Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. Who is Harry Potter living with before he turns 11?

2. What animal does Harry speak with at the zoo?

3. What does Uncle Vernon do when letters start arriving for Harry?

4. Who finds Harry and the Dursleys on the island in the middle of the storm?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How do the Dursleys treat Harry?

2. How does Harry feel when he starts getting letters in the mail? Why?

Paired Resource

“The Rose That Grew From Concrete”

• A poem by Tupac Shakur filled with symbolism that can connect to characters and themes in Harry Potter
• What do the rose and concrete symbolize in the poem? How is the rose like Harry Potter? What would be the equivalent of the concrete in the novel?

Chapters 5-8

Reading Check

1. Where do wizards keep valuables, including the money Harry’s parents left him?

2. Where does Harry get his magic wand?

3. What house does the Sorting Hat put Harry in?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Harry find Platform 9¾?

2. What aspects of Hogwarts make it magical?

3. How is Hermione’s character described?

4. What is the House Cup?

5. Who is Snape, and what is his attitude toward Harry?

Paired Resource

“What is the History of Magic Wands?”

• Religion for Breakfast video tracking the role of magic wands in different historical and literary time periods
• In considering the historical background of wands in literature, what role do wands play in the novel? How is Harry’s wand significant to his development as a wizard and overall character?

Chapters 9-12

Reading Check

During their first flying lesson, who falls off his broom and gets injured?

1. Who is a bully at Hogwarts?

2. What do Harry, Ron, and Hermione find guarding a trap door?

3. What is Harry’s position on the Quidditch team?

4. When it seems Harry’s broom is cursed during the Quidditch game, who does Hermione believe is responsible?

5. When Harry looks in the Mirror of Erised, what does he see?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the objective of the sport Quidditch?

2. When Professor McGonagall sees Harry flying, what does she do?

3. How do Harry, Ron, and Hermione work together to take down the troll and avoid getting in trouble?

Paired Resources

“Why Everyone Should Read Harry Potter”

• An article explaining how reading Harry Potter builds empathy
• Where have we seen empathy in the book so far? What characters have shown empathy to others? What characters need empathy from others?

Quidditch Rules

• Brock University’s rules for Quidditch play
• Although Quidditch is a magical sport, how has Brock University adapted the game to be played without magic? How do these differences affect the way people might enjoy playing or watching the sport?

Chapters 13-17

Reading Check

1. What is one thing the Sorcerer’s Stone can do?

2. Who is Norbert?

3. Who is Firenze?

4. Who do Harry, Ron, and Hermione believe is trying to get the Sorcerer’s Stone?

5. When Harry finally finds the person responsible for the dangerous events at Hogwarts, who does he see?

6. Who saves Harry from Voldemort?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What are some of the obstacles Harry, Ron, and Hermione face to secure the Sorcerer’s Stone?

2. When Harry asks why Voldemort wants to kill him, what is Dumbledore’s reply?

Recommended Next Reads

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

• The second book in the Harry Potter series
• Follows Harry and his friends through year two at Hogwarts
• Explores common themes of Good vs. Evil, Pros and Cons of Bravery, and The Importance of Home and Belonging
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on SuperSummary

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

• Follows the experiences of August, a young boy with Treacher Collins Syndrome, when he begins attending in-person school in middle school
• Explores common themes of Pros and Cons of Bravery and The Importance of Home and Belonging
• Wonder on SuperSummary