Name: ________________________ ‘Harry Potter and the

Learning Team: ________________ Philosophers Stone ’

By J.K. Rowling

Novel Study
Part 1 – Individual Work

Task 1 – Whilst Reading Activity

Whilst reading ‘Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone’, complete the following –
Part A
• Make a list of the characters as you meet them.
Put them under the heading of the chapter they appear.
• Maintain this list for every chapter.
Part B
• Write a reflection at the end of each chapter detailing what you liked about the chapter, what
you did not like about the chapter and why you think that chapter is important to the story

Criteria for whist reading activities

Very High Med Low Very Not

High Low Shown
Understanding of the characters, themes
and issues of the novel
Use of detail and examples where
appropriate
Mechanics of language – punctuation,
spelling, grammar etc
Adherence to presentation guidelines
Completion of all activities
Comments

Task 2 - Brochure

Using the information from chapter seven of the book, complete one of the following two options –

• Construct a brochure advertising the virtues of the system of school houses at Hogwarts. Try
to entice prospective students and parents to select Hogwarts with your brochure that
contains text and graphics.
• Prepare a magazine article explaining the sorting process into the four different houses at
Hogwarts and the characteristics of students in each of those houses. Images and text would
be required in your article.

Remember: use information and descriptions from the text – particularly the Sorting Hat
song, the method of sorting students, and Harry’s experience of being placed in a House.
You may wish to draw on your additional knowledge of the school houses gained from
reading any of the Harry Potter books.

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Once you have completed your brochure you will need to present it to the class. Your presentation
should be about two minutes.

Criteria for oral presentation / brochure

Very High Med Low Very Not

High Low Shown
Engaged audience – ie. spoke clearly, loudly
and kept eye contact with audience
Effective use of body language
The presentation was appropriate length
The presentation provided useful and
appropriate information
Listening to other presentations with
respect
Comments

Task 3 – Reflection: extended writing tasks

Choose 4 of the following questions

Answers need to be a minimum of 20 lines per question. (Use the TEEL structure and template for
planning)

1. Quirrell tells Harry that "There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too
weak to seek it" (p. 291). Do you agree with this? Is this true throughout the book or is it
only true for Quirrell and Lord Voldemort?
2. What were some of the advantages to Harry not having known how special he is before
he starts school? Disadvantages? What are some instances when Harry acts more like a
bumbling Muggle than a great wizard?
3. Consider the professors at Hogwarts including Dumbledore, McGonagall, Quirrell and
Snape – what does each character stand for? What does Harry learn from each one?
4. The Harry Potter series is the most popular children’s book series ever written. Why do
you think it is so popular? Why do you think adults and kids both like it?
5. What are your first impressions of Hogwarts schools?
6. What does Harry see in the Mirror of Erised (Desire)? What does Dumbledore tell Harry
about the mirror? (pages 156-57) Why is Harry able to get the Philosophers Stone out of
the Mirror?

Criteria for extended writing tasks

Very High Med Low Very Not

High Low Shown
Understanding of the themes and issues of
the text (depth of knowledge and
contention)
Spelling and expression (evidence of
proofreading and appropriate language)
Effective use of paragraphing
Use of TEEL format (within paragraphs)
Responses were of a satisfactory length
Comments

Task 4 – Research task

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Use the Library and internet to research one of the following that is mentioned in the novel –
- British School System (on which Hogwart’s system is based)
- London (where the novel is set)
- Albania (where Lord Voldermort lived)
- English Soccer
- JK Rowling

Remember to source your information. ie. Record where you gathered the information from,
including all books and website locations.

You may choose to present your research in one of the following ways, or alternatively choose a
different method, however, discuss it with your teacher first –

• report
• poster
• PowerPoint
• web page
• children’s book

Criteria for report

Very High Med Low Very Not

High Low Shown
Evidence of planning
Content
Effective use of paragraphing
Use of TEEL format (within paragraphs)
Spelling, expression and punctuation
(correct grammar, clarity of writing)
Presentation (following the Presentation
Guidelines)
Wow factor! (choose one aspect of your
work that you are proud of and would like
your teacher to take special notice of. Insert
your ‘Wow factor!’ here:
………………………………………………………..
Comments

Task 5 – Illustration
Illustrate a passage from the novel. Include as much detail as possible that you can gain from the
novel in your illustration.

On another page, copy the passage from the novel which you have illustrated. Indicate the page
number.

