Children with surprised faces and adults using the Frankenstein kit Battery Stack activity - adults dressed as Mary Shelley and the Monster

Frankenstein 200 Kit

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?

Featured Activities

Browse all activities in this kit

Participant's hands touching the steel and copper plates, connected to a multimeter

Spark of Life

In this activity, learners create a battery from two kinds of metal and their own body.

A group of learners creating a scribblebot using a pool noodle, small electric motor and thin markers

Scribble Bot

In this activity, learners create a toy bot with a surprising ability: it scribbles on a sheet of paper.

Frankentoy activity with participants engaged

Frankentoy

In this activity, learners make a “creature” by mixing and matching different parts of toys.

Mary Shelly, her monster, and visitors using the battery stack activity

Battery Stack

In this activity, learners investigate how to make a voltaic pile, the first kind of battery.

View Kit Contents List

Frankenstein200 Kit - Contents List

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.

Download Digital Kit

Children and adults using Frankenstein Dough Creature activity - costumed adults dressed as Mary Shelley and Frankenstein monster

Frankenstein200 Digital Kit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the Frankenstein 200 kit designed to encourage creativity and reflection about responsible innovation, developed in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein.

Event Planning and Promotion Guide

Two actors dressed as Mary Shelley and Frankenstein's Monster interact with a family of three demonstrating how to make a battery

Frankenstein200 Planning and Promotional Materials

Planning and promotional materials for Frankenstein200 activities including welcome letter, kit content list, event planning guide, photo release form and sample press release in multiple formats.

Learn More About the Project

Frankenstein200 Project

Project Overview: 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.