Franklin's Soapbox Derby (Kids Can Read)
Franklin And Friends Series
What’s inside...
Franklin and Bear whip up their own soapbox car and get set to win the big race. But on race day the friends realize that they should have gotten some help building the car. This Level 2 first reader contains longer stories, varied sentences, increased vocabulary, more difficult visual clues and some repetition.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Franklin
Bear
Discussion points
What do you think Franklin learned from building his soapbox car?
How did Franklin feel when he faced challenges during the race, and what would you have done in his place?
Why is teamwork important, as shown in the story?
How do you think the race changed Franklin’s relationship with his friends?
What does this story teach us about winning and losing?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story, helping them connect emotionally with Franklin’s experiences.
Discuss the importance of perseverance and teamwork, drawing parallels to your child’s real-life situations.
Highlight moments in the story where characters show support to each other, reinforcing the value of friendship and collaboration.
Ask your child to imagine alternative endings to the story or what they would do differently, fostering creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ensure to praise your child for their insights, making the discussion a positive, reinforcing experience that boosts their confidence.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Franklin faces challenges while preparing for the Soapbox Derby but continues to try his best. Despite setbacks, he persists and learns from the experience.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by not giving up easily when facing difficulties in school tasks or personal projects and understanding the value of persistence.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Franklin learns to collaborate with friends and family as he builds his soapbox racer. This book shows the importance and effectiveness of working together to achieve a goal.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to cooperate with peers during group activities at school or in sports, understanding that collective efforts can lead to successful outcomes.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Innovation
Explanation: The process of designing and building a soapbox racer encourages Franklin to use his imagination and resourcefulness.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to engage creatively in problem-solving, whether it's during a school project, art class or in daily dilemmas.
Example Lesson: Sportsmanship
Explanation: Franklin shows good sportsmanship throughout the derby, showcasing how to handle both wins and losses gracefully.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to be gracious competitors in sports and academic competitions, honoring both their successes and accepting losses with composure.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Taking on the project of building a soapbox car, Franklin learns to manage tasks and timelines, which reflects his growing sense of responsibility.
Real-World Application: This can mirror a child's experience in handling school assignments, chores or responsibilities in family activities, fostering reliability and accountability.