Hogwart’s Murder Mystery This is a “the more the merrier” party - it works with a minimum of 8 students/guests, but 1216 is better, or any multiple of 4 after that. This package gives you instructions for groups of up to 24 students. The download includes script/instructions for headmaster and professors. The mystery game can be played through in about 2-3 hours. All the more fun if played partly outdoors or at night! We recommend 2-3 “professors”(facilitator) and a Headmaster (who could do double-duty as a professor if needed). This party is intended for tweens or older, with older teens or adults serving as professors. Although some preparation is involved as with any party, the fun is greatly reduced if the instructions are elaborate and there are scripts and roles to be memorized. This party plan is designed to keep things simple, organized yet flexible enough to suit a variety of settings, numbers and materials.
THE BIG PICTURE: The new school year at Hogwart’s is just beginning. Shortly after students have been sorted into their houses, a teacher rushes in and announces that the Dark Arts professor has mysteriously disappeared/been murdered and the school must close unless the mystery can be solved. Students - split into groups that include members from two or more houses - will rotate through challenges that will provide them with clues. The houses will reconnect at the end and compare notes before naming their solution. Two “Owl Mail Calls” are included (more on this later). By the process of elimination and deduction, their goal is to solve the mystery and keep Hogwart’s open.
INCLUDED:
(files are in PDF format for easy printing by anyone) A plan that is adjustable for as few as 8 and as many as 24 guests. The logistics have already been worked out, so the host simply needs to select the right sorting list and follow the intructions. A brief overview of the entire plan in order to help determine the settings...a sample “Maurader’s Map” is included. This overview includes a basic outline of the action, the various activities and will help the host plan which rooms are best suited for each event. Materials and Setup Lists for the Challenges
Decorations Suggestions and Resources List
Various printouts related to the activities: Challenge 4: Herbology Class Exam Sheet* and Potions Mixing Cards Challenge 5: Magical Creatures List* Challenge 6: Imperio Curse Aquisition List*
Professor’s Instructions (these are for the facilitators) which include clue sheets, brief descriptions of the challenges and a few scripted lines to set the stage before each one. Everything is mapped out so that the minimum preparation is needed on the part of these volunteers...a quick read through 15-20 minutes before the party and they will have enough background to keep in the spirit of the mystery even if they are not avid Potter fans. Sorting hat cards - just choose the one suited to your (hopefully confirmed) guest # - print and cut, toss into hat (or whatever you are using) and the guests are automatically grouped. Pre-Party Setup Checklist - to make sure you have everything ready for action Decorative Elements Included with basic package: Decorative Signs to designate Challenge area* Labels for Butterbeer and Pumpkin juice Small labels suitable for glueing to favor bags** Clue Booklets - for each guest to keep track of their clues
* Included as a separate file as they are sized differently than this booklet **EXTRAS!!!The stylized artworks were created in a vector art program - they are SCALEABLE to any size. If you are interested in ordering, please see the Resources page. There is a small charge for each (many, many hours of work), but they are in PDF form and ready to be printed. There are t-shirt transfers (all you need is an inkjet and a pack of t-shirt transfers from the office store!), and 6 foot banners (think Quidditch) with the shield design in the middle. Please note that you cannot scale the small labels included - they will look very bad even enlarged a little. The original art has to be scaled and then sent in print-ready form. These larger versions can be printed at home and simply “tiled” (involves cutting and pasting, but works).
Headmaster’s Script/Notes SCENE ONE: ARRIVAL Arriving students are greeted by Headmaster/mistress in costume. (Sleepover? have them put their “trunks” in the “dormitories”) They then visit until dinner at _______________. Dinner in the Great Hall* (see menu samples)
SCENE TWO: Sorting and Intro of Mystery You (the host) are the head of a wizarding school (Dumbledore and McGonagall are popular choices!). It is the beginning of the school term and the students have only recently arrived. You stand before them in the Great Hall and welcome them to school and announce that it is time to begin sorting them into their houses. (Each student comes up and picks a card out of the sorting hat). **Extra: tape record the Sorting Hat Speech and play it from a recorder while some soft HP music like “Hedwig’s Theme” plays in background. 1. Each student has now chosen an identity from the sorting hat. Their identity includes both a house identity and a group number. This is a good time to attach house badges (see setup notes) 2. SCRIPT: Suddenly the headmaster rushes in and breathlessly announces that the new Dark Arts professor has vanished and is feared to have suffered a terrible fate. Hogwart’s may have to close and students may have to leave...unless the mystery can be solved. Ask for the students’ help in solving the mystery. Professors call for their group number (on their printouts), 1,2, 3 etc. to assemble with them. At this point, hand out the mystery kits (see setup notes). Headmaster announces that the students will aquire clues by undertaking challenges. These clues will help them solve the mystery. He instructs the students to follow their assigned professor who will escort them to the various challenges and reminds them that Owl Mail will continue to be delivered and they should listen for the bell/whistle, etc (Good spot to demo this).
SCENE THREE: The Challenges 3. Professors lead their group to the first room that group rotates through (see map). Each group starts in a different room, but rotates through the remaining rooms in order. (Ones that start at a number greater than one simply rotate back to the beginning room #1 to make sure all challenges are completed.) The introductory remarks and instructions for each activity are in their notes, to be added to or to dramatize as they wish! Listen for MAIL CALL to be sounded...all students should gather in the predetermined mail delivery area for this. They can return to their challenge to finish if needed. Note: the reason it helps to have a Headmaster separate from the professor/group leaders is that that one person can mill about checking on where the groups are, and tailor the owl mail drops to coincide with a challenge switch. A large number of students or an expansive party setting would make this person particularly useful.
4. Groups cycle through the various challenges, collecting clues.
SCENE FOUR: Resolution and Awards
“The Dementors of Azkaban have arrived! Hogwarts students assemble according to your houses and try to determine who is responsible for this foul deed, how they accomplished it and where they hid the body of our Professor of Dark Arts. Let’s see if our Hogwart’s students are good detectives!” After all challenges are completed by the groups, (including the two Owl Mail calls), everyone meets back in a central area and rejoin their housemates to compare clues and decide on what their solution (submitted by house, not by individual) will be. This should be written down and passed to the headmaster who can then compare the solutions to the actual and decide which house is the closest. The winning house gets prizes of your choosing. (If more than one house actually comes up with answer, then either have a tiebreaker trivia question ready, or an extra set of prizes. This hasn’t happened to us yet....
