Muggle Magic

Voices from the Field

Learning Through Play in Harry Potter’s World

By Leigh Anne Wilson & Brittany R. Jacobs

In 1997, the world was introduced to one of its great stories: Harry Potter. The masterful writing of J. K. Rowling, about “the boy who lived,” has struck chords with millions of adults and children. Like many before her, Rowling tapped into the power of storytelling as a means of teaching, inspiring, and passing information from one generation to the next. Anthropologists have found evidence of storytelling throughout history, from orators in huntergatherer tribes to modern writers and actors (Hsu, 2008).

Tags: Engagement, STEM, Youth Development, Academic Subjects, Social Emotional