To help occupy some long hours at home, I wanted to look into some ways to bring in the magic of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Escape Rooms
I was very excited to find some Harry Potter digital escape rooms! I tried two. These are great fun in person so I was excited to try one from home.
Hogwarts Digital Escape Room from the Peters Township Public Library
My thoughts:
-> The setup was cute - I think it would be good for younger children or readers just getting into the books
-> it would probably help to have something to take notes with, although I did like that you could go back and forth between pages without losing progress (note: there is also some addition so grab a calculator if you don't want to do it by hand!)
-> It did utilize outside links, but I think it would have been more fun to have a poster/puzzle giving that information
-> I played theRavenclaw common room ambient mixer to help with the atmosphere - highly recommend!
-> Overall, I wasn't super impressed with the creativity, but I also feel like it was aimed at a younger audience. It took me barely a few minutes to get through.
Harry Potter Digital Escape Room from Capital Areas District Library
My thoughts:
-> There was more writing to help the atmosphere
-> Again... not as many "puzzles" as recall and one-step problems
-> As a huge fan I almost wish there was more HP knowledge required but I also appreciate how I believe you could do it without knowing anything about the series
-> I liked the flow of this one and how it dipped into many different areas of the Wizarding World
I think physical escape rooms will always be better but I appreciate the time and creativity put into these fun little at-home activities!
Selections from the History of Magic Exhibit (British Library)
I was unfortunately not able to visit the exhibit in person so it was exciting to see that parts of it had been digitized! I do own the companion book published in 2017, so if that was anything to go by, it must have been a fantastic collection! The book combines illustrations by Jim Kay that were used in the illustrated editions, notes and drawings from J. K. Rowling, and nonfiction text that explores the origins of many magical elements that were used in the books.
To the website - there are 4 featured articles and 11 collection items. The articles dive into brief yet illustrative overviews of different magical concepts such as alchemy and horoscopes. For readers waiting for their letter from Hogwarts, it brings a layer of reality and history to Harry's fanciful story. And for kids stuck home from school, it allows the opportunity to learn something in a way that connects to the beloved magic!
The collection items feature an image and a page of information on each artifact. There is a box of basic info (upper right), a more extensive overview (below) as well as which exhibits the item has been featured in (lower right).
from British Library
A fun and engaging way to "visit" a museum without leaving the house (or realm)! And if you want more the companion book is well worth checking out.
And then the pièce de résistance -- Harry Potter at Home
Harry Potter at Home
The Wizarding World site has expanded to include a Hub of new content for wizards of all ages currently stuck at home. Some features have always been available and some are new! Here are the major areas...
from Wizarding World
-> Words from the Boy himself - Daniel Radcliffe reading chapter one of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. It is such a joy to hear Harry's voice narrating the place where this all started. I also see it as a great way to gather new readers - perhaps hearing the story with the fun background noises they include will spark some interest. And then have them watch the movie and see if they can figure out where they have heard that voice before...
As of this posting, up through Chapter 10 has been released, including readers Noma Dumezweni (Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander from the Fantastic Beasts films), and Stephen Fry (the narrator of the Harry Potter audiobooks released in the UK).
-> A bit of light reading - a variety of articles furthering the Wizarding World Experience. Dive into the history of the Potter family or learn about the Wizarding schools from around the world. Published by JKR, they are the perfect fix for readers who speed through the books and crave more content.
-> News - stay updated on all goings-on from the hub and other outlets. New features and updates are compiled so you can stay current from wherever. I also enjoyed joining the owl (email) list and having the Wizarding World app.
-> Quizzes and puzzles - if your muggle work has you bored, take a break with knowledge from the books. They cover themed trivia (How well do you know your first-year feasts and treats?) and word games.
-> Crafting magic - start your wands and scissors! For the artisitcally-inclined witches and wizards, there is a growing collection of crafts and artwork. I particularly liked the Marauder's map calligraphy.
from Wizarding World
Stay home, stay safe, and don't let the muggles get you down ~
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