Last updated: August 13, 2026
If you’re looking for Frindle teaching ideas, you’re in the right place. Here you’ll find printables, lesson plans, and novel study samples to support Andrew Clements’ classic upper‑elementary favorite.
Reading Level
Lexile 830L
Interest Level
Grades 4-8
Length
122 pages
Award
Christopher Award
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About the Book
Frindle by Andrew Clements is the humorous story of Nick Allen, a creative and energetic fifth‑grader who loves to push boundaries and test the patience of his teachers. When Nick learns about the power of words in Mrs. Granger’s language arts class, he decides to invent a new one. Instead of calling an ink pen a “pen,” Nick begins calling it a frindle — and encourages his classmates to do the same.
Mrs. Granger, known for her strict rules and deep love of the dictionary, is not amused. She insists that “frindle” is not a real word and makes a huge deal every time the students use it. Soon, large groups of students are staying after school to write punishment sentences, and the situation grows big enough that the principal visits Nick’s home to discuss the chaos.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. The word spreads throughout the school, then the town, and eventually far beyond. Reporters, store owners, and even national companies get involved. Nick’s simple idea becomes a tidal wave that keeps growing, and he must navigate the consequences of his creativity — both good and challenging.
This is a must‑read book for upper elementary students. It sparks discussions about language, responsibility, and how one small idea can make a big impact.
⭐ Book Details
| Publication Date | December 19, 1996 |
| Reading Level | Lexile 830L • Scholastic Guided Reading Level S |
| Interest Level | Grades 4–8 (Ages 9–12) |
| Major Awards | Christopher Award |
| Length | 122 pages (approx. 16,232 words) |
| Estimated Reading Time | About 1 hour and 5 minutes |
| Audiobook Length | 1 hour, 40 minutes |
| Genre | Fiction • Children’s Literature |
| Setting | Mid-1990s — small town of Westfield, New Hampshire; Lincoln Elementary School |
| Point of View | Third person omniscient |
| Themes | Language — The Value of Words • Creativity • Power • Rules • Inspirational People |
| Memorable Quote | “From this day on and forever, I will never use the word PEN again. Instead, I will use the word FRINDLE, and I will do everything possible so others will, too.” |
| First Line | “If you asked the kids and the teachers at Lincoln Elementary School to make three lists—all of the really bad kids, all the really smart kids, and all the really good kids—Nick Allen would not be on any of them.” |
Frindle Teaching Ideas
Frindle Unit Samples
Grab your novel study samples including vocabulary, comprehension questions, and constructed response writing prompt here.
You can get the book unit sample by clicking the button.
Teaching Idea #1 – Audio Version
Mrs. Morris reads Frindle while the text scrolls on the video screen. This is a great version for students to follow along with.
Teaching Idea #2 – Activities on the Web
- This Scholastic lesson plan provides instructions for students to brainstorm a new word and then create a dictionary entry for it, including a pronunciation key, part of speech, word origin, and definition.
- Courtney from Polka Dot Lesson Plans provides a blog post with several teaching ideas. She includes photos of students’ work to illustrate paper-plate characters and a scene snapshot.
- Check out the reading guide for Frindle at the resources page on the Author Andrew Clements Website. This seven-page resource includes pre-reading activities, discussion questions, book activities, and vocabulary.
- Reading is Fundamental’s Frindle Page has an online crossword puzzle and word searches in three different levels.
- Frindle at Storyboard That
Teaching Idea #3 – Boom Learning
Each deck offers a variety of question types, including multiple-choice, multiple-select, drag-and-drop, and fill-in-the-blank. After students read a chapter from Frindle, they complete a deck. These decks average 11 cards, making them a quick way to check comprehension.
How often have you wanted to throw away the large stack of papers your students have turned in to grade? Boom is paperless. Did I mention these are not only interactive but also self-grading?
See the product that inspired this post.
Frindle Novel Study includes vocabulary practice, comprehension questions, constructed response writing, and skill practice.
