This Harry Potter Sorting Hat activity is a fun way to work with your child on developing and exploring their character and what it means to accept themselves.
One of the most impactful moments in the Harry Potter world is the sorting hat ceremony. It was a triumphant, right-of-passage moment. It left everyone cheering for Harry, awaiting their own acceptance letter, and wondering what Hogwarts house they would get sorted into.
For those of you who don’t yet know, upon arrival at the school, the personified sorting hat gets placed on the student’s head and reviews who they are as a person; then it calls out which Hogwarts house they will spend their time in while attending the wizarding school. It’s kind of like a fraternity or sorority for the magical world. Only no hazing within houses…or parties.
You can do a simple sorting hat ceremony with your kids with just a few simple items you probably have lying around the house. It doesn’t need to be extravagant to be fun.
Character Development with Harry Potter Sorting Hat Activity
Invite your kid(s) to dress up in their nicest robe while you prep the sorting brew below. Once it’s prepped, invite your child to sit in a chair facing their cauldron so they can see their house colors immediately. Make sure to keep it fun and get into character yourself! Leaving that lasting impression (and lesson) with them is what is most important. So have fun with it….and them!
Supplies:
- Small black cauldron or you can use a bowl <<< LINK
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Food Coloring – Make sure you have the right color for the house your child is in
- This talking Sorting Hat or you can use the printable offered below <<<< LINK
Instructions:
1. PREP the cauldron. Put a couple of drops of food coloring in the empty cauldron. Here are the house colors: Gryffindor is red; Slytherin is green; Hufflepuff is yellow; Ravenclaw is blue.
2. PREP – Add baking soda on top of it to keep it a surprise! Or switch this step with Step 1 if you want to see the house colors before the reaction.
3. Feel free to channel your inner Professor McGonagall and invite your child to sit in a chair facing their cauldron by royally announcing: “When I call your name, you will come forth. I shall place the sorting hat on your head and you will be sorted into your houses”, as stated in the movie. Then call their full name. For example, “Hermoine Granger” or “Harry Potter”. Then place the hat on their heads.
4. You will then pour the vinegar over the prepared cauldron and let it bubble and brew to reveal the house the child is placed in. I didn’t realize I was out of vinegar when I did this so I used apple cider vinegar…it worked just fine!
5. As the color in the cauldron reveals itself, you will either let the hat call out a house name, or you can call out the name, depending on if you chose to purchase the talking sorting hat or not.
6. Then you just remove the hat from the child’s head and move on to festivities and a feast, or however, you want to celebrate the official entry into Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry!
One variation you could do, if your child is choosing their own house, is you could add all the colors in the bowl for a rainbow effect. This works well if you are using the sorting hat that randomly chooses your house for you.
Or, you could add the food coloring on top of the baking soda and make it a potions demonstration; putting the food coloring, vinegar, and baking soda in fancy jars and labeling them fun things like: ‘Unicorn Horn” (baking soda), “Werewolf Slobber” (Vinegar), “Dragon’s Blood” (Red), “Troll Tears” (Yellow), “Basilisk Venom” (Green) and “Pixie Potion” (Blue). Or come up with your own! I used a dry-erase marker to write on my glass jars! It worked perfectly and was quick and easy!
If your kiddos are enjoying learning about themselves while exploring the magical world of witchcraft & wizardry, and they want more, you can grab all 8 of our Harry Potter mindfulness printables for just $1.29!
(If you just want the free file, feel free to go to the individual posts to grab to grab them. It will ask you to enter in your information for each activity printable, but don’t worry, I won’t send you duplicate emails.)
Social Emotional Learning Behind the Harry Potter Sorting Hat Activity
Many put a lot of stock into which house they would find themselves in, thinking it speaks to who they are as a person and what kind of character they have. While it’s true that the Hogwarts houses tend to have ‘types’ of people in them, it is important to remember that in real life, you get to choose who you want to be in this world. You can be a good Slytherin or cunning Hufflepuff. The point is, it’s your call.
It is important to also explain this to children. While it may seem like a complex idea, it really isn’t. Our choices matter and show others who we are and choose to be every day. So it is our choices that make us, us. Not what Hogwarts house we were assigned to.
One’s character says a lot about them and taking this opportunity to teach about character can be easy, impactful, and most of all, fun! Talking to your kids and empowering them to show up in the world the way they want to, can be a lasting lesson. One that sticks with them. Especially if it is turned into something fun. Plus, they will feel like they are really in the book with this fun activity.
Check out these other Harry Potter Social Emotional Learning Activities:
- Harry Potter Crest Activity – Self-Affirmation
- Harry Potter Remembrall Activity – Positive Mindset
- Harry Potter Transfiguration Activity – Flexible Thinking & Growth Mindset
- Harry Potter Boggart Activity – Facing Fear & Defeating Worry
- Harry Potter Mirror of Erised Activity – Achieving Goals / Tenacity
- Harry Potter Marauder’s Map Activity – Self Care / Authenticity / Safety
- Harry Potter Defeat Voldemort Activity – Confidence / Defeating Fear