Pre-Party 1. CREATE MAP: Read through the brief description of the party on the previous pages. Then read through the challenges just to get an idea of the basics so you can decide where to locate the various party stages and actions. Print the Marauder’s Map and use it to sketch the locations on. When you have the locations decided on, number the challenge rooms/areas - this makes it easy for the “professors” to keep track of where they are in the sequence. Then, make a few extra copies to include with the professor’s instructions. 2. Decor, Costumes and Food: see web resources at back. There is certainly no shortage of wonderful ideas and recipes. This package includes signs for the challenge areas, labels for drinks, and printouts related to the actual mystery game which add to the atmosphere. Additionally, we have some vector art available that can be used dozens of ways..details on resource list. For music, we had the Harry Potter album playing in the background - during the sorting hat section, the softer music like “Hedwig’s Theme”, background music, “Do the Hippogriff” at the end of the mystery after winning house is announced. 3. GUEST LIST: Decide on the number of guests. The number of guests playing the game determine how many groups, and therefore how many professors are needed. It will be very helpful if you can get 4 people to commit well in advance to playing the role of the professors. Adding or dropping one at the last minute is easier than try to recruit several the day before. Changes to the number of guests are a given, so there are notes included on each sorting list on how to “blend” in an extra. 4. GATHER: Items needed for the mystery. The quantities depend on the projected number of “students”. We used plastic bins and or giant ziplocs to keep items together so that the day of the party, one simply drops the bag or bin in the challenge location...and tapes the sign up. The set up for the games is easy and takes minutes. See the Materials Checklist included for a handy shopping list. 5. PRINT and CUT: the signs, clue sheets and booklets, professor instructions, etc. Along with the challenge materials, these were simply placed into labeled baggies to make the day of the party setup easy.
Additional Mystery Props and Materials Needed: (Challenge materials are on checklist) Sorting hat - make your own or buy (sources listed)
Mystery “kits” for students - small bags with pen, notepad, house badge etc. - tape a quill feather to the pen, use the decorative cover included to tape/glue to a standard top-bound pocket-sized spiral notepad.
Clipboards for “professors” with clue lists (included), etc. & pens/quills. Complete script/instructions for the professors are included. These include the clue lists and clue awards for each challenge.
Small prizes for winning group. See materials checklist for number needed (or just divide guest# by 4). This is if you wish to give the winning group something special besides just party favors. You may want to give something extra to the professors as well for their help.
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Quidditch:
Be the Quaffle OBJECT: house members with the least number of dropped balls are awarded the most clues. This is where a badge or scarf comes in handy - so the professor can record drops without stopping the action to check. GAME: (the “professors” scripts include these directions). The entire group forms a circle, holding hands with a large hula hoop one player’s arm. The players pass the loop around the circle while keeping hands joined. The squishy ball gets passed in the opposite direction. SETUP: A party held in the evening may not be able to make use of your yard, so this challenge assumes the need to be in a lighted area. We have used both driveways and double garages. We taped banners to the closed garage doors or used a rope to hang them down the middle of the garage interior. Banners were just plastic tablecloths from party store (or plastic banquet draping) with the house shield art attached in the center. The ends of the tablecloths were cut either crenellated or pointed (see picture at right).
MATERIALS: large hula hoop squishy ball - the kind with spikes makes the game more interesting - it tickles so is harder to hold on to **for 20 or more players, get 2 of the above Shopping checklist is included at back this is simply for planning purposes.
!! If you have the space, you could certainly design a more active version of Quidditch for this challenge.
Slytherin’ House:
Pin the Feathers on the Phoenix OBJECT: First team to create their model phoenix and stitch ten “feathers” (red cloth strips or streamers) to the it, wins the clues. GAME: Housemates work as a team with one student donning the plastic sack and the other stuffing it with balloons, tying it and then stitching the feathers one by one to the sack.
MATERIALS: plastic garbage sacks large enough for guests to wear and stuff balloons in. Fold in half and cut neck and armholes. A few extra in case of rips is a good idea. fabric strips - a yard of 36” wide red fabric will produce 54 18”x2” strips. If you make up 16 bags of 10 strips, you will have more than enough for up to 30 players - and it only requires 3 yds.
SETUP:
In advance of the party, set up a stack of plastic sacks that have small holes for head and arms to poke through. Choose lawn size or kitchen size bags depending on size of guests. Keep the holes small so that the balloons cannot escape easily. A helium tank is really helpful here...blow balloons up in advance and tie ribbons to them so the teams can just pull down from ceiling as needed. Figure 10 balloons or so per phoenix. Sacks should be stuffed pretty snugly. “Professor” should discourage attempts to avoid stitching over balloons by lifting or pulling sack away - takes all the fun out and makes it too easy. Have a dozen or so needles threaded, but keep scissors and thread handy in case more are needed. A pincushion might help keep things in order.
needles - your call - not too sharp. If age of guests makes this questionable, use extra large safety pins. scissors & thread balloons - 10 or 15 per phoenix curl ribbon to tie balloons if using helium helium tank rental from party store?
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Prefect’s Bathroom: Polyjuice Peril
OBJECT: First house team to empty potion into sink using only spoons held in mouth, wins clues GAME: Each house team gets a bowl of “potion” and each student gets a spoon. They work as teams to empty the bowl, using only the spoons, into the sink. SETUP: Obviously, near a sink or even outdoors. Just fill bowls 3/4 full with water, add coloring and a dusting of glitter.
MATERIALS: clear glass or plastic bowls, one per team plastic spoons (deeper bowl, as on measuring spoons is best) red food coloring (or color of choice) multicolor glitter (to lightly sprinkle on top for irridescence)
Herbology Class: Name that Herb
OBJECT: Clues are awarded for most correct answers on the identity part of the test, and for the team that gets the corect potion mixing order, or closest to it. GAME: Students work individually to correctly identify the herbs set out before them. After everyone is done, they group into their house teams and try their skill at arranging potion ingredients in the correct order. SETUP: Decide in advance the order you will place the herbs in, from 1 -10. Write or type this list* and make enough copies so that each professor has one. Party day: place the 10 number cards on a table, the votive cups on top of them and then fill with the herbs as listed on your answer key. Place pens and notepaper nearby.
*A printable with selected herbs is included if you are able to find these exact herbs, then use that instead of typing your own.
Set out the potion mixing cards. Although there are only 4 per set, getting the exact order correctly may take a few minutes. (Professors will have the correct order in their notes).
