Basic Potions & Drafts

Introduction

First, before I go any further I want to remind students how serious Potions is. I will not accept any misbehaviour what so ever. Anyone that is misbehaving will be thrown out of my class faster than they can say 'Cauldron'. The reason behind this is that potions are extremely difficult and require your attention at all times, since you must follow all directions exactly. If you become destracted even for an instant, it could mean sudden death. I will not bother with detentions because of how serious this is and how serious I will be taking this course.

Now that the serious part is out of the way, I can tell you the fun part! This course will be an exciting journey. Students will go from knowing nothing about the vast world of potions, to be ready to brew potions in minutes! What an amazing idea. All that take this course and complete it will be more advanced than the average wizard. Why is this? Because the sad fact remains that most wizards do not take potions serious, however that is by far a mistake on their part.

Overview

Basic Potions & Drafts will revolve around the basic concept of the use of special ingredients to create a new concotion, one that can even kill. The structure of the course is designed specifically to encourage students to learn the concepts and to challenge them to practice them on a daily basis.

Grading

I have chosen to use the official O.W.L. & N.E.W.T. testing scale for the class. This is so students become familiar with the scores and the grades.

• O (90-100%)
• E (80-89%)
• A(70-79%)
• P (60-69%)
• D (50-59%)
• T (0-49%)

Lessons

• Lesson 1: (2 weeks) Introduction of what potions is. Introduce the 3 C’s: Color, Concentration, and Content.

Assignment Ideas:

• Have students in groups go through their standard potion kit and see how many potions that they can think of that can be made with the ingredients in it. The group with the most wins.
• Have students set up their cauldron and be sure that they have purchased all supplied at Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade.
• Have them set up their engrade and/or autoassign account.
• Answer about 5 questions about the lesson.

• Lesson 2: (2 weeks) Boil Cure Potions. This potion will be the first potion a student will brew so it is best to do a demonstration. The potion must be brewed by the students as well.

Assignment Ideas:

• Students should brew the Boil Cure Potion. (Required)
• Research one other antidote and write x amount of words on it.
• Answer about 5 questions about the lesson. (Not suggested.)
• Before the lesson is started, you could give someone boils, then ask for the class to figure out how to get them off.
• Lesson 3: (2 weeks) Forgetfulness Potion. This potion doesn’t have to be brewed, but it is suggested.

Assignment Ideas:

• Students may brew the Forgetfulness Potion.
• Answer about 5 questions about the lesson. (Not suggested.)
• Ask for a student to volunteer to drink the potion and then ask them questions.
• Have students research a charm that would have the same effect as the forgetfulness potion and have them compare and contrast the two ways of making a person forget information.

• Lesson 4: (2 weeks) Potion Categories. These include: Ability, Antidotes, & Practical. The professor could then choose either a single potion and brew it or have 3 potions from each of the categories on hand and show the differences in the groups.

Assignment Ideas:

• Students could choose any potion they want and brew it.
• Answer about 5 questions about the lesson. (Not suggested.)
• Working in groups have the students choose a few potions that could fit in more than one category and explain it.

• Test/Project: (2 weeks) The professor can either choose to make this a project or a test. If it is a test, it should be placed between lessons 2 & 3. If it is a project, it should go after Lesson 4, but it should be announced at the start of the term.