Teaching From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

When we here at Shmoop think of our wildest museum dreams, most of them involve a Jeff Koons balloon dog, a squeaky clown nose, and an unlimited supply of red Swedish Fish. But running away from home and camping out at NYC's Metropolitan Museum among the fountains and the mummy tombs is a close second. That's why teaching E. L. Konigsburg's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is near and dear to our heart.

In this guide, you'll find

• a deep dive into Claudia, the protagonist, and the character traits that make her tick.
• a scaffolded creative writing assignment where students create the long-awaited Mixed-Up Files sequel.
• a sixth grade-friendly activity about death, wills, and legacies.

So get started, and head into our first activity—we'll be here, stocking up on Swedish Fish and befriending the MOMA security team…

What's Inside Shmoop's Literature Teaching Guides

Shmoop is a labor of love from folks who love to teach. Our teaching guides will help you supplement in-classroom learning with fun, engaging, and relatable learning materials that bring literature to life.

Inside each guide you'll find quizzes, activity ideas, discussion questions, and more—all written by experts and designed to save you time. Here are the deets on what you get with your teaching guide:

• 13 – 18 Common Core-aligned activities to complete in class with your students, including detailed instructions for you and your students
• Discussion and essay questions for all levels of students
• Reading quizzes for every chapter, act, or part of the text
• Resources to help make the book feel more relevant to your 21st-century students
• A note from Shmoop's teachers to you, telling you what to expect from teaching the text and how you can overcome the hurdles

Want more help teaching Teaching From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler?

Check out all the different parts of our corresponding learning guide.