Literature Guide: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Grades 4-8) [Paperback]

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Scholastic Literature Guides (Harry Potter)

Includes a colorful teaching poster and engaging activities!
A complete guide to teaching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Includes an author biography, background information, summaries, thought-provoking discussion questions, as well as creative, cross-curricular activities and reproducibles that motivate students.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Plumbing the depths of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will result in a fascinating exploration of muggle (and wizard) nature. The Harry Potter Literature Guides help educators help their students delve into the hows, wheres, and whys of the Harry Potter series. In the Chamber of Secrets guide, thought-provoking queries are interspersed with more pedestrian lessons in comprehension, vocabulary, and themes. Students are asked to ponder such questions as these:

What does Dumbledore mean when he says, "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"? What choices have you made that show who you are?

Slytherin wanted Hogwarts to be a school for full-bloods, a school that excluded those who weren't like him. How does his attitude compare with real prejudices people have had throughout history?

The lightweight 18-page booklet divides the study of the book into chapter groupings, with summary and discussion questions and cross-curricular activities (art, music, writing, drama, literature, logic, etc.). Reproducible handouts and a colorful poster provide more educational opportunities for the savvy, up-to-date teacher. (Ages 8 to 11) --Emilie Coulter

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 16 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Professional Books (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 043921114X
• ISBN-13: 978-0439211147
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what is great literature anyway?, January 29, 2001

By 

Viaggiatrice "slp" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Literature Guide: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Grades 4-8) (Paperback)

This is largely in response to a reader from NJ below who takes issue with teaching Harry Potter as great literature. I am an aspiring librarian, with a BA in English Lit, and former student myself who wants to scream NO! as loudly as possible to this person's antiquated ideas. There are hundreds of books out there that are termed "classics" that will (and should be) taught to youth. Unfortunatly many of these are boring and make children think of reading as a chore for years to come. Why should fun books and educational books be mutually exclusive? I would not teach ONLY Harry Potter in a classroom, but if it will get kids to read I would definitly make it part of the curriculum. At the age this book is aimed at (5-8th grade I assume) shoving classics down the throats of children should be secondary to opening the world of literature to them. There are more books than can ever be taught in any school, give students the interest in reading to find out which ones they want to read themselves. The Harry Potter books are wonderful. The plotting is at an almost adult level. They are complicated and full of symbolism and concepts that most childrens books gloss over (or dumb down). However, instead of intimidating a young audience away, Harry Potter is showing children as young as 8 that reading is one of the most wonderful pastimes available to them. It's working! Please, as educators, parents, and librarians, encourage that. I read those "classics" in Middle School, Johnny Tremain and The Moon is Down almost lost me as a reader forever. They were dry and horrible and full of educational value. It was the seldom taught, but much loved, book Rebecca that showed me what reading has to offer. Remember, no book is a classic until looked at in hindsight, and has stood the test of time, but I would put money on Harry Potter still being around in 20 years.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Harry Potter is classic, January 8, 2001

By 

Bookster "Bookster" (the Frozen Tundra) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Literature Guide: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Grades 4-8) (Paperback)

There is nothing "mistaken" about attempting to teach the lessons in the Harry Potter series.

JK Rowling has masterfully produced realistic problematic situations and moral dilemnas to which young readers (and adults as well)can easily relate. With the interest that children have taken in the characters and plotlines, it would be wise and beneficial to take advantage of that and further explore and discuss the themes and how they translate to real children's lives.

To define "literature" as (courtesy of Webster's): "3a(1) : writings in prose or verse; especially : writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest," I submit that Harry Potter is, indeed, great children's literature and will be as classic as WINNIE THE POOH, BLACK BEAUTY and REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the Money!, September 24, 2009

By 

PixiesAndPrincesses "PixiesandPrincesses.com" (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Literature Guide: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Grades 4-8) (Paperback)

I am a homeschooling mother who bought this, to use with the books while reading with my girls. I develop my own cirriculum for school, and I was so excited that someone had made these study guides, so I wouldn't have to. However,this book was extremely disappointing to say the least. It is only 13 pages long with only two pages dedicated to any 5-6 chapters. The 5-10 questions, which were dedicated to the 5-6 chapters were silly, and had no depth to them. There were no other usable parts to the book. There are only 2-3 reproducibles, but they are not worth the cost of the paper to print them. Being an avid Harry Potter lover, as are my girls, this was extremely disappointing. Don't waste your money on it. You would do better to make up your own questions about each chapter and find some free stuff online.