Lesson Hub
Dive into a world where the magic of the Harry Potter film series illuminates a variety of curriculum links and career pathways. From the technical prowess in STEM to the intricate artistry of design; from the narrative depths of English to the vibrant insights of Film & Media and the strategic facets of Business.
Use the filters below to find the perfect lesson for your students!
Movie Maths
Students will use mathematical skills including scale factor, percentages and fractions to discover how half-giant Hagrid was brought to life on-screen.
The Art of Foley
Students will discover the importance of sound in film and experience one of the most intriguing jobs in film – the Foley artist.
Costume Distressing
Students will have the opportunity to examine a costume before and after a battle scene, and analyse how the Costume Designer creates wear and tear.
Set Design
Students will focus on the artwork from the Harry Potter series and learn how the Production Designer tackles a script brief, examining the process from sketch, into storyboard and model, resulting in the final set.
Movie Graphic Design
Students will learn the processes involved in creating movie graphics, from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes products to copies of the Daily Prophet newspapers.
The Art of Movie Makeup
Students will discover how the physical look of a character is created from the use of hair and makeup; creating physical features such as scars to build who a character is. They will learn about the step-by-step process makeup teams go through from reading the script all the way to the finished product, with a chance to see authentic prosthetics and wigs from the Harry Potter films.
Costume Characterisation
Students will have the opportunity to look at original mood boards and costumes which will give them an insight into how there is never a costume without character and history.
Script to Screen
Students will have the opportunity to look at the journey of a film production from the script to what is seen on the big screen. They will study the processes used, focusing on artwork, plans, white card models, storyboards and the finished sets used in the Harry Potter film series.
Camera Choices
Students will have the opportunity to examine film sequences, with the intention of developing their understanding of how a Director communicates atmosphere, meaning and narrative.
Storyboarding
Students will learn about the important role storyboards play in the process of filmmaking. They will learn how departments work together, thinking about how camera and actor positioning helps to tell the story of the film. As a group, students will create their own concept for a film and begin to storyboard a scene from the film.
Mise-en-scène
Students will discover the true meaning of mise-en-scène and how nothing inside the film frame is an accident. Using authentic props and costumes from the Harry Potter films as examples, students will learn how the various elements of mise-en-scène impact an audience. Students will discuss and develop their own idea for a film scene, justifying the mise-en-scène elements that will make up their chosen scene.
Pitching
Students will be encouraged to come up with their own original idea for a film and condense it into a pitch of 25 words or less, which would sell it to a film executive.
Instructional Writing
Students will get the chance to examine authentic artefacts from the film series before using these to devise their own game and instructions.
Screenplay Stories
Students will have the opportunity to study the key conventions of story writing and discover how writers use the written word to convey visual representations and narrative in a screenplay.
Careers in the Creative Industry
The film industry offers exciting career opportunities. As the Harry Potter film series exemplifies, careers in the industry require talent, creativity and craft.
Movie Business
Focusing on one scene, students will be able to grasp the enormity of film production and the business principles required in the industrial art form of filmmaking.
Movie Marketing
Students will discover how a marketing campaign can influence the success and profitability of a film. A step-by-step analysis of a film marketing campaign will allow students to access the complex and exciting world of film marketing.
Creating Creatures
Students will analyse features of creature descriptions in the Harry Potter books and will learn how some of the magical creatures were brought to life in the Harry Potter film series, from animatronics to CGI. Students will then invent their own magical creatures.
Screenwriting
Students will explore the core conventions of screenwriting and examine how writers use language to create visual imagery and compelling narratives on screen. They will then apply these techniques to begin to develop and write their own original screenplays.