Lesson 2: Magical Theory - Swish & Flick

       Charms rely greatly on the movement of the wrist when casting a charm. Some charms won't even work unless you use the proper hand movements. Take for example the charm "Wingardium Leviosa", you must do a swish and flick in order for the object to levitate. This is just one example out of many. There are many kinds of hand movements associated with many different charms. In this course we will cover these motions.

      Another important tool in using magic is the wand. While a wand is not necessarily necessary, it's important because it directs the energy into one beam. Later in your career as a student you will probably take a course about wand less magic. However, for all intents and purposes we will always use wands in this course. 

       Wands are a very important part of every spell you use. They have little power of their own, they just redefine and direct power more clearly. The majority of magic requires the use of a wand. However without a wand magic is possible, but it is very difficult.

       Each wand is not only unique but it is also uniquely suited to a certain witch or wizard. A wand is personal for a wizard, although you can use other wizards wands, you just won't have the same results as you would with your own wand. Two wands with the same core will never work properly against each other, and if forced to battle each other will result in an unusual phenomenon called Priori Incantatem, in which one wand will be forced to regurgitate echoes of the spells it has cast, in reverse order.     

       Usually they create sparks if they are correct. A wand is usually made of wood and has a core of a magic object or substance. Later on in this course we will cover more about wands. 

Homework 2: 25 Points

       Please use the Harry Potter Lexicon to define the following charms. Include the Latin roots and the charms uses. A file will be created in your the classroom for you to store all of your work. Use on post in the file for your homework and another for your mission. At the completion of the course your file should have 11 posts total: 1 post for your name and grades, 4 for each homework, 4 for each mission, and 2 for the tests.

• Alohamora
• Wingardium-Leviosa
• Avis
• Colloportus
• Reparo

Mission 2: 25 Points

       Please roleplay in the your classroom forum file the following mission:

• You are outside of the castle. The entrance hall doors to go in are locked however there's a broken key on the ground that may go to the door or may not. You may use only the spells you've learned above and those from lesson 1. Be sure to use all of the spells/charms listed in the Homework 2.

Honors Option 2: 25 Points

       (Remember to do the above in addition to this work.)

Read the "Magical Worldview". Use the article to construct a persuasive essay that takes a stance either for or against the topic discussed in the reading.