MATERIALS: 10 votives or small glass bowls (decorate with gems or sparkles) 10 different herbs from health or ethnic grocery - see printable on page 56 for suggestions. You can use this printable if you are able to get these particular herbs. We avoid powder versions when possible (too easy to get on fingers or in eyes) and instead used fresh or original forms i.e. white pepper berries (less obvious appearance than black) and nutmeg pods, etc. Small amounts - just enough to fill the votives about halfway should be plenty. 4 herb plants (see key on p56) Included printables: • numbering cards - back of this doc • potion mixing cards - this doc • professor’s answer key - this doc BUT only helpful if you obtain specific herbs listed on it! • answer sheets for students in other doc set - large scale group pens clipboards
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Hagrid’s Cottage: Magical Creatures
OBJECT: Blindfolded team members take turns attempting to identify various “creatures” (or creature artifacts) by touch. GAME: Working as a team, housemates take turns being the blindfolded student and being the note taker (clipboards come in handy here). Clues go to team with greatest number of correct identifications. They write their guess in the list space below that box number. A list of possibilities is provided to select from. The order doesn’t matter - only the number of correctly guessed items per box. The professor has an answer key (you will have to fill this out based on what you buy and make a copy for each professor). SETUP: An area with enough room for the boxes to be at least a few feet away from each other. The number of items you need is keyed off of the number of guests - for 18, you need three boxes with 4-6 items each. The boxes are numbered. When they switch, they should rotate to another box. They do not need to visit all three boxes, unless the next group is moving very slowly and there is some time to kill.
MATERIALS: cloth blindfolds - 1 yd of 36” wide opaque black fabric will give you 6 six-inch wide strips - fold these in half to use as blindfolds. pens, clipboards and printout Boxes with armholes cut out, or ones with lids. (We found full size plastic treasure chests at a party store - the hinged lids made it easy to reach in while still keeping the contents from being exposed. Assorted small items from craft, toy or joke store. Bins at a local nostalgic toy store yielded lots of items with potential - particularly gooey or sticky things. See printout on page 55 for suggestions.
Defense of the Dark Arts: Imperio Practice
OBJECT: Housmates take turns practicing their Imperio Curse by directing their blindfolded team member’s actions via the Imperio Curse. GAME: Housemates work as a team with one student donning a blindfold. The other student is given a list of items he/she must have the “cursed” student retrieve. First team to obtain all items gets the clues. (It helps to give the student practicing the curse a few minutes to view the items. They should then be instructed to remain in one spot until the game is over. SETUP: This will depend on the area or room you think will work best for this. Some parties have simply scattered the objects around a large banquet table which confined the action to a small area - but it was still fun trying to avoid other blindfolded students and try and find objects by direction and touch rather than sight. If you have a room clear of obstacles, stairs, etc. then objects could be more widely dispersed around the room. **Professor and students will need to rescatter the items before the next group rotates in.
MATERIALS: cloth blindfolds - 1 yd of 36” wide opaque black fabric will give you 6 six-inch wide strips - fold these in half to use as blindfolds. clipboards, pens and printout (included in large scale printout group) 30-40 small objects, can be same if color different s each team is given a different list. Resource list includes good sources of inexpensive trinkets perfect for this. A list sheet is included in the oversize printable group, but you would have to write in (or print out and glue on) as items purchased are up to you. Groups of up to 18 only need 3 lists (ten different objects on each). Larger groups will need 4 lists created. Each list should be completely different although items can be same as long as color different and student directing can tell which item is his/hers.
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Dumbledore’s Office: Pensieve Pass
OBJECT: First group to pass all of their candies down the line and into the pensieve, get the clues. (Variation for smaller groups is relay format) GAME: Two houses have to work together. The groups form lines and each student gets a straw. The last person in each line is handed a bowl of ring candies and he/she must scoop up (no hands!) a candy and pass it to the next person’s straw and on down the line until the first person in line drops it in the “pensieve”. SETUP: Place the pensive(s) in an area that will acommodate two lines of several people each. Have two houses per line, each student gets a straw. Ten candies are given to the last person in line...it is up to you if you will allow them to use their hands to place the candy on their straw - we found that some could never pick the candy up out of the bowl and that brings everyhing to a halt! They pass it to the next person’s straw - no hands - and on down to the first person who drops it in the pensieve. If your group is a lot smaller - make this a relay, one scoops a candy and has to carry it across the room and drop it in,then return so the next person can go.
MATERIALS: straws - the sturdy kind like Starbucks has ring candies: most successful candy was peach gummie rings that were coated in sugar. We have tried dusting lightly in flour and chilling - you may want to experiment. Lifesavers only fit if the snow cone straws with the spoons on the end were used one could sort of scoop them up. the pensieves were simply large plastic cauldrons. You could have one per line or just one...either way works. We set a large dish with dry ice in it so the “pensieve” was misting the entire time. A bit of a mess - but the cauldron can be rinsed out. Variation: Try calling it the Goblet of Fire - Place your Name in the Goblet Challenge and either use the candy/ straw game or the old pass the card from lips to lips via suction. Have packets of 10 cards ready, number them either 1 or 2 so that professor can determine who got the most in the goblet.
Great Hall:
Wizard’s Concentration OBJECT: Housemates work in teams of 2 to play the wizard’s version of the classic game of Concentration. Team with most matches wins clues.
MATERIALS: 8-16 packages of 11x14 posterboard (assuming sets of 5 per package) glue
GAME: Concentration - cards are set out in a grid pattern on floor (template included). Students start by standing on a card. When the professor indicates (have a bell or something), students pick their card up off of the floor to see if they have a match with their teammate. Game continues until all cards are matched up. SETUP: Purchase the 11X14 size posterboard that comes in packages of 5. A design for the back of the card is included - just print them out and glue. The face of the cards can either be names, creatures, places etc written in text, or if you really want to go all out, glue pictures you gather. (See example at right) As each group leaves, they need to spend a couple of minutes shuffling and relaying the cards out for the next group.
printout for back of cards marker to write on face of card OR pictures of subjects you locate and print yourself
C H A L L E N G E
Owl Mail: SETUP:
MATERIALS:
Divide the feathers into two groups for the two mail calls.
feathers - packages at craft store contain various numbers, but figure on 3X the number of guests per mail call. (There are two mail calls.)
Pleace them in baggies until ready to use, then simply toss them up in the air and let them fall. Works great from a balcony!
ACTION: sound the first mail call after the first three challenges are completed. We also flickered the lights up and down and shot off a couple of glitter/confetti poppers for effect. When all are gathered, toss the feather in the air - if you have a balcony or a staircase - toss feathers from up there. Some lucky students will catch feathers with clues, but most feathers are blank. Since attached clues make those feathers fall faster, another method is to color the tip and those persons are verbally given a clue afterwards. Repeat process for the second mail call - after the sixth challenge is completed.
glue/tape clue printout - you will be gluing clues to one side of 11 of the feathers - 5 for 1st drop, 6 for 2nd. Alternatively, you can simply place a colored marker dot on 11 feathers and then have anyone who collected a feather with a dot get their clue from the Headmaster. (See the checklist for the day before the party to see more on the clue setup.)
