About
Jack and Annie know all about Ben Franklin. He was a Founding Father, a journalist, and a famous inventor! When the magic tree house whisks them back to meet the man himself, they're not sure what their mission is. But Ben Franklin has a mission of his own. Intrigued by Jack and Annie, he's curious to learn more about where they came from. And very curious about their tree house…
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
What did Annie see that gave her a clue the tree house might be there?
Page 4 — A flash of lightning
4
Who do you think Dr. Ben is?
Page 6 — Benjamin Franklin
6
Where were Jack and Annie supposed to travel this time?
Page 9 — Old Philadelphia in 1787
9
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
In what way did Jack and Annie serve the gardener so they could meet Dr. Ben?
Page 13 — They offered to take his lunch to him
13
How did the gardener describe Dr. Ben?
Page 15 — He stole lightning bolts out of the clouds; an inventor and scientist; a diplomat and writer; a scholar and businessman
15
Why wasn’t Jack impressed with Old Philadelphia?
Page 18 — Blue flies buzzing around his head; it was stinky from crowded horse stables; garbage on the ground
18
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Who answered the door to the state house?
Page 20 — a soldier
20
Why was it a soldier?
Page 21 — To keep people out; Dr. Ben was in a meeting with others and they needed it guarded to protect them and what they were saying
21
What was the meeting about?
Page 26 — The men all gathered were writing the Constitution for the United States of America
26
What’s the Constitution of the United States of America?
Page 26 — A very important document that contains basic laws that define how the American government works
26
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Describe what George Washington did in the meeting?
Page 29 — He was in charge
29
Did George Washington recognize them?
Page 32 — Yes, but he didn’t’ think it was them. He said the kids he met would have been older since that was 11 years ago
32
What was Dr. Ben’s reaction when Jack and Annie said they were from the press and with the Gazette?
Page 33 — He was panicked and hurried them out of the back of the state house to talk
33
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What newspaper did Annie say they were from to help Dr. Ben feel better?
Page 38 — The Frog Creek News
38
What’s a lightning rod and who invented it?
Page 41 — a rod with a wire attached that lightning hits and goes through the wire to the earth; Benjamin Franklin
41
How are lightning rods useful?
Page 42 — They direct the lightning to the ground to prevent it from hitting the house and causing a fire
42
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Why did Benjamin Franklin only go to school for two years?
Page 44 — He was one of fifteen children and they were very poor, so he had to go to work to help his family
44
List two inventions Benjamin Franklin invented.
Page 45 — Your child should list two of the following: Lightning rods, bifocals, new kind of ship’s anchor, candle that makes a bright white light and lasts longer than other candles
45
How does Benjamin Franklin feel about the document he’s working on with the other delegates?
Page 47 — He doesn’t know if it will ever be ready; they can’t agree on what to put in it; he doesn’t know if he wants to sign it
47
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
What’s Ben Franklin’s biggest concern for America?
Page 50 — He knows they need to end slavery
50
What’s the big secret Annie told Ben?
Page 53 — She told him about the magic tree house
53
Why did Annie tell him about the tree house?
Page 52 — so she and Jack could take him to their own time in Frog Creek woods; he needs to see a hope for America so that he signs the Constitution
52
What did Ben first think about the magic tree house?
Page 57 — that Jack and Annie were pretending and that it was a game
57
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
How did Ben react to traveling to the future?
Page 59 — Confused and perplexed at first, but accepted it and became excited to see how things were
59
Name two things Ben thought were amazing in Frog Creek.
Page 61 — Smooth black paved road, a car, sprinkler system, power lines and telephone lines, an airplane
61
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
After seeing the airplane, what did Ben Franklin want to do and why?
Page 68 — He wanted to go home; he was overwhelmed by the technology
68
What did Annie want to show Ben before he went back home and why did Jack say that it was a brilliant idea?
Page 70 — The public library; Ben respects books and opened the first library in Philadelphia
70
How did Ben Franklin respond when Jack and Annie told him America has free schooling that goes for 12 years and is for all boys and girls?
Page 74 — He got teary eyed
74
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What did Jack look up on the computer to show Ben Franklin?
Page 77 — Information on the United States of America
77
Ben Franklin said it is so important for the people of America to come together as one. Why?
Page 78 — We’re all different, but we need to learn to work together, be kind to each other and listen to each other
78
What did Ben realize about the Constitution and why he needed to sign it?
Page 80 — That it’s only the first step to this country and that even though he doesn’t agree with everything in it, the delegates first need to come together to be one country
80
What did Jack and Annie promise Ben Franklin?
Page 83 — That they would never take the wondrous things of their world for granted
83
Downloads
All the book’s resources, or just the ones you need, ready to read or print.
Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
Download one reading section
A small printout with all the resources for the selected section.
