Informational Resources:

Author Information:

Megan Frazer Blakemore’s website:

https://www.meganfrazerblakemore.com/

Illustrator Information:

Nadja Sarell’s website:

https://www.nadjasarell.com/

Activities & Resources:

Activities:

Inventions:

5 Amazing Inventions That Made The World A Better Place:

https://www.goodnet.org/articles/5-amazing-inventions-that-made-world-better-place

10 Great Inventions Dreamt Up By Children:

https://greatbusinessschools.org/10-great-inventions-dreamt-up-by-children/

5 Kid Inventors Who Are Saving Lives:

https://littlebits.com/blogs/all/5-kid-inventors-who-are-saving-lives

Watch this video to understand the design process. The Engineering Process: Crash Course Kids #12.2 (5:16)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxJWin195kU

Pets:

What pet matches your personality? Take the online quiz:

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/games/personality-quizzes/which-pet/

Take this online quiz to determine your dream pet:

https://www.highlightskids.com/jokes/quiz/whats-your-dream-pet

Create a pet using the Japanese art of origami:

https://www.origamiway.com/origami-animals.shtml

Make your own pipe cleaner pet:

https://www.mcpl.us/about/blog/make-your-own-pipe-cleaner-pet

Create a survey to determine what pet your classmates would like. You can create it using pencil and paper or online with Poll Maker.

https://www.poll-maker.com/

Dealing with Frustration:

Using a Calm Down Jar is a great strategy to deal with frustration. You can follow this recipe to make your own:

http://mskcpotter.blogspot.com/2015/06/calm-down-jar-upgrade-and-recipe.html

Feeling frustrated, nervous, or angry? This video teaches you a breathing technique to help you cope with these feelings. 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise by GoZen (3:39):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxbdx-SeOOo

MakerSpace Activities:

Create a habitat for one of the pets suggested by the students in the book. Try to use as many recycled materials as possible.

Build a pet out of legos! Build four different dog breeds, some adorable cats, guinea pigs, a lizard, and a goldfish!

https://frugalfun4boys.com/lego-pets-building-instructions-dogs-cats/

Be an inventor, just like Frankie! Use your creativity and knowledge of math, science, and engineering to complete the design challenges in this guide.

https://pbskids.org/designsquad/pdf/parentseducators/DS_Invent_Guide_Full.pdf

Create an agility course for a classroom pet using recyclable materials such as plastic bottles, toilet paper rolls, paper, cardboard, bottle caps, etc.

Create a fun game about pets using your computer coding skills:

https://www.tynker.com/ide/v3?p=5e1e90a7dfd43851976e024e

Discussion Questions:

Frankie excels at math and science, but sometimes struggles with reading. Describe the subject that you struggle with and how you cope with it.

How is Ms. Cupid similar to your teacher? How is she different?

Describe how the author made a pun (a play on words, joke) when she wrote, “When I feel frustrated, I dig into my work.”

When Frankie’s father gets frustrated, he copes by focusing on his work. Discuss some things that you can do to take your mind off of frustrating situations.

Mrs. Reddy notices that Frankie is mad and disappointed. Mrs. Reddy convinces Frankie to practice her class pet argument with her. Describe a time when someone helped you get through a time of disappointment or anger.

“Necessity is the mother of invention” is an old proverb. What does it mean and how does it relate to this book?

Discuss what invention you wish would be created and how it would make your life better.

What are some personal characteristic traits that Frankie showed in this book? Find text evidence in the book that demonstrates these personal characteristic traits.

While creating her invention, Frankie came across some problems. It didn’t work correctly the first time. She had to change some things to make her invention better. Share a time when you were not successful on your first try. What steps did you take to become successful?

When Frankie creates her invention, she uses a design process. The illustrator created a drawing of it at the end of the book. Describe Frankie’s actions for each step of the design process.

Despite their differences, Frankie and Maya are best friends. Describe how they are different and how they are similar. Share how you and your best friend are different and similar.

Sometimes we don’t share the same opinions as our friends. In this case, Frankie wanted the class pet to be a rat and her good friend, Maya, wanted a fish. Describe a time when you and your friend had differing opinions?

When Maya hits a stumbling block in her research, Frankie pressures her into voting for a rat. Describe a time when you have felt pressured to do something you didn’t want to do. How did you handle it? How did it make you feel?

Describe a time where you had a falling out with a friend. What did you do to save your friendship?

Frankie has a very special relationship with her Aunt Gina. Describe a special relationship that you have with an adult.

How does Frankie change from the beginning of the story to the end? Describe these changes.

Explain why you agree or disagree with the voting results for the class pet.

If you were a member of Frankie’s class, what pet would you have voted for? Why?

At the end of the book, the author includes a section titled “Problems, Problems, Problems”. Why do you think the author included this section in the book?

What was your favorite part of the book? What makes this part your favorite?

Book Talk Teasers:

Show the book trailer for Frankie Sparks and the Class Pet. After viewing, make a prediction on what pet the class will pick.

Discuss what inventions would make your daily life better. Discuss what invention you think will be created in this book. Read the book to see if your prediction was correct.

Read Alikes:

Books About Science Projects

Barnett, Mac. Oh No!, Or, How My Science Project Destroyed the World. After winning the science fair with the giant robot she has built, a little girl realizes that there is a major problem. (NoveList)

Krulik, Nancy E. Science No Fair! When Logan Applebaum's mother invents a robotic cousin for him, Logan thinks this may give him an edge in the third grade science fair but the Silverspoon twins have other ideas. (NoveList)

Sierra, Judy. The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate the School. A girl sends off for "Professor Swami's Super Slime" to use as her science fair project and then has to cope with the funny disaster that follows. (NoveList)

Books About Class Pets

Coven, Wanda. Heidi Heckelbeck and the Tie-Dyed Bunny. Heidi is chosen to take the principal's rabbit home over Easter weekend and promises to follow all the rules, but she decides to break one and even her magic is not enough to set things right again. (NoveList)

Wesley, Valerie Wilson. How to Lose Your Class Pet. When third-grader Willimena loses the class pet, her teacher helps her to understand that responsibility means doing one's best, and that animals can't always be controlled. (NoveList)