O W L M A I L C A L L
Projects to work on a week or so in advance:
1. Wizard’s Concentration: not difficult, just time consuming. Printout the backs for the number of cards you are using (see Materials Checklist). Glue these to one side of the 11x14 posterboards and allow to dry. Then decide if you are just going to use marker to write words on the cards - just come up with up to 40 pairs of wizardly sort of words. OR, you can find pictures on the web to print out in pairs to glue to the cards. Not much more effort, but looks a lot more fun. Use characters, places, creatures... anything wizardly. 2. Decide on what sort of device you will use to identify the house the students belong to - do you want them to wear t-shirts? (The shield graphics are available in a suitable size for using with t-shirt transfers). You can just print the small shields provided and pin them to the students, or create “bibs� that tie on (see pat- tern in sheet included) to which you can either pin a badge, iron one on or just buy 4 colors of fabrics and leave them plain. This is something to work on well in advance... 3. Decide on where and how you might use any of the graphics available so you can print in advance and trim or tape together (if tiling). This is because only the card-size is provided for some and you will need to request or order enlargements before you can print. 4. Finally, the student clue lists can be a fun little project. The template provided is ready to print and can be stapled or bound on top or even trimmed and glued to the pages of a small top-bound pocket-sized spiral notebook. Add pictures next to the clues if you have time.
Day Before the Party Checklist
1. Recheck the materials list - make sure you haven’t forgotten anything 2. Print menus and drink labels - trim as needed. 3. Print professor’s items: -scripts/instructions - one set per professor -they will need a clue “package” - SEE #6 FIRST!!! -a copy of the map with the challenge areas numbered and the mail call area marked 4. print challenge area signs - these are sized for 11X17 paper 5. Print the sorting hat cards - they are on a single sheet,so just cut them out and place in a baggie so that on party day you can just empty them into the sorting hat. Print the set that is exact or next higher number than the number of guests who will be “students”. 6. Print 10 clue lists (*1 and then 3 for each professor). Take ONE list and cut out each clue, placing the people, places and spells in different baggies. Select one from each bag - this is your solution. CRITICAL: take the solution and mark out that person, place and spell from each of the other lists. Place solution in an envelope and keep safe until the end of the mystery on party day. Now - from these three baggies - randomly pick 11 clues. Keep it as even as possible - 3 people, 3 places, 3 spells and then one more from two of the three bags. 5 of these will be taped to feathers for the first mail call, 6 for the second mail call. BUT FIRST, with these 11 in front of you, mark these clues off of the professor’s lists. Now the professors’ clue sheets are ready to be clipped and placed in 3 separate bags per professor. 7. Tape the 11 mail call clues to feathers - 5 on some feathers for the first mail call and 6 on some feathers for the second mail call. Alternatively, you can simply color the stem of 11 feathers, split them between the two mail calls, and then pass out one of the 11 slips (headmaster can keep these in a baggie in his/her pocket until needed) to those who catch a marked feather. 8. Print out the answer sheets for the Imperio and Magical Creatures challenges, as well as the Herbology Exam and potion mixing cards (these need to be cut apart). 9. Print the student clue lists. These are in a form that can be bound across the top, or cut out and glued to a small pocket size top-bound spiral. We took them to a print shop and had them do simple binding at the top. 10. Prepare student “kits” - just set out a stack of generic clue books and quills, and have the house “badges” whether you have decided on t-shirts, or just paper badges pinned to their shirts - ready to pass out at sorting. We made kits - small paper sacks with rope handles, to which a house shield picture had been glued (included) each bag had the quill, a clue book with the house shield glued to the front, and a t-shirt with the iron-on pattern.
Day of the Party Checklist
1. Decorations up 2. Food prepared menus printed drink labels attached 3. pick up dry ice 4. pick up helium tank (some places will allow this the day before) 5. prepare clipboards for professors - their script, a map, a clue list/baggie and pens. IMPORTANT: write a 1, 2, or 3 at the upper right corner of each clipboard. That will be that professor’s group #. The only exception is for the party for 24 students - you will need a fourth professor, and #4 at at the top of his/her clipboard. 6. set challenge materials in their assigned areas and post signs (which you already printed) 7. In area where mystery is to be introduced, set out student “kits” professor clipboards sorting hat sorting cards in whatever container you wish students to pick from 8. go around to each challenge area and setup: a. set out hula hoop and ball for Quidditch Challenge b. fill bowls with water and sprinkle glitter, set out spoons for Polyjuice Challenge c. for the Phoenix Challenge, lay out bags, baggies with fabric strips pre-counted, a pincushion with threaded needles, extra thread and scissors. Blow up balloons with helium, and attach ribbons so they float on ceiling but are easy to grasp. This is the most time-consuming setup item. d. For Herbology, set the numbered cards out on a table and place the herbs in votives on top. You have already decided on the order in advance and written or typed that on the answer sheets - so just follow that order. Set out a stack of answer sheets and pens, as well as the bagged card set for the potion mixing test. e. Magical creatures - set up the boxes with 3-4 creatures placed inside. Set out answer sheets, clipboards and pens. Have blindfolds ready. f. Imperio - scatter items around area or surface. They should be clearly visible from any side of the room. Set out 2, 3 or 4 clipboards (depends on group size) - each with a different list of items. Set out pens and blindfolds. g. Pensieve: set cauldron(s) up. Wait until mystery is ready to begin to add dry ice. Set out bowls or bags or candy, and straws. h. Wizard’s concentration cards set out in grid pattern on the floor 9. Meet with “professors” at least 15-30 minutes before the party starts. Give them a quick tour of the challenge locations and ask them to spend a few minutes reading through their script, which includes instructions on how to manage the activity and award clues. You, the host should only have to manage the owl mail calls and the final denouement scene.
RESOURCES Here are some of the web resources for the items used in this mystery: Sorting Hat:
www.legendarytoys.com/EL-LU2330.html
Cauldron:
www.13moons.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=80
Gossamer:
www.shindigz.com
Trinkets
www.orientaltrading.com
Great Recipe Site!
www.britta.com/hogwarts/recipes.html
Potter Candy:
www.candywarehouse.com/harrypotter.html www.sylvanlaneshoppe.com
Adorable sugar mice:
www.handycandy.co.uk/sugar-mice-p-100.html
Votives
www.candles4less.com
Additionally, we have created some custom, stylized graphics for customers - many of which we can make available for purchase for use at your party to enhance the magical atmosphere. These are sized and formatted for printing. Some have printed at home and used their printer “tiling” feature which produces a puzzle that can be trimmed and taped or glued together. Contact us for more information.
