MAGICAL EDUCATION
OWL Option One
How many Wizarding Schools are there in the world? Obviously there is Hogwarts. I mean, we're sitting in Hogwarts right now. Then we have two other European schools, Beauxbatons in France and Durmstrang somewhere in Eastern Europe. And then there's the famous North American school Ilvernmorny. But the list is far from being filled.
Down in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil lies Castelobruxo. Said to be founded in the 10th or 11th century, Castelobruxo takes students from all South American countries. But we have to take another look at the date it was presumably founded. The known dates would make this school from the New World roughly as old as Hogwarts. Considering the fact that the colonisation of Brazil didn't start until the 16th century, the founding dates need to be questioned.
Image of the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
Similar to Castelobruxo, Uagadou School of Magic takes students from all over the continent the school is located on, Africa this time. The Rwenzori Mountains serve as the foundation, with the school being inside the mountains.
From a mountain in Africa, let's move to a volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean. The island Minami Iwo Jima, one of the southernmost points of Japan, is uninhabited, so it serves as a perfect location for Mahoutokoro School of Magic. Being more than a thousand kilometers away from mainland Japan, it needs to be questioned how hundreds of students can travel there safely.
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And then we have Koldovstoretz, a school of unknown location in Russia. Aside from the name and that it is located in Russia, we know nothing about the school.
Image of Minami Iwo Jima, Japan
I have now named eight schools here, but the list is still incomplete. There are still more, but there is nothing available for them. No name, no location, no area from where they take their students.
Some schools competed against one another in magical or sports competition. Most famously for the three European schools was the Triwizard Tournament, until it was discontinued due to the high death toll. Other schools, like Koldovstoretz, Mahoutokoro and Uagadou compete in the Wizarding Schools Potions Championship, which is held every seven years.
HOMEWORK:
1) Pick a magical school -- it can be one of the ones listed above, except for Hogwarts -- and do some research. Write a short essay where you answer the following:
- What is the name of the school you picked? Where is it located? When was it founded?
- What sets this school apart from other wizarding schools?
- Compare this school to Hogwarts. Which would you rather attend? Why?
Feel free to elaborate on any other aspects of the school you find interesting to reach the expected word count.
*credit for this lesson belongs to TheSmartpool