Quirky Questions for the Classroom
Preliminary Activities
1. Background knowledge before reading text
a) Quick-Write paragraph- What do you know about wizards?
b) Using paragraphs, brainstorm a list of ideas with a small group.
c) Have children draw an image of a wizard. This can later be compared
with their pictures after they have read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Chapter 1
The Boy Who Lived
Discussion Questions/Activities
1. What does this chapter suggest about how wizards live?
2. What are the first sights of that make people suspect their is something strange occuring?
3. Write Albus Dumbledore’s letter to the Dursleys.
Chapter 2
The Vanishing Glass
Discussion Questions
1. Why do each of the Dursleys treat Harry the way they do?
2. Why do they get so upset about the strange happenings?
3. Where did Harry sleep?
4. What happened at the zoo that got Harry in trouble?
5. What event caused them to go to the zoo?
Chapter 3
The Letters From No One
Discussion Questions
1. Describe the process by which the sender of the letters knew Harry’s exact location, and how they were
delivered.
2. Why do you think Uncle Vernon gave Dudley’s second room to Harry?
3. What do the letters say?
Chapter 4
The Keeper of the Keys
Discussion Questions
1. Characterisation- Using an image of Hagrid, surround him with words that describe him.
2. The exact conflict of this book has not yet been revealed. Why?
3. Using page 57 as a reference, what do you think happened to Voldemort?
Chapter 5
Diagon Alley
Discussion Questions
1. In the beginning of the chapter when Harry told himself it was all just a dream, do you think he hoped it was
or was not?
2. Why would Hogwarts not want first year students to have their own brooms? What similar rules have you
had to follow in your lives?
3. Discuss how their money system works. (p. 75)
4. How would you describe the boy Harry met at the robe shop? Good or bad? Friend or foe? (p. 76-79)
5. What does the length of the magic wand mean?
Quick Quirky Questions
1. What did Hagrid tell Harry about using magic in the Muggle world?
2. What was the first building Hagrid and Harry visited after arriving in Diagon Alley throught he Leaky
Cauldron?
3. What did Hagrid buy Harry for his birthday?
4. What does Harry have a hard time understanding near the end of the chapter?
5. How did this chapter end?
Chapter 6
The Journey From Platform Nine and Three-quarters
Discussion Questions
1. What’s a prefect, and what’s so great about being one? (dictionary)
2. Why shouldn’t they say “Voldemort?”
3. What clue in this chapter tells us when this book takes place?
Activity
This chapter gives clearly detailed descriptions of people and locations. Choose one of the following and draw
a detailed picture using the description from the text:
a) Albus Dumbledore- Page 102
b) Hogwarts- Page 111
c) Kings Cross Station- Pages 90-94