Large:
parti-colored background, 3 ft wide x 6 ft tall with house shield single color background, 3’ x 6’with house shield Hogwart School sign, black background, golden yellow lettering, 6’ x 3’ Welcome to Hogwart’s, same colors as above, same size House shields, approx 24” x 36” (poster size), no background (will print on white) Elaborate banner design: parti-color w/stripes, centered shield, 2’ x 4’
Others: - house shields in sizes suitable for gluing on notebooks of several sizes - various wizardly book patterns sized to fit on front of those inexpensive composition books so you can create a mini-library or bookstore - house shield in t-shirt transfer size - fits on standard Avery transfers. !! note the Avery directions carefully - printing on dark t-shirts is a different process than printing on light...one requires a reversed design, one does not.
Sample Decorating Notes 1. Large Welcome to Hogwart’s banner tied between two pillars on front entry. 2. Inside: vertical Hogwart’s shield banner hanging from staircase that faces front entry 3. all four house banners hanging in living room (Great Hall) - two on one side, two on opposite wall large, heavy candles on mantel. Posters designed like traditional English shop signs for the shops. 4. four shorter house banners hanging on clothesline stretched across garage (Quidditch Field) 5. flagstone gossamer hanging from top of walls in hallway and dining area 6. candles in some areas and a few colored bulbs in others 7. large garden urn in center of dining table - small bucket inside filled with dry ice 8. large metal tubs at either end of patio - both filled with water and someone in charge of adding dry ice as needed - some challenges played out here, so this adds to atmospere 9. Potter album music playing...softer stuff at beginning 10. Herbology class on outdoor patio table - just placed lots of house plants around 11. Outdoor fireplace - good spot for Hagrid’s cottage. Just added a lantern light. 12. Slytherin - use a green or blacklight bulb. If in laundry room, drape shiny green party fabric over machines 13. “students” get appropriate t-shirt to wear after they are sorted, quills (feathers taped to pens) and top- bound reporter’s spiral notebooks with clues and some pictures. Front of notebook has house shield glued on. 14. books (made of composition books with printed covers glued on) and quills scattered on a few tables, along with variously sized cauldrons, several very large rubber rats, an actual medical school skeleton (trick is to look wizardish, not Halloweenish). Also - some plain bottles filled with food-color tinted water - esp in kitchen area. 15. professors all wear black robes, a few hats, wigs and glasses...one had black & white striped stockings and green sparkle shoes, another had layered deliberately ripped fishnets over dark red stockings - the robes were knee length, so the stockings were a fun touch.
Sample Menu Notes
1. Large bowls of punch at either end. Used recipes found on web - Dragon Blood and Polyjuice. Also added small amount of dry ice so punch would smoke. (check with your supplier on how to do this). Set root beer bottles around with Pumpkin Juice and Butterbeer labels glued on - these were for looks. All drinks were served in plastic goblets we decorated earlier with a little gold paint and jewels from craft store. 2. Tons of interesting stuff on the web...but we have been very successful just supplying pre-teen and teens guests with large specialty sandwich trays - very nicely done ham and turkey on croissants and soft rolls, fruit, vegetable and cheese trays, with herb and cream cheese dips, and lots of chips. If you want to attempt a more wizardly menu, see the Resources page. 3. DESSERT is where you can have a lot of fun - in addition to ordering Potter candy from the various sources that carry it, we did try a few web recipes. We cleared the table after the main meal and had the guests visit for a few minutes while we set out all the clear glass containers we had - cake stand , votive cups, vases etc each filled with something. There actually wasn’t too much - it was just spread out and looked a bit like a lab. 4. Table decorations were simple - as mentioned earlier under Decorating Notes, we were lucky enough to have a large decorative urn that looked a lot like the Goblet of Fire - this , with a small bowl of water/dry ice set down inside, was the centerpiece. A dark blue tablecloth , with gold and iridescent glitter sprinkled on before we set dishes down, a few candelabras or large candle sticks and we were done.
PROFESSOR’S INTRUCTIONS/ SCRIPT
Professor’s Notes The Headmaster should first give you a tour of the house so you are familiar with the locations of the challenges. You will be acting as a facilitator, leading your group through all of the challenges and distributing clues that will help them solve the mystery. It will keep things flowing smoothly if, while a challenge is being played, you read up on the next one so you are ready to get started as soon as you rotate. 1. SORTING OUT YOUR GROUP: Each Hogwart’s student has chosen an identity from the sorting hat. Their identity includes both a house identity and a group number. They should have something to identify them so you can keep their house affiliation straight - a t-shirt, pinned badge, etc. Call for the group number at the top of your sheet to assemble with you. Each group starts in a different room, but rotates through the remaining rooms in order. (Ones that start at a number greater than one simply rotate back to the beginning room to make sure all challenges are completed.) Before you start...you have three clue bags - ask your group to identify themselves by house and write a house name on each bag. Going forward you will only award clues from a house’s specific bag. **If you are playing the 20 student version and you have the 8 person group, then you will use the third bag for your four “singles”.
2. BEGIN THE CHALLENGES: Lead your group to the first room your group rotates through. The introductory remarks and instructions for each activity are below. Many activities require housemates to pair up - the groups are arranged to make this possible - although you may have more than one pair from a given house. Listen for MAIL CALL to be sounded... just bring your group to the area designated for “owl mail” then go back to the next room in your rotation.
3. AWARD THE CLUES: Included with your instructions should be bags of small paper slips - one for each house in your group. These are your clues to award. Clues are awarded to the HOUSE. (Your group may have multiple pairs from the same house). Now you are ready. The only thing to remember is to award clues to each house from their own bag. There are approx 35 clues per bag, and while we have recommended an award for each challenge, you can use your discretion...depending on the age of the group it might be necessary to award a few “catch up” clues if one group is falling way behind. You are encouraged to award all of your clues by the end of the last challenge.
Finally - several of the challenges will need to be readied for the next group...please have your students straighten everything up and leave things ready for the next group. This may involve (as in the Imperio Curse Practice) redistributing the game objects around the table or room or reshuffling and relaying cards out (Herbology and Wizard’s Concentration).
