The  Four Houses of Hogwarts 

A WebQuest for 9th Grade LanguageArts Students

Designed by Pam Little on July 16, 2001

     littlep@osd.ode.state.oh.us
 

       Introduction             Task             Process                   Evaluation
  Learning Advice      Conclusion      Credits & Resources








Introduction

Congratulations! Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has accepted you and your friend as first year students. Hogwarts is the school of the famous wizard, Harry Potter.

The day you arrive, Professor McGonagall says: "Welcome to Hogwarts...you will be sorted into your houses.  The Sorting Ceremony is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts.  The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin.  Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards...I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours." 

Before you wear the sorting hat yourself, learn all you can about each.  Which house will be right for you?  For your friend? Of course, you can't choose a house yourself, but hopefully the wise Sorting Hat will put you where you should be.
 
 


The Task

You and your friend will  be teammates do a thorough investigation into each of the four houses- Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. You will decide which house would be most suitable for you to live in at Hogwarts.

1.) Find the answers  to the questions listed below for Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Use the information to make a web for each house.

  • Who is the founder?
  • What are the house colors?
  • Who is the head of the house?
  • Who is the house ghost?
  • Where is the entrance?
  • What is the Quidditch robe color?
  • Who are famous alumni?


2.) Make a poster for each house that contains a drawing of the mascot and logo.

3.) Write down the words for the Sorting Hat description for each house. 

4.) Find information about charms and spells. Write a one sentence explanation of the power of each: Accio;  Bubblehead; and   Enervate.  Write a one sentence explanation of the power of each spell: Transfiguration; Rictusempra; Ferula; and Obliviate.

5.)In two sentences for each house, explain the attributes,and characteristics that students in each house possess. 

6.) Write an 8 sentence paragraph explaining which house is right  for you and tell the reasons for your choice. Include why you  would not be a suitable resident in the other three houses. 


The Process

You and your friend will work together as teammates to gather information and to complete the  tasks. Click on the underlined words to go to the internet site for each part of the process.

1.)T o get information to make a web for each house, go to Slytherin,   Gryffindor   Hufflepuff, and   Ravenclaw.

2.) Locate pictures of a mascot and the crest for Slytherin,        Gryffindor,   Hufflepuff , and Ravenclaw.    Draw the mascot and     crest for  each  house on posters.

3.) Click on the name of each house at the Sorting Hat for descriptions.

4.) Click on Charms and Spells at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for explanations of the charms and spells.

5.) Go to Attributes and Characteristics   to get information     about what kind of students live in each house.       Click     on each house to get the information you need.
 
 

Evaluation
You and your teammate will be evaluated  with the rubric below. You will be individually evaluated for rubric letters A. and B. and together for C through I. Before you hand in your completed WebQuest tasks, look over the rubric to be sure you have everything completed
 
 
 
Beginning 
1
 Developing
2
 Accomplished
3
 		 Exemplary
4
 Score
A.Shares tasks
equally with
teammate		 Always relies
on teammate
to do the tasks.		 Rarely does 
the assigned 
task- 
often needs
reminding.		 Usually does 
the
assigned
task- 
rarely needs 
reminding.		 Always does the assigned task without having to be reminded.
B.Cooperates
with teammate		 Never  cooperates
with teammate.		 Rarely  cooperates. Sometimes
cooperates.		 Usually 
cooperates
with teammate.
C.Completes
Task 1-
Webs		 Completes no
web or parts
of  a web.		 Completes one
or more webs
without all the information.		 Completes four
webs with most 
of the information.		 Completes 
four webs with all the information.
D.Completes 
Task 2-
Poster		 Completes no poster or 
makes a poster with few drawings.		 Completes a
poster with some drawings.		 Completes a poster with most or all drawings. Completes  a neat, creative poster with all the drawings.
E.Completes Task 3-
Sorting Hat Descriptions		 Writes no 
Sorting Hat
descriptions.		 Writes
Sorting Hat
descriptions
for a few 
houses.		 Writes Sorting
Hat descriptions
for most of the houses.		 Writes 
Sorting Hat
descriptions
for all of the
houses.
F.Completes 
Task 4- 
Charms and 
Spells		 Presents no
descriptions of charms and spells.		 Presents some 
descriptions of charms 
and spells.		 Presents most descriptions of charms and  spells. Presents all 
descriptions of charms 
and spells.
G.Completes 
Task 5-
Attributes, Characteristics		 Explains no attributes, characteristics  of  students. Explains few
attributes, characteristics
     of students.		 Explains some
attributes,
characteristics of students		 Explains all
of the 
attributes,
characteristics
     of students.
H.Completes 
Task 6-
Paragraph		 Does not 
     write a paragraph or writes an incomplete paragraph.		 Writes a 
paragraph  without including most of therequired information		 Writes a paragraph that includes most of  the  required information. Writes a paragraph that includes the required    information.
I.Grammar and
Spelling Usage		 Very frequent grammar and spelling errors   which  makes the writing impossible to understand. Frequent grammar and spelling errors which   make the writing difficult to understand. Grammar and spelling errors do not detract   from understand the writing. Begins and ends most sentences correctly . Grammar and spelling errors are infrequent,    and writing is clear.  Begins and ends sentences correctly .

Learning Advice
Make a plan of action with your teammate to determine how you will work together to complete your tasks. Re-read the tasks to be sure you  follow the directions. Proof-read your finished work to check for spelling or grammar errors.

Conclusion

You and your friend worked as a team to do a thorough investigation into the four houses of Hogwarts- Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. You have decided into which house you would like to be sorted. Now go to Sorting Ceremony to let the Sorting Hat sort you into a house.  Good luck! 
 
 


Credits & References

BOOK:

Harry Potter and the Sorcercer's Stone by J. K. Rowlings, page 114.

INTERNET: 

http://www.geocities.com/ukharrypotter/hogwarts/houses/slytherin.htm
http://www.geocities.com/ukharrypotter/hogwarts/houses/gryffindor.htm
http://www.geocities.com/ukharrypotter/hogwarts/houses/ravenclaw.htm
http://www.geocities.com/ukharrypotter/hogwarts/houses/hufflepuff.htm

http://www.geocities.com/ukharrypotter/hogwarts/houses/
http://www.hpgalleries.com/mgallery22.htm
http://www.mikids.com/harrypotter/charms.htm
http://www.mikids.com/harrypotter/


                                              
 

 
 

Last updated on August 15, 1999 . Based on a template from The WebQuest Page