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Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor
Last updated Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Brian Biggs
Date of Publication: 2014
ISBN: 1419712187
Grade Level: 4th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Oct. 2017
Synopsis:
Kid-genius and inventor Frank Einstein loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination, and definitely unusual. In the series opener, an uneventful experiment in his garage-lab, a lightning storm, and a flash of electricity bring Frank's inventions - the robots Klink and Klank - to life! Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank nonetheless help Frank attempt to perfect his inventions.. . . until Frank's archnemesis, T. Edison, steals Klink and Klank for his evil doomsday plan!
Integrating real science facts with wacky humor, a silly cast of characters, and science fiction, this uniquely engaging series is an irresistible chemical reaction for middle-grade readers. With easy-to-read language and graphic illustrations on almost every page, this chapter book series is a must for reluctant readers. The Frank Einstein series encourages middle-grade readers to question the way things work and to discover how they, too, can experiment with science. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews raves, "This buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to 'keep asking questions and finding your own answers' fires on all cylinders," while Publishers Weekly says that the series "proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful."
| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Have you ever seen a robot in real life?
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Have you heard of someone named Albert Einstein?
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Do you like science?
Vocabulary
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Hypothesis - an idea or theory that is not proven
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Interconnected - to connect two or more things with each other
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Intricate - having many parts
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Artificial Intelligence - giving machines the ability to seem like they have human intelligence
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Prehistoric - existing in the time before people could write
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Have you ever tried to build something?
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Was Frank able to bring his robot to life?
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What kind of experiments have you done in school?
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Do you think machines can think for themselves?
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What is something that you would like to invent?
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| Special activities: |
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Complete a crossword puzzle.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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