Professor’s Notes
THE CHALLENGES #1 - QUIDDITCH FIELD - BE the QUAFFLE and PASS the SNITCH “Students! In order to become better quidditch players we are going to try an exercise - you will BECOME the quaffle. You will put YOURSELF through the hoops! And while you are doing that, you will pass the golden snitch around in the OPPOSITE direction using only your chins.” Hula hoop pass: have students hold hands with arms out at sides and try to pass hoop around circle without breaking circle or using hands. Once they have hoop moving, have one girl start ball (snitch) in opposite direction. Tell them they have to successfully pass the hoop and ball 20 times or something...try to stretch 10-15 min. AWARD: FOUR clues to house with the least drops TWO clues to all other teams for playing
#2 SLITHERIN’ HOUSE - PIN the TAIL on the PHOENIX “Students, we are going to create a lifelike model of Professor Dumbledore’s phoenix Fawkes. Please stitch these feathers on to your model!” Students pair up. One pulls sack over head and puts head and arms through precut holes. Housemates help stuff balloons in from bottom of sack until fairly full, then loosely tie at knees. Then housemate gets needle and thread and has to sew 10 “feathers” (fabric strips) to student in sack. Pulling the sack away with one’s fingers is not allowed! AWARD: a) first to finish - FOUR b) last to pop - THREE c) one with most balloons left when done! - TWO
The Challenges #3 PREFECT’s BATHROOM - MOANING MYRTLE
“OH NO!!!! You made polyjuice potion but accidentally put basilisk blood in instead of pumpkin juice. You had better get rid of it before Snape finds out!! Wait a minute - you have no hands because you are a basilisk.....lucky for you you left the measuring spoon nearby!” Using plastic spoons, each team (of three two-person teams) must empty their bowl of polyjuice potion into the sink. AWARD: FOUR clues to winners TWO to second place
#4 HERBOLOGY EXAM (2 parts - Identity Exam and Potion Mixing) EXAM: “Students, please use your quills to write down the name of each of the herbs on the table. You may use the senses of smell and sight only.” Small cups of herbs are on numbered cards. Students take an exam sheet and fill it out.
POTION MIXING:
“Students, please select an ingredient and then line the cards up in the CORRECT order in which the ingredients must be mixed in order to create the famous Lockhart Love Potion! - It must be perfect, otherwise it could become the dreaded Instant Toad potion.”
Group students into their houses. Give each group one of the cards sets labeled “potion mixing”. See who lays them out in the correct order first. The correct order is: Rosemary, Mint, Claret, Lavender. AWARD: THREE clues to team with greatest number of correct answers on exam TWO and ONE to other teams in relation to # of correct answers
TWO clue to first or closest to get potion mix right
The Challenges #5 HAGRID’s COTTAGE: MAGICAL CREATURES “Students, welcome to Hagrid’s Cottage. Let’s see how much he has taught you about magical creatures. You will each be given a chance to examine several creatures, some of which we have placed a Shrinking Spell on, by touching them. You will put on your blindfold and tell you partner what you think each thing is....she will write it down. Then you will switch and do the same for her with the SECOND bag.” Strange creature challenge - blindfold one student in each of the three groups - they must feel the creatures and guess what they are. Bags are numbered...rotate them around to fill time..leave a few minutes to check answers and award clues. AWARD: FIVE clues for closest...FOUR to other.
#6 DEFENSE OF THE DARK ARTS CLASSROOM: IMPERIO CURSE IMPORTANT!! Before entering the class, students split into pairs (with a housemate) and one student is blindfolded. THEN you can lead them into the room...you do not want the blindfolded student to see where things are. The partner will pick up a clipboard and may take a few minutes to browse the room to locate the objects he/she is trying to attain before taking up a position one one side of the room (or have each of them stand in a separate corner of the room). They will instruct their “victim” from afar.
“Students, we are going to practice your skill at the Imperio Curse. You will place your partner under this spell and then we will see how well you are able to control their actions!” (Have students point wands at partners and say “IMPERIO!!”) Spellmakers verbally direct their victim around the table/room avoiding other “spellbound” students and collecting the objects they are told to (each spellmaker has a different list) Each item must be given to the spellmaker before the next one can be collected. First house to finish collecting their assigned objects and remove the curse from their partner, wins. AWARD: FOUR clues to winners TWO to second
The Challenges #7 Dumbledore’s Office - PENSIEVE PASS “Students, in order to solve this mystery, we need to clear our minds of all distracting thoughts...please place your “thoughts” into the pensieve. You may not touch them with your hands - they are delicate! Use the “wands” to pass them down the line and into the pensieve.” Lineup must pass candy to each other on straws they hold in their mouths - no hands - and drop in container. PERSON WHO DROPS MOVES TO 2nd to last place in line!!! The way the line moves makes this the worst position. After each drop...line rotates foward and front person goes to back to get rid of “thought”. AWARD: Four clues winners Three clues to second Two clues to third
#8 Great Hall: WIZARDS’ CONCENTRATION “Students, we are going to play Wizard’s Concentration. You and your partner will each choose a card to stand on. When I tell you, bend down and flip them over..if you and your teammate are on matching cards you get to keep the pair. The team with the most pairs wins. “ Working as a team of two with their housemate....students pick squares to stand on. At professor’s signal, they bend and turn over their card to see if they match their teammate. If not, they turn cards back over and move to another. Professor cues each move no one may move or check card until he/she signals. Play until all pairs found, Or until time up. AWARD team with most matches 5 clues. Other team gets 4.
The Challenges #9 MAIL DROP - two times during game At the sound of the bell (or whatever signal was chosen) - everyone returns to balcony area and McGonigle drops white feathers (Flicker lights and toss streamers for effect) - some of which have clues attached. If one of the girls on your team gets a clue....she can share it with her housemate, but she needs to let you know too! After all groups have completed all of the challenges, the Headmaster announces from the balcony: “The Dementors of Azkaban have arrived! Hogwarts students assemble according to your houses and try to determine who is responsible for this foul deed, how they accomplished it and where they hid the body of our Professor of Dark Arts. Let’s see if our Hogwart’s students are good detectives!” Then call on each group, randomly if you like, and compare their answer to the solution. The closest guess wins. Two of the helpers can play the part of the Dementors and drag the culprit away. Mystery Over!
Sorting Hat List for 8-10* Cut these into strips (3 columns per strip) to place in sorting hat. Professors will call out group numbers.
Character
House
Group #
Draco Malfoy
Slytherin
1
Ginny Weasley
Slytherin
1
Sirius Black
Slytherin
2
Ron Weasley
Gryffindor
2
Harry Potter
Gryffindor
2
Hermione Granger
Gryffindor
2
Cho Chang
Ravenclaw
1
Luna Lovegood
Ravenclaw
1
Cedric Diggory
Hufflepuff
2
Padma Patil
Hufflepuff
2
If only 8 players, then remove the strips for Sirius Black and Hermione Granger. (If someone wants to be her - we have had 2 birthday girls request this - , then remove Ron Weasley) If playing with 10, then these two “students� will team up when the challenges require it, in spite of being from different houses. If they win as a team, simply split the winning clues between them
Sorting Hat List for 12-14 Cut these into strips (3 columns per strip) to place in sorting hat. Professors will call out group numbers.
