Do you need a From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler activity or two to add to your E. L. Konigsburg unit? If so, you’re in the right place. Below you’ll find engaging Mixed-Up Files activities including maps, printables, and novel study samples to support your students as they explore this classic mystery.
Reading Level
Lexile 700L
Interest Level
Grades 4-5
Length
168 pages
Award
Newbery Medal
Jump to Section
About the Book
Claudia Kincaid is just weeks away from turning twelve, and she’s tired of the monotony of her life—and especially the injustice of doing more chores than her younger brothers. Determined to make a dramatic change, she carefully plans an escape to New York City and recruits her nine‑year‑old brother Jamie, whose knack for saving money makes him the perfect partner.
The siblings take a train from their suburban home into the city and secretly move into the Metropolitan Museum of Art. By day, they blend in with tourists and explore the museum’s exhibits. When closing time arrives, they hide in the restrooms until the building empties, then sleep in an antique bed once rumored to be connected to the mysterious death of Amy Robsart, the first wife of Lord Robert Dudley.
During their stay, Claudia and Jamie become fascinated by a newly acquired angel statue that may have been carved by Michelangelo. Intrigued by the possibility, they begin investigating clues and piecing together evidence to determine the statue’s true origin.
When the museum dismisses their findings and insists they already know everything the children have discovered, Claudia refuses to give up. She decides they must travel to Connecticut to meet Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler—the eccentric former owner of the statue—hoping she holds the final piece of the puzzle.
Read this unforgettable story to discover whether Claudia and Jamie uncover the truth behind the mysterious angel and what they learn about themselves along the way.
⭐ Book Details
| Publication Date | 1967 |
| Reading Level | Lexile 700L • Scholastic Guided Reading Level S |
| Interest Level | Grades 4–5 |
| Major Awards | 1968 Newbery Medal |
| Length | 168 pages (approx. 31,030 words) |
| Estimated Reading Time | About 2 hours and 4 minutes |
| Audiobook Length | 3 hours, 45 minutes |
| Genre | Young Adult Literature • Mystery |
| Setting | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City |
| Point of View | First person (peripheral narrator) |
| Themes | Family • Dissatisfaction • Dreams and Hopes • Art and Culture • Wealth • Truth • Freedom and Confinement • Youth |
| Memorable Quote | “Happiness is excitement that has found a settling down place, but there is always a little corner that keeps flapping around.” |
| First Line | “Claudia knew that she could never pull off the old-fashioned kind of running away.” |
From the Mixed-Up Files Activities
Book Unit Samples
This sample includes activities from Chapter 1 including vocabulary practice, comprehension questions, and constructed response questions.
Teaching Idea #1 ~ Metropolitan Museum of Art Newsletter
This sample includes activities from Chapter 1 including vocabulary practice, comprehension questions, and constructed response questions.
Teaching Idea #2 ~ Map of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
This interactive map allows students to click on dots to see exhibits. You can also search to find specific places through the “Time Machine” and watch videos.
Teaching Idea #3 ~ From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Storyboard That
Storyboard That has an entire section devoted to the book.
- Character Map
- Themes, Symbols, & Motifs
- Vocabulary
- Point of View
- Compare and Contrast
- Textual Evidence
See the product that inspired this post.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Novel Study includes vocabulary practice, comprehension questions, constructed response writing, and skill practice.
