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

Book Summary (Reference: http://www.gradesaver.com/from-the-mixed-up-files-of-mrs-basil-e-frankweiler/wikipedia/summary/)

The prologue is a letter from Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, "To my lawyer, Saxonberg", accompanied by a drawing of her writing at her office desk. It is the cover letter for the 158‑page narrative, which provides background for changes to her last will and testament.

Twelve-year-old Claudia Kincaid decides to run away from home happily, because she thinks her parents do not appreciate her and she doesn't like it. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) in New York City, with nine-year-old brother Jamie as companion partly because he has saved all his money. With one unused adult fare on the commuter train and one very long walk, they get there at no cost when admission is free.

Early chapters show how Claudia and Jamie settle in at the Met: hiding in the bathroom at closing time from staff on circuit to see that all the patrons have departed; blending with school groups on tour, to learn more about the museum exhibits; bathing in the fountain, whose "wishing coins" provide income; sleeping in an antique bed.

A new exhibit draws sensational crowds and fascinates the children: the marble statue of an angel, sculptor unknown but suspected to be Michelangelo. It was purchased at auction from Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, a collector who recently closed her showcase Manhattan residence. They research it on site and at the Donnell Library, and give their conclusion to the museum staff anonymously.

After learning they have been naive, the children spend the last of their money on travel to Mrs. Frankweiler's home in Connecticut. She recognizes them as runaways but sets them briefly to the task of researching the angel in her long bank of file cabinets. Despite the idiosyncratic organization of her files, they do discover the angel's secret. In exchange for a full account of their adventure, she will leave the crucial file to them in her will, and send them home in her Rolls-Royce. It's a deal.

Claudia learns her deep motive for persisting in the crazy search: she wanted a secret of her own to treasure and keep. Mrs. Frankweiler may get "grandchildren" who delight her. Her lawyer gets a luncheon date at the Met, to revise her will.

Discussion Questions

Have you ever been to an art museum? What type of art did you see?

Claudia decided to run away because she didn’t feel appreciated by her parents. Is that a good enough reason to run away?

If you were running away, where would you like to live?

The children decided to sleep in a fancy bed in the museum. Sometimes they would hide under the bed. Why did they always choose beds that had dust-free floors? (Because they knew they had been recently cleaned and wouldn’t be discovered by a janitor.)

Claudia and Mrs. Basil feel special because they have a secret. Have you ever had a secret? Did you tell anyone what it was?

The children bathe in the fountain in the museum. Let’s pretend that you are living in the mall. There is no fountain in the Oviedo Mall.

How would you stay clean?

Where would you sleep?

What would you eat?

How would you get money?

Where would you hide?

War Activity (Supplies Needed: Card Decks (one per group of four students)

Jamie cheats when he plays cards? Do you ever cheat at games?

Jamie loves to play war with his sister, friends, and Mrs. Basil. Do you know how to play war? What other games can you play to fill time?

War Directions: Deal out deck evenly to up to four players. Players do not look at cards. Players turn over the top card. High card wins and keeps cards. If the high cards are equal, then there is a card “WAR”. Everyone deals 3 cards (W_A_R) and flips over next card. High card from war wins ALL cards.

Could you paint the Sistine Chapel Activity Supplies Needed: Paper Taped to undersides of table, crayons)

Michelangelo Background (Reference: http://www.ducksters.com)

Where did Michelangelo grow up?     
Michelangelo Buonarotti was born in Caprese, Italy on March 6, 1475. Growing up in Florence during the Italian Renaissance was the perfect environment for young Michelangelo. Even as a child all he wanted to do was paint and be an artist. His father, a local government official, wanted Michelangelo to go to school, but he had little interest in school. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to Domenico Ghirlandaio, a painter and artist. 

Michelangelo's talents became apparent as he worked for Ghirlandaio. Michelangelo was able to work with some of the finest artists and philosophers of the time. 

Over the next few years Michelangelo produced many sculptures. 

 

In 1505 Michelangelo returned to Rometo paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He worked for four years, painting upside down on a scaffold in order to finish the painting. The painting was huge (141 feet long by 43 feet wide). It contained nine scenes from the Bible down its center and over 300 people. 

 

What do you think it felt like to paint on the ceiing? Let’s try by drawing on the underside of the table. Let’s draw a picture of ____________.

Create a Pic with Words (Supplies Needed: Paper. Crayons, Art (I used cards from “Nature in Art Quiz” Card Game)

The author uses beautiful details so that we can imagine the artwork in the museum. Can you create a picture with words?

Assign Partners. Partners sit back to back. One draws and one describes. Hand the describer a picture of a famous art piece. The drawer should NOT look at the picture but rely on the describer to clearly detail what he sees.

Art Go Fish Game

Supplies Needed: Purchased Games, “Art Smart” and  “Go Fish Art” Card Games