Character
House
Team
Draco Malfoy
Slytherin
1
Bellatrix LaStrange
Slytherin
1
Ginny Weasley
Slytherin
3
Sirius Black
Slytherin
3
Fred Weasley
Gryffindor
2
Ron Weasley
Gryffindor
2
Harry Potter
Gryffindor
3
Hermione Granger
Gryffindor
3
Fleur Delacour
Ravenclaw
3
Cho Chang
Ravenclaw
2
Luna Lovegood
Ravenclaw
2
Cedric Diggory
Hufflepuff
1
Hannah Abbott
Hufflepuff
3
Padma Patil
Hufflepuff
1
If only 12 players, then remove the strips for Hannah Abbott and Fleur Delacour. If playing with 14, then these two “students� will team up when the challenges require it, in spite of being from different houses. If they win as a team, simply split the winning clues between them
Sorting Hat List for 16 - 18* Cut these into strips (3 columns per strip) to place in sorting hat. Professors will call out group numbers.
Character
House
Group #
Viktor Krum
Slytherin
1
Draco Malfoy
Slytherin
1
Bellatrix LaStrange
Slytherin
2
Ginny Weasley
Slytherin
1
Sirius Black
Slytherin
2
Fred Weasley
Gryffindor
1
Ron Weasley
Gryffindor
1
George Weasley
Gryffindor
3
Harry Potter
Gryffindor
3
Hermione Granger
Gryffindor
1
Fleur Delacour
Ravenclaw
2
Cho Chang
Ravenclaw
2
Luna Lovegood
Ravenclaw
3
Nymphadora Tonks
Ravenclaw
3
Zacharia Smith
Hufflepuff
2
Cedric Diggory
Hufflepuff
2
Hannah Abbott
Hufflepuff
3
Padma Patil
Hufflepuff
3
Sorting Hat List for 20 Cut these into strips (3 columns per strip) to place in sorting hat. Professors will call out group numbers.
Character
House
Team
Viktor Krum
Slytherin
1
Draco Malfoy
Slytherin
1
Bellatrix LaStrange
Slytherin
2
Ginny Weasley
Slytherin
2
Sirius Black
Slytherin
3
Fred Weasley
Gryffindor
3
Ron Weasley
Gryffindor
3
George Weasley
Gryffindor
3
Harry Potter
Gryffindor
1
Hermione Granger
Gryffindor
1
Fleur Delacour
Ravenclaw
3
Cho Chang
Ravenclaw
2
Luna Lovegood
Ravenclaw
2
Nymphadora Tonks
Ravenclaw
3
Zacharia Smith
Hufflepuff
1
Cedric Diggory
Hufflepuff
1
Hannah Abbott
Hufflepuff
2
Padma Patil
Hufflepuff
2
Colin Creevey
Ravenclaw
3
Ernie MacMillan
Hufflepuff
3
This is the only number in which one group will have 8 members - four of which are “singles�. Let those four choose which house to partner with (they may even want to alternate for various challenges). Just award the clues to both houses that comprise the team.
Sorting Hat List for 24 Cut these into strips (3 columns per strip) to place in sorting hat. Professors will call out group numbers.
Character
House
Team
Viktor Krum
Slytherin
1
Draco Malfoy
Slytherin
1
Bellatrix LaStrange
Slytherin
2
Ginny Weasley
Slytherin
2
Sirius Black
Slytherin
3
Fred Weasley
Gryffindor
2
Ron Weasley
Gryffindor
2
George Weasley
Gryffindor
3
Harry Potter
Gryffindor
3
Hermione Granger
Gryffindor
4
Fleur Delacour
Ravenclaw
3
Cho Chang
Ravenclaw
3
Luna Lovegood
Ravenclaw
1
Nymphadora Tonks
Ravenclaw
1
Zacharia Smith
Hufflepuff
4
Cedric Diggory
Hufflepuff
4
Hannah Abbott
Hufflepuff
2
Padma Patil
Hufflepuff
2
Colin Creevey
Ravenclaw
4
Ernie MacMillan
Hufflepuff
1
Hufflepuff
1
Ravenclaw
4
Gryffindor
4
Slytherin
3
Clue List Character
Location
Potion/Curse
Viktor Krum
Gryffindor Common Room
Aging Potion
Draco Malfoy
Third Floor Corridor
Colloportus
Bellatrix LaStrange
Dark Forest
Forgetfulness Potion
Ginny Weasley
Herbology Classroom
Furnunculus
Sirius Black
Astronomy Tower
Shrinking Potion
Fred Weasley
Room of Requirement
Jelly-Legs Jinx
Ron Weasley
Broom Cupboard
Confundus
George Weasley
Prefect’s Bathroom
Wolfsbane
Harry Potter
Hogesmeade Village
Petrificus Permanente
Hermione Granger
The Owlery
Crucio
Fleur Delacour
The Black Lake
Tarentellagra
Cho Chang
The Kitchens
Densaugeo
Luna Lovegood
The South Tower
Polyjuice Potion
Nymphadora Tonks
Dumbledore’s Office
Trip Jinx
Zacharia Smith
Trophy Room
Evanesco
Cedric Diggory
at the Whomping Willow
Serpensortia
Hannah Abbott
Quidditch Field
Sectumsemprus
Padma Patil
Dark Arts Classroom
Avada Kedavra
First, print 10 of these sheets. Set 9 aside, and then take the first sheet and cut it into 54 slips - one per clue divided into 3 piles, one for person, one for place, one for spell. Select one slip from each pile - your solution. Cross the solution off of the remaining nine sheets. Then, from the same three piles, pull 11 clues - 3 from each pile and then two randomly. Mark these off the professors sheets as well. Then set these 11 aside to attach to the owl mail feathers. You can now toss the remainder of the 3 piles, place your solution in an envelope and have headmaster hang onto it. The cut the professors’ clue sheets up, keeping each sheet separate, and pulling the crossed out slips to toss. Each sheet goes in a separate bag, so you should have nine bags when done. Finally - to keep clues out of circulation and the mystery challenging, remove 5-6 clues randomly from each bag and toss these clues. Do not worry - there are still enough clues for the challenge awards - and this will make things more interesting.
