Harry Potter Astronomy, Astrology, and Greek Mythology

This class is meant to show students the relationship between Astronomy, Astrology, and Greek Mythology, through the lens of the popular "British Wizard" series. We'll also cover the difference between astrology and astronomy (why one is a science and one is a belief), and gain an appreciation for how J.K. Rowling incorporated Greek Mythology and the constellations into her character creation.

▬▬▬▬▬▬ VIDEOS, ACTIVITIES, AND MORE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

• This course has six parts to it. Each part consists of a downloadable video presentation (between 45 and 50 minutes long) hosted on Google Drive, along with some resources and project ideas to expand the students’ understanding.

• In a regular school setting, these materials are ideal for reverse instruction or a flipped classroom unit. For instance, you can assign the video recording to watch at home for homework, and then use the extension activities for class projects. The recordings also work well for sub days and much-needed sanity days!

• If you are using these materials in a home school setting, you could choose to do one part per day or one part per week, doing the projects as time allows. Feel free to have your child email me at lauren.rae.ard@gmail.com, if they have any questions or want to share what they’ve done with the materials.

• This unit also includes a link to my notes and Prezi presentation I use throughout the course, in case you want to give some of the presentation, or expand on the material yourself. Please keep in mind that the video may not match up exactly with the notes and lecture materials, because I do alter and add to my notes as time goes on.

▬▬▬▬▬▬ COURSE OUTLINE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

Part 1: Astronomy vs. Astrology

In the first recording, we will analyze two professors and the subjects they teach (Astronomy and Astrology). By the end of class, students should have an understanding of how these two topics are the same, how they're different, and how they are presented in the books.

Part 2: Planets

This recording will be an analysis of the incorporation of the planets in the books. Are these examples of astronomy, or astrology? How does the author incorporate allusion and the historical context of the planets in both astrology and astronomy into her works? We'll also introduce the subtle - but important - connection J.K. Rowling makes with Greek mythology, and this mythology's inseparable ties to astronomy and astrology.

Part 3: The Moon

The moon has a great deal of symbolic value in the series. We'll discuss how the author incorporated a history of superstitions and beliefs about Earth's moon as the backdrop for many literary events. We'll examine what our magical professors teach about the moon. This recording also includes a character study of Luna, the Roman goddess of the moon, and where this name shows up in the book series.

Part 4: More Mythology

Our understanding and appreciation of the depth of our favorite characters will be enhanced by our analysis of their names. For instance, Minerva, Remus, Hermione, and Pomona are all characters from Greek and Roman mythology - and the similarities to their Greek and Roman namesakes cannot be a coincidence!

Part 5: Stars and Constellations

In this recording, we'll focus heavily on the use of the star and constellation names as a means to incorporate allusion and symbolism into her works. For instance, we'll discuss the connection to the star Sirius (the dog star). We'll examine why the author chose to use the names of specific stars (those named after pure blood characters in Greek and Roman mythology). Merope's story from the books is exactly the same as the story of Merope from mythology; we'll discuss the intended symbolism behind the author's choice of story. We'll also tie what we're learning back to our Astronomy and Astrology Professors; how do they view the sky differently in their own fields of expertise?

Part 6: Stars and Constellations, Continued

In the final class, we will conclude our exploration of the night sky. This includes discussion of the literary device known as "foreshadowing" in the books. For example, Sirius' younger brother Regulus - why was he named after a star in a lion constellation when he comes from a Slytherin family? Answer: because the author was using his name as foreshadowing!

▬▬▬▬▬▬  LEARNING OBJECTIVES ▬▬▬▬▬▬

By the end of the class, students should be able to:

★ Define the following terms: astronomy, astrology, horoscope, zodiac, constellation, myth, foreshadowing.

★ Understand the difference between astronomy and astrology.

★ Illustrate (with examples) why astronomy is a science, and astrology is a belief system.

★ Recall how/where Harry Potter learns about astronomy and astrology.

★ List some basic characteristics of the planets of the solar system.

★ Explain how the astrology of the planets emerged from the Greek and Roman religious beliefs about the planets.

★ Compare/contrast the stories of several Harry Potter characters with the stories found in Greek mythology.

★ Use a star wheel to locate and identify constellations in the night sky.

★ Explain how and why the stars appear to move in the sky throughout the night, and from season to season.

★ Separate fact from fiction when it comes to the moon and human behavior.