Task 6 – Glossary
Create a glossary of magical words used within ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.’ Document
a definition for 15 words used in the novel

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Task 7 - Character Study

You are a reporter for the Daily Prophet and your job is to write an in-depth expose on
one of the students or staff at Hogwarts other than Harry Potter. Your article
should be at least 150 words and should include the following details:
• What they do at Hogwarts (Student, Teacher etc)
• Which school House they belong to, (and how they reflect the values of that House)
• What their relationship is to Harry Potter
• What they think of Harry Potter
• What controversies (dramas, problems) they have been involved with at Hogwarts
• Their greatest achievement in the story
• Their worst moment in the story
• What you like about the character
• What you dislike about the character

Task 8 - Essay

Write a 300 word essay using the TEEL process on one of the following essay topics.

1. When Harry chooses his wand on Diagon Alley, he finds that the one right for him is the
companion wand to the one sold long ago to Voldemort. Why does Rowling choose to
emphasize a curious affinity between Harry and his great enemy, Voldemort?
2. What does the episode of the Sorting Hat reveal about Harry? What does it say about
fate in the story? Is it always superior to human will?
3. At the end of Harry’s adventures, when the Sorcerer’s Stone has been safely destroyed,
Dumbledore reveals to Harry that he devised the Mirror of Erised in the knowledge that
Harry would succeed where Voldemort would fail. This admission raises the question of
whether Dumbledore orchestrates other parts of Harry’s adventures too. Does he know,
for instance, that the troll will be let into Hogwarts, and does he foresee Harry’s defeat of
the troll? Is it possible that Dumbledore has a godlike foreknowledge of the whole story
from beginning to end?
How does the Hogwarts world compare with the Muggle world? Does Rowling want us to make
such a comparison?

Criteria for Essay

Very High Med Low Very Not
High Low Shown
Evidence of planning
Content
Effective use of paragraphing
Use of TEEL format (within paragraphs)
Spelling, expression and punctuation
(correct grammar, clarity of writing)
Presentation (following the Presentation
Guidelines)
Wow factor! (choose one aspect of your
work that you are proud of and would like
your teacher to take special notice of. Insert
your ‘Wow factor!’ here:
………………………………………………………..
Comments

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Task 9 – Harry’s Journey

As you read the novel ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ trace Harry’s journey from the
beginning to the end of the novel, indicating through the use of symbols and short descriptions,
Harry’s feelings throughout the book. You need to include at least ten different events. For
example:

Feeling insecure about his lack of

wizarding knowledge and making his
first friend – Ron Weasley – on the train

Feeling shock and disbelief when told he is

a Wizard and that he and his parents are
famous

Feeling alone and bullied when living

with the Dursley underneath the stairs

Start

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 Part 2 – House Group Tasks

Task 10 – Artistic flair

Considering the themes and events in the novel ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’, create
your own front and back cover.

Front cover: Remember to include the name of the novel, the author’s name, appropriate graphics
and pictures.

Back cover: A book summary and perhaps a reader’s note.

Task 11 – Oral Activity

Oral activities must be completed in your house group. Each person should ensure they talk for at
least 2 minutes.
Choose a scene form the novel and, using the dialogue in it, or dialogue of your own, plus the
inclusion of a narrator, perform this scene for the class. This is a group presentation.

Task 12 - Character Study

Write a story about one of the characters in the novel and what they are doing ten years after
leaving school.

Criteria for oral presentation – dramatic performance

Very High Med Low Very Not

High Low Shown
You showed evidence of preparation for the
presentation (notes, props, evidence of
rehearsal)
Your presentation was engaging for the
audience, ie speaking clearly, eye contact
and effective use of body language
The presentation demonstrated an
understanding of the themes and issues in
the novel
Your presentation was long enough
Listening to other presentations with
respect
Comments

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 Part 3 - Extension

Extension Activities

Select one or more of the following:

1. Research one of the following and explain how it relates to the novel:
 History of magic or witchcraft (white magic only, a note from your parent
approving this research must be provided)
 Your own topic (after approval from your teacher)

2. Write a comparison between the teachers at Flora Hill and the teachers at Hogwarts. Explain how
they are the same, and how they are different.

3. A comparison between the book and the movie of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. You
should consider:
- How they are the same, how are they different?
- Is the movie what you would expect having read the book?

Criteria for extension task

Very High Med Low Very Not

High Low Shown
Developing an argument about complex
ideas, issues and themes
Depth of knowledge of the theme or issue
Demonstrating a detailed and deep
understanding of the theme or issue
Expression, spelling and punctuation
(correct grammar, clarity of writing)
Presentation (following the Presentation
Guidelines)
Comments

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