Challenge Materials Checklist
ITEM
up to 16
for 20 -24
48
90
large hula hoop
1
2
squishy ball
1
2
red fabric
2 yds
3 yds
balloons
80
150
clear glass or plastic bowls
2
4
glitter
-
-
1 per guest
1 per guest
10
10
herbs, in 1 or 2 oz portions
10 varied
10 varied
blindfold fabric for 2 games
2 yds
2 yds
2
4
8 or 10
16-20
20
40
sturdy straws
1 per guest
1 per guest
ring candies
80 pcs
160 pcs
1
2
ask dealer
ask dealer
8 pkgs
16 pkgs
feathers (owl mail)
plastic spoons votives/small glass dishes
chests/containers for “creatures” assorted “creatures” assorted items (Imperio chall.)
large cauldron or flat dish dry ice (rice grind) 11 X 14” poster board helium tank rental clipboards (for profs & 2 games) pens/quills prizes for winning house garbarge bags
ask dealer what size ask dealer what size 8
12
12
20
*
*
8 - 10
16 - 18
HAVE
Challenge Materials Checklist
Things you probably have around the house: scissors tape, glue ticky tack (for hanging signs) sharpie markers food coloring thread pincusion sewing or darning needles * Number of prizes needed based on largest group for your party size - check your Sorting Hat List to see how many are in your largest group.
House Badges for Pinning on Students’ Shirts, glueing to gift bags or student “kits” etc.
* enlarged designs available for iron-on transfers if you want your “students“ to wear their house Id’s rather than have them pinned on. See website.
Bryony’s
B u tterbeer
Puck’s
Pu
m p k in J u i c e Hogsmeade Brewery
Print this single page as many times as you need to cover multiple bottles!
Herbology Exam Potions Mixing Cards Print each of the following 4 pages 3 times - you will need at least three sets of all four cards to be able to give a set to each house team in your group. You can simply fold the page in half lengthwise, put a little glue between the backs and then cut the resulting 4 cards apart. If you want a sturdier card, fold the page in half lengthwise and then slide a sheet of cardstock between, add glue and trim.
Potion Mixing Test
Front
MINT
Back
The challenge is simply to place the cards on the table in the correct order, left to right (see Professor’s script). The correct answer is in the professor’s notes.
Potion Mixing Test
ROSEMARY
Potion Mixing Test
ROSEMARY
Potion Mixing Test
ROSEMARY
Potion Mixing Test
ROSEMARY
Potion Mixing Test LAVENDER Potion Mixing Test LAVENDER Potion Mixing Test LAVENDER Potion Mixing Test LAVENDER
Potion Mixing Test
MINT
Potion Mixing Test
MINT
Potion Mixing Test
MINT
Potion Mixing Test
MINT
CLARET
Potion Mixing Test
CLARET
Potion Mixing Test
CLARET
Potion Mixing Test
CLARET
Potion Mixing Test
My Cluebook
Cho Chang
Persons
Cedric Diggory
Bellatrix LaStrange
Draco Malfoy
Ginny Weasley
Fred Weasley
George Weasley
Viktor Krum
Fleur Delacour
Hermione Granger
Persons
Harry Potter
Ron Weasley
Cleared
Luna Lovegood
Sirius Black
Cleared
Places
Broom Cuboard
Room of Requirement
AstronomyTower
Herbology Classroom
Dark Forest
Third Floor Corridor
Gryffindor Common Room
Cleared
Zacariah Smith
Nymphadora Tonks
Padma Patil
Persons
Hannah Abbott
Cleared
Dumbledore’s Office
The South Tower
The Kitchens
The Owlery
Dark Arts Classroom
Prefect’s Bathroom
Places
The Black Lake
Quidditch Field
Cleared
Hogsmeade village
Trophy Room
Places
at the Whomping Willow
Cleared
Trip Jinx
Polyjuice Potion
Densaugeo
Avada Kedavra
Tarantellagra
Evanesco
Potions
Sectumsemprus
Crucio
Cleared
Serpensortia
Wolfsebane
Potions
Petrificus Permanente
Cleared
Colloportus
Aging Potion
Potions
Confundus
Jelly-legs Jinx
Shrinking Potion
Furnunculus
Forgetfulness Potion
Cleared
Numbering the rooms in the order you wish groups to rotate is helpful.
Quidditch Exercise
(garage)
QUIDDITCH
Polyjuice Challenge
MOANING MYRTLE
Front Entry
Upper Balcony
Wizard’s Concentration
(Living Room)
DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS
(Patio) Herbology Exam
HERBOLOGY
Imperius Spell
(Family Room)
GREAT HALL
DINING FOOD SETUP
Magical Creature Challenge
HAGRID’S COTTAGE (outdoor fireplace)
KITCHEN (not used)
Pin the Feather on the Phoenix
SLYTHERIN’ (Master bedroom)
Dumbledore’s Office (Hall) Pensieve Pass
DORMITORIES
Magical Creatures Answer Key Setup* We put 6 items in each of 3 boxes - (a couple items were repeated in more than one box) . The boxes were spread around the area so each team could work and not be overheard. Hate to admit this, but some of the ickier novelty items caused the most hilarity. This game works fine if you find...interesting... things and make up your own names/descriptives for the answer list - regardless of whether they are ones you find in a wizarding lexicon or not. The goo we used for troll bogies was the most, well, talked about later. Imagine being blindfolded and putting your hand on that! A sample answer sheet is included in the other PDF file. It has the challenge title and blanks for 3 boxes. The bottom has space for the possibilities, but you will have to fill that in once you gather these items and determine what names to assign them. Here is what the prepared sheet would look like:
Magical Creatures Challenge
Box #1
_____________ _____________ _____________ .......
Box #2 ____________ ____________
Box #3 ______________ ______________
Answer List (for all 3 boxes):
Nogtail - a pig-like creature Moke - a fish Newt Troll Bogies (no explanation needed) Unicorn Lethifold (a ghostly, shroud-like creature) Eyeball of a Kelpie Aquavirious Maggot - like a human brain
Dragon Droppings giant cockroach Scabbers
Herbology Answer Key (for Professor’s clipboard) #1 - Anise #2 - Thyme #3 - Cardamon #4 - Pepper Berries #5 - Cinnamon #6 - Oregano #7 - Cloves #8 - Lavender #9 - Allspice Berries #10 - Nutmeg Plant #1 - Rosemary Plant #2 - Basil Plant #3 - Patchouli Plant #4 - Sage Plant #5 - Mint
Herb #2
Herb #3
Herb #1
Herb #4
Herb #5
Herb #6
Herb #7
Herb #8
Herb #9
Herb #10
Plant #1
Plant #2
Plant #3
Plant #4