Frindle by Andrew Clements: Homeschool Study and Book Club Ideas
This Frindle homeschool study is a great way to add some fun to your enjoyment of this delightful story. Frindle is a fantastic read for your elementary school-aged child. This story offers a delightful plot twist, making it a perfect book for a family discussion.
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Frindle by Andrew Clements
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Children’s Humor, Children’s Classics
Length: 128 pages
First Published: 1998
View on Amazon | View on Goodreads
Publisher’s Description of Frindle
“Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school — and he’s always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he’s got the inspiration for his best plan ever…the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn’t belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there’s nothing Nick can do to stop it.”
My Goodreads Review
Nick loves to liven things up with his great ideas, but this year his 5th-grade teacher is the no-nonsense Mrs. Granger. Of course, this doesn’t stop Nick from trying some of his old tricks. After a particularly interesting class discussion about words, Nick decided to create a new word for pen and he calls it a Frindle. Will his word take off or will Mrs. Granger shut down all of the excitement before Frindle has a chance to catch on?
My children have all read and adored this book for years, but I never took the time to read it until this summer, and it is an absolutely delightful read. I enjoyed the spirit of the main character, Nick, as well as his “nemesis,” Mrs. Granger. Of course, the best part of this book was the delightful plot twist at the end, which proved to be a source of much discussion with my online book club students.
My Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Frindle Book Club Ideas
Everyone should be invited to bring their favorite frindle (pen) to the book club to use during the meeting. Give everyone time to share their favorite frindle and why they love it.
Purchase cheap frindles and create no-sew flower frindles.
Serve a “school lunch” with pizza, apple slices, baby carrots, and a brownie. Be sure to dress as the lunch lady when you serve the food.
Play Balderdash if your group is old enough to enjoy the word definition game:
Frindle Discussion Questions for Your Homeschool Study
1. Do you think words can just be made up? Why or why not? Can you think of any examples of words that maybe aren’t in the dictionary, but that a lot of people use anyway?
2. Describe Nick and Mrs. Granger. Do you think Nick was disrespectful? Did you like Mrs. Granger? Why or why not?
3. What are some of the actions and events that helped the word, frindle, gain popularity? Why do Nick’s friends start using it? the rest of his class? the whole town? the whole USA?
3. This book ends with a surprising plot twist when Nick finally reads his letter in the envelope from Mrs. Granger. How did you react? What did you think would be in the letter? Did the actual contents surprise you?
Homeschooling With Books: Discussion Questions To Help You Get Started
Grab this set of questions designed to facilitate a fantastic discussion about any book with your kids:
Helpful Links for Studying Frindle in Your Homeschool
Read more about the author, Andrew Clements. Be sure to read some of the Q&A about his writing process and more!
Information from the publisher about Frindle by Andrew Clements.
More Titles by Andrew Clements
Middle School Book Ideas for Your Next Homeschool Study
Online Book Clubs for Kids
She believes that creativity, laughter, and fun are the backbone for engaging and inspiring homeschools. You can find her encouragement and tips on this blog, Mary Hanna Wilson.
She is an enneagram 7 and an extrovert. She enjoys traveling, tea (iced or hot), good conversations, and books. You can connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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