Bringing Frankenstein to Life in 8th Grade

JCSD 8th graders are currently diving into Gris Grimly’s Frankenstein, an abridged adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic. Grimly’s version blends large portions of the original text with striking visuals, creating a graphic novel that makes the story more accessible—but even so, students have often struggled to fully grasp the depth of the language and themes. This year, Mrs. Osborn wanted to do something different to help the text truly come alive.

After finishing the first volume, which ends on a cliffhanger about who is responsible for the “damage” caused by the creature, the class launched into two immersive activities: an awards show and a mock trial.

For the awards show, students created categories based on decisions and events from the text—like “Worst Decision Overall” or “Biggest ‘DUDE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!’ Moment”—and backed up their choices with evidence. Mrs. Osborn stepped in as the host while students presented their winners, turning the classroom into a lively celebration of the story’s twists and turns.

Next came the trial. Modeled after a real courtroom, students took on roles as lawyers, witnesses, bailiff, jury, and more. Students prepared arguments, examined evidence, and delivered verdicts. Mrs. Osborn even dressed up as the judge to preside over the proceedings. The students were able to collaborate, debate, and step into character.

“It was honestly amazing watching the kids collaborate for preparation for each, or when having the 'show' and 'trial', you could see those 'aha' moments for some of the kids…some that don't usually share during class were also invested and wanting to do more” stated Mrs. Osborn.

These activities didn’t just make Frankenstein more understandable—they made it unforgettable.