Programming Ideas: Harry Potter Party

Do-It-Yourself Program Ideas – Harry Potter Crafts and Games

A book party celebrating J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” books will still draw a crowd, even after all these years! Here are some ideas for a craft and game program you can scale up or down to fit your library. Special thanks to San Jose State University iSchool students Anna Taylor and Mariah McGuire for many of these links! And to Jessica Ormonde for inspiring this idea!

Entrance: Decorate the entrance to your meeting room with brick poster paper, to replicate the train platform, and add the 9 ¾ sign.

Facepainting: Have high school drama students serve as face painters, offering Harry Potter lightning bolts on children’s foreheads.

Icebreaker: Begin with a Sorting Hat activity. As each child enters the program, have them wear the Sorting Hat and assign them to a House (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff). Give them a nametag with that house’s symbol and color (https://www.pottermore.com/). When it is time to break up the group to move onto the various games and crafts, they can be divided by their houses. You can make a Sorting Hat (http://marthashmartha.blogspot.com/2010/04/welcome-to-hogwarts.html), or purchase one here: www.officialharrypottercostumes.com/harry-potter-costume-categories/harry-potter-accessories/harry-potter-sorting-hat?pla=1&gclid=CjwKEAjw8qetBRCj6vKH8IC_kwoSJADGQ8dS5tdCYLXOkonoJL19sZuCdaRT9blgQX86V5RudbL5FxoCnpjw_wcB .

Crafts:

Make a Magic Wand – These fancy wands are made from pencils: http://kimorlandini.blogspot.com/2013/08/harry-potter-wand-pencils-tutorial.html . Or, make a simpler version with a chopstick, allowing each child to decorate it with a marking pen and feathers.

Golden Snitch – www.instructables.com/id/Harry-Potter-Golden-Snitch-1/ .

Broomstick Bookmarks – www.activityvillage.co.uk/broomstick-bookmark .

Games:

Harry Potter Trivia – http://www.playbuzz.com/katelynw11/how-well-do-you-know-harry-potter .

Pin the Glasses on Harry – Just like “Pin the Tale on the Donkey.” Use a poster of Harry Potter, and have each blind-folded player try to pin paper eyeglasses on Harry. The player closes to wear Harry would normally wear his glasses is the winner! http://geekmom.com/2015/01/harry-potter-party/ .

Quidditch Practice – Nail Hula Hoops to poles, and paint gold. Have each player throw three red balls, or “quaffles,” to try and get the ball in the hoop. See photos here: http://marthashmartha.blogspot.com/2010/04/welcome-to-hogwarts.html .

Demonstrations:

Potions Class – have a staff member or older high school student demonstrate various science experiments as Professor Snape, such as those seen here: www.stevespanglerscience.com/blog/cool-science-products/the-ultimate-harry-potter-party-2/ and http://blog.3bscientific.com/science_education_insight/2011/06/pottermore-some-wizard-science-experiments.html .

Divinations Class – have an older high school drama student portray the Divinations teacher Sybill Trelawney. She can offer to tell the future using a Magic 8 Ball.

Refreshments:

Butter Beer – Mix cream soda and root beer in equal amounts, and top with Cool Whip.

Bertie Botts Beans – Jelly Bellies makes Bertie Botts Beans, Chocolate Frogs, and other Harry Potter candies: www.jellybelly.com/harry-potter-bertie-bott-s/c/344

Pumpkin Bread –for a healthier snack, offer pumpkin bread or cookies.

Helpful Websites:

The Leaky Cauldron – www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/

Pottermore – www.pottermore.com/

Harry Potter Party Games – http://jonesing2create.com/harry-potter-party-game-ideas/ .

Harry Potter Birthday Party – www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/parties-celebrations/harry-potter-birthday-party .

Penny Peck, SJSU iSchool