July 25, 2020

July 31^st is Harry Potter’s Birthday, and if you’re a fan like me, it’s a great excuse to celebrate all things Harry Potter! Since I became the Mosinee Branch Coordinator, I’ve tried to bring my love of the Harry Potter series to our branch. At the end of the July, we typically host a week-long celebration of crafts and activities (with costumes very welcome!) including a crowd favorite, wand making! While we can’t do our usual in-person programming this year, below are instructions on how to make your very own wand at home, along with some links for other activities to celebrate!

Instructions for Younger Children (No Hot Glue Involved!)

Supplies needed:

• Short stick, chopstick or unsharpened pencil
• Markers
• Glitter, gems, beads, pipe cleaners and other craft supplies of your choosing
• Tape or glue
   

Steps:

1. Gather a stick, chopstick, or pencil. Whatever you have lying around will do! 
2. Using markers or paint, color your wand whatever color you’d like it to be.
3. Next, if you have pipe cleaners, wrap them around the top of your wand to make your handle. Construction paper also works great. Glue down the ends as needed so it stays in place. Feel free to add beads or other adornments to the pipe cleaner as well.
4. If you’ve got glitter at home, add some of that if you’d like, or any other decorative items available.
5. When you’re all done decorating, don’t forget to practice your spell movements!

Instructions for Teens and Adults (hot glue required)

Supplies needed:

• Short stick, chopstick or unsharpened pencil
• Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
• Paint or wood markers

Steps:

1. While continuously turning your wand, apply hot glue onto one end in whatever design you’d like. This will become your handle.
    
2. Paint your wand with paint or use wood markers to color it whatever color you’d like. Now your wand is ready!
   

Looking for other ways to celebrate? Here are some ideas!

• Make fizzing potions using food coloring, vinegar, and baking soda. Here’s how: https://www.brisbanekids.com.au/fantastic-fizzing-potions-science-fun/
• Get sorted into your house: https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/discover-your-hogwarts-house-on-wizarding-world
• Find out what your patronus is: https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/discover-your-patronus-on-pottermore
• Watch Flobberworms dance following these directions: https://bitzngiggles.com/electric-eels/
• Perform an atmospheric charm using these directions: http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/summer-cloud-science/#_a5y_p=2121528
• Do you have enough in your household to play a game of Quidditch? Check out this website for official rules to the game: https://www.usquidditch.org/about/rules
• Don’t forget to check out Harry Potter at Home, a collection of quizzes and activities you can do at home, including having the first book in the series read aloud by none other than Lucius Malfoy himself! Here’s the link: https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/harry-potter-at-home
• Also, don’t forget to check out your favorite Harry Potter books, movies, and audiobooks at your local MCPL location, or on Overdrive or Libby!

article by Sarah Moscatello / Mosinee Branch Coordinator

Adults Children Teens Tweens

image credit: Pixabay - free image