year overview - wizarding homeschool (update)

[mehndimama]

Okay, I wrote down my ideas for a 1st year overview for The 
Andromeda Academy for Self-Directed Sorcerers, Headmistress 
Professor Stellaria (yours truly) presiding.
"Classes" and areas to be explored for the year are as follows:

Wizarding Basics:
*Making a Quill
 -choosing the quill
 -cutting the quill
 -quill calligrapy
*Robes
 -Robes & Cloaks for Romantics and Scholars (or Why Hogwarts 
Students Wore Them)
 -Choosing your fabric & pattern
 -Pattern layout & sewing
*Wandcraft
 -Meanings of woods / choosing your wood
 -Trip to Northern Michigan Hardwoods OR Tree identification hike
 -Design & make your wand
*Brooms
 -History of brooms
 -How are traditional broom made?
 -Can you really fly on a broom?
 -Design & make your own broom
*Knitting additions to your uniform
 -striped scarf
 -pointed hat - knit & felt

Astronomy / Astrology:
*The Solar system
 -Panetary symbols
*Finding tonight's sky on the star chart
*Planetary movements in the Ephemeris
*Telescope Basics
*Finding the constellations
*Your Star Sign
*Your Natal Chart

Herbology / Potions:
*Modern Potion-making Equipment
 -pans, jars, and bottles
*Common healing herbs
 -Wildcrafting
 -windowsill herbs
 -Plan & plant an herb garden
*Teas
*Tinctures and Glycerates
*Syrups
*ointments and Salves
*Aromatherapy

Defense Against the Dark Arts:
*The Dark Arts in our world
*Where do you belong? 
 -parents, address, phone numbers, emergency procedures
*Stranger Awareness
*Losing your way
*Superstitions
*Old protective magic
*The name of Jesus
*Personal protective magic

History of Magic:
*Egypt
*Greek Mythology
*Tribal Magic
*Alchemy
*Arthur & Merlin
*The Doctor & the Wise Woman
*Inquisition & American Witch-hunts

Transfiguration:
*The Transformation of a room
*Dishsoap magic
*Transfiguration of dirty laundry
*Basic culinary transfiguration
*The needle arts - a complete transformation
*Modern advances in transfiguration
 -appliances
 -cosmetics
 -substances

Charms:
*Prayer
*Songs
*Gestures
*Amulets
*Manners, or How to Be Charming

I think that'll give us PLENTY to do for the first year!  I went by 
what Hogwarts offered for First Year, as I didn't want to get too 
deep into anything - No divination, or care of creatures, or 
anything like that.  I figured this plan will touch on a lot of 
interesting stuff AND everyday stuff - I'm hoping to show through 
example that the everyday CAN be magical if you look at it in the 
right way.

So, if anyone has book or website suggestions specific to the topics 
above, I'd love to hear them!

Professor Stellaria
mam to 4 devoted HP fans, proud supporter of Neville Longbottom, and 
Headmistress of the Andromeda Academy for Self-Directed Sorcerers