Turn the beloved novel Frindle into a powerful springboard for exploring the building blocks of language! This engaging, hands-on unit helps students discover how words, sentences, and paragraphs are constructed—and how language itself evolves and changes over time.
Designed especially with gifted and advanced learners in mind, this unit combines grammar mini-lessons, vocabulary investigations, and Depth & Complexity thinking tools with the humor and heart of Andrew Clements’ Frindle. Students will not only learn the rules of language but also wrestle with big questions: Who decides what words mean? How do words change over time? Can creativity disrupt order?
What’s Included:
11 Mini-Lessons on the Structure of Language (Hands-on Activities: LEGO® sentence building, word sorting, diagramming, and connotation games)
Vocabulary study linked to Frindle (prefix, root, suffix, full definitions, connotation, shades of meaning)
Depth & Complexity Question Stems and Icons to extend thinking
Pre-reading activities and thematic discussions
Guided comprehension and character analysis questions
Socratic Seminar introduction, rubric, guidelines, and sentence starters
Culminating project: “Invent a Word” with step-by-step instructions
Structure-based activities (T-charts, webs, pyramids, debates)
Printable Grammar & Clarity Checklist PDF for teacher reference
Socratic Seminar Rubric
Analyzing Literature Rubric
Answer Keys for vocabulary and comprehension questions
Teacher Guide: Rationale for use with gifted learners, pacing suggestions, and extension ideas
Why Teachers Love It:
Perfect for gifted pull-outs, advanced ELA groups, or whole-class enrichment
Combines rigor + creativity: grammar foundations meet hands-on fun
Integrates universal themes of Order and Change with authentic literature.
Supports higher-level thinking through Socratic questioning and Depth & Complexity
Skills Addressed:
Word structure and etymology
Critical thinking and reasoning
Literary analysis
Ethical discussion and multiple perspectives
Creative writing and language innovation
Turn the beloved novel Frindle into a powerful springboard for exploring the building blocks of language! This engaging, hands-on unit helps students discover how words, sentences, and paragraphs are constructed—and how language itself evolves and changes over time.
Designed especially with gifted and advanced learners in mind, this unit combines grammar mini-lessons, vocabulary investigations, and Depth & Complexity thinking tools with the humor and heart of Andrew Clements’ Frindle. Students will not only learn the rules of language but also wrestle with big questions: Who decides what words mean? How do words change over time? Can creativity disrupt order?
What’s Included:
11 Mini-Lessons on the Structure of Language (Hands-on Activities: LEGO® sentence building, word sorting, diagramming, and connotation games)
Vocabulary study linked to Frindle (prefix, root, suffix, full definitions, connotation, shades of meaning)
Depth & Complexity Question Stems and Icons to extend thinking
Pre-reading activities and thematic discussions
Guided comprehension and character analysis questions
Socratic Seminar introduction, rubric, guidelines, and sentence starters
Culminating project: “Invent a Word” with step-by-step instructions
Structure-based activities (T-charts, webs, pyramids, debates)
Printable Grammar & Clarity Checklist PDF for teacher reference
Socratic Seminar Rubric
Analyzing Literature Rubric
Answer Keys for vocabulary and comprehension questions
Teacher Guide: Rationale for use with gifted learners, pacing suggestions, and extension ideas
Why Teachers Love It:
Perfect for gifted pull-outs, advanced ELA groups, or whole-class enrichment
Combines rigor + creativity: grammar foundations meet hands-on fun
Integrates universal themes of Order and Change with authentic literature.
Supports higher-level thinking through Socratic questioning and Depth & Complexity
Skills Addressed:
Word structure and etymology
Critical thinking and reasoning
Literary analysis
Ethical discussion and multiple perspectives
Creative writing and language innovation
