Written for Science Assessment 1 of the the Fanfiction School of Imagination and Creativity Competition.
I push my hair behind my ear as I read over my lesson plan one final time. I can't deny that I'm nervous. This will be my first lesson as a teacher and I really have no idea what to expect. Not only that but my subject is such a difficult one that the students will certainly be expecting an extremely bright teacher. What if I bore them? I know this isn't a very popular class, there were only six students when I took a few years ago, there will only be four in this class and if any of them drop out the subject will be canceled and I'll be out of a job.
I push the worries out of my mind and go back to my lesson plan. I spent hours perfecting it and am fairly pleased with it now.
1:00 - 1:05: Take roll call
1:05 - 1:15: Go over rules and expectations
1:15 - 1:25: Hand out and cover syllabus
1:25 - 1:35: Address any questions students may have about the class
1:35 - 2:35: Give a lecture on how Alchemy began
2:35 - 2:50: Allow students to ask questions about the beginning of Alchemy
2:50 - 3:00: Assign homework
Homework - Read Chapter One - Early Alchemy in your textbook and write one roll of parchment summarizing what you learned
My goal for the beginning of this year is to teach my students to understand the theory involved in Alchemy. I want them to be able to appreciate the thought process involved before they begin to practice the subject on their own. This would include the history of Alchemy such as where the idea came from and how it has progressed over the years. Also, the people who experimented with and studied it such as John Dastin, Thomas Norton, and George Starkey. They will study the things famous Alchemists studied in order to truly understand the subject.
Their study of Alchemy will be guided by the book Understanding Alchemy: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of an Ancient Art. The book explains that as long as magic has existed along with it was a desire for more power, especially the power on which Alchemy is based, transfiguration of something basic into something that is not. A spell can only do so much and there have always been wizards who wanted to go beyond this to have limitless power. In addition to this I want my students to understand that Alchemy is much more than a search for power. It is a beautiful subject which involves combining things to create completely different things. They will be able to do unimaginable things with Alchemy once they understand it. Only after that happens will they be able to move beyond theory.
I take a deep breath and set the lesson plan on my desk. The class will go fine. The students all want to be in my class and are sure to work hard. It will be fine.
