COMC-501 Lessons

Release the Owls!

Welcome students to the final lesson before you sit your O.W.L.s! While you learned about your last creature of the year last week, Professor Cattercorn and I would like to review this year, as well as the previous years, to make sure you feel completely prepared for whatever comes at you when you sit your O.W.L.s. We are going to go in chronological order, hopefully bringing back all of the knowledge from Years Two, Three, and Four that is hiding in your mind. Get out your quills and parchments, and be ready to take quite a bit of notes! All of the PowerPoints and review materials given at the end of each year will again be provided for you, so make sure to look through those as well.

Year Two: The X, XX, and a Single XXX

Remembering Year Two gives me such wonderful memories! You were all so young, and you have learned so much since then. During Year Two, we learned about nine different creatures, as well as about the Ministry of Magic and the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. I would like to review the most basic of information that we covered, because you will always need to remember it: creature classifications.

To classify creatures based on the danger they pose, the Ministry of Magic’s Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures created the following scale, known as the Creature Classification Scale:

As you may recall, there are only two creatures classified as X and a handful of XX and XXXXX. The majority of creatures are classified as XXX, with the second largest classification being XXXX. We spent two and a half years covering XXX creatures because there are so many, and because they are some of the most common creatures you will encounter. This classification scale is provided at the beginning of Newt Scamander’s Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, and each creature’s classification is given at the top of their section. You never have an excuse not to know a creature’s classification!

There are also three categories the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures uses to classify creatures. These categories are given to a creature based on a single principle: can they understand, cooperate, and/or help shape magical law? Grogan Stump, the Minister of Magic in 1811, not only gave us the definition of the Being category, but created the Beast and Spirit categories as well (as was discussed by Professor Cattercorn in Year Four).

We have made a review presentation for you! It is linked below to help in reviewing the content from the year.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1SJ-sIG4UYx2t6n9a2BTqvtfcKfQTX6Khm-beasAWNLQ/edit?usp=sharing

Year Three: The XXX Creatures

During Year Three, we moved on to discussing creatures with the classification of XXX, the most common classification given to creatures. Over the course of the year, we discussed thirteen different creatures, as well as one disease and a few different plants. I would like to spend this time reviewing the disease we covered: ringworm.

Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes bald, circular patches on the skin. Remember, just because “worm” is in the name does not mean worms are involved! Ringworm is considered a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be spread between species. This is why extreme caution must be taken when handling an infected creature. Using gloves, applying antifungal washes, and changing your clothes are the best methods to prevent the spread of the infection. You can use the spell Episkey to heal the sores, however, you cannot use it more than once because it will magically mutate the fungus. You can also use topical ointments and oral medications, depending on the severity of the case.

I would also like to take a moment to discuss the year-long project you had. Throughout the year, you had to write Creature Journals. These journals were meant to improve your note taking skills, as well as get you into the mindset of being as descriptive as possible when describing encounters with creatures. Remember these skills as you move forward in your education!

To review the creatures, as well as have all of the information in one place, read through the review slides we prepared for you at the end of the year, linked below for your convenience.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YcWccgfOwAe3VtlzTsowuFX3Ai66HO824gHHxp8EOf8/edit?usp=sharing

Year Four: The XXX Creatures v.2

During Year Four, we covered even more of the XXX creatures. We covered thirteen different creatures, and even went on a field trip to my parents’ farm! I would like to discuss the year-long project that you completed during the year: ecology and creating an ecosystem.

As you learned, an ecosystem is a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environments. Everything in the ecosystem, from the smallest of organisms to the tallest of trees, plays a role in helping the environment thrive. There are several different scales of ecosystems: micro, messo, and biome. There is also a hierarchy of organisms within an ecosystem.

To delve deeper into ecosystems, and to review the creatures of the year, use the following Prezi presentation:

http://prezi.com/lnfwf81gr-bh/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Year Five: The XXX and XXXX Creatures

During Year Five, we covered the last of the XXX creatures and began covering the XXXX creatures. We also began to learn about the legislation that affects creatures. Throughout the year, you have started developing your own legislation, one that you feel will help a creature you have learned about so far in your magical education. I will not spend time harping on the year, as we still have much to cover today, but the following two powerpoints will aid in your reviewing process.

Creature Review: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ei1HUnm-aU5hS8gKea-91dQZHPC1OvQXZ1kmUj4PnAw/edit?usp=sharing

Legislation Review: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1R3-kIMxost_aL_c_YKGhIbqiOe7PsZ_pifICnvdDtPI/edit?usp=sharing

Finalization and Submission of Your Proposed Law

Now that we have reviewed the material we have covered in the course thus far, we have one more thing to discuss before your O.W.L.s: submitting your year-long project! You have spent the entire year drafting a new piece of legislation that you feel would benefit a creature in our magical world. Below is a quick discussion of the requirements, with a more expanded version available on the assignment submission page.

1. Your piece of legislation must cover a creature that has been covered at any time during the lessons of CoMC Years Two through Five.
2. It must be well-thought-out and something that you feel is truly needed in the wizarding world. That means no copying current or former legislation.
3. There are two parts to your submission:
1. The legislation itself. This must be provided and written appropriately.
2. A description of the legislation. You must explicitly state which creature the legislation is helping, why this legislation is essential and how it can influence the wizarding world, and how you recommend moving forward with enforcing the legislation.
4. There is no word minimum on this assignment. However, it is in your best interest to fully explain all of your thoughts and points to make sure it is clearly understood how your law will influence the wizarding world.
5. You do have the option of submitting your legislation to the DRCMC. This is not required to complete the course. You are welcome to say in your final submission if you are submitting your drafted legislation.

Closing

I think that covers everything we need to discuss. I would like to take a moment and wish you all good luck on your Ordinary Wizarding Level exams. I know you will do wonderfully. Make sure to submit your final legislation proposal, and with that, Professor Cattercorn and I wish you luck!

Lesson content written by Professor Elizabeth Anne

All pictures are found using the Google Images search engine, and belong to their owners. The chalkboard and biome chart images were made by Professor Anne