Hands-on activities and professional development resources that encourage creativity and reflection about responsible innovation, developed in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein.
Frankenstein is a modern myth: a 200-year-old story that explores themes of human creativity, societal responsibility, and scientific ethics. These themes continue to resonate today. As citizens with access to incredible tools for creation and transformation, we need to understand the fundamentals of science and technology and develop the skills to actively participate in civic and policy discussions.
Frankenstein200 takes on the challenge of supporting learning related to responsible innovation. The project uses themes from Frankenstein to examine emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, while promoting the development of 21st century skills related to creative collaboration and critical thinking. Frankenstein200 explores three important questions: What is life?, Why do we create?, and What are our responsibilities as creators, scientists, and engineers?
Download the full digital kit
Kit Contents
The Frankenstein200 kit includes seven hands-on activities that encourage creativity and reflection about responsible innovation.
- Audience: Kit activities are designed for family audiences including children, and work particularly well for ages 6 and up. These activities are suitable for use in museums and other informal learning settings such as libraries and afterschool programs. They do not require special lab facilities or equipment.
- Kit contents include:
- A set of hands-on activities that use the Frankenstein story to inspire deeper conversations about scientific and technological creativity and social responsibility. The activities have been tested with public audiences and reviewed by experts.
- Professional development and training materials including guides and videos.
- Promotional and marketing materials.
Planning & Promotional Materials
- Welcome letter and kit contents list
- Frankenstein200 planning and promotion guide
- Large promotional banner and event posters
- Customizable sample press release
- Photo release form
- Temporary tattoos (artwork)
- L.I.F.E. adventure guide (Please note the Frankenstein200 L.I.F.E. online Alternate Reality Game is no longer live)
- L.I.F.E. lab coats (adult and child) (Physical kit only)
Marketing Materials
- Style Guide (start here)
- Frankenstein200 palette, fonts, and logos (includes NSF logos)
- Frankenstein200 L.I.F.E. palette, fonts, and logos (Please note the Frankenstein200 L.I.F.E. online Alternate Reality Game is no longer live)
- Press photos
Training Materials
- Frankenstein200 overview slides and notes printout
- Activity booklets (included in hands-on activities)
- Facilitator guides (included in hands-on activities)
- Tips for conversations + Project overview
- Activity training videos
Hands-on Activities
- Large format booklets for all activities
- Frankenstein bookmark
- Frankentoy assemble
Online Alternate Reality Game
The project has also developed an online alternate reality game that immerses players in the modern-day Laboratory for Innovation and Fantastic Explorations (or L.I.F.E.). This interactive fictional story imagines what might happen if a character named Dr. Tori Frankenstein picked up where her ancestor Victor left off.
Please note the Frankenstein200 L.I.F.E. online Alternate Reality Game is no longer live.
- Archive of Game trailer on vimeo: https://player.vimeo.com/video/233573799
Learn More
- More about the project background, timeline, project partners, and funder: www.nisenet.org/frankenstein
Acknowledgements
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number DRL-1516684. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.