To the Future, Ben Franklin!
By Mary Pope Osborne
Grades 1-4; Genre – Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; AR pts: 1.0
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…
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- What did Annie see that gave her a clue the tree house might be there? A flash of lightning p.4
- Who do you think Dr. Ben is? Benjamin Franklin p.6
- Where were Jack and Annie supposed to travel this time? Old Philadelphia in 1787 p.9
Chapter 2
- In what way did Jack and Annie serve the gardener so they could meet Dr. Ben? They offered to take his lunch to him p.13
- How did the gardener describe Dr. Ben? He stole lightning bolts out of the clouds; an inventor and scientist; a diplomat and writer; a scholar and businessman p.15
- Why wasn’t Jack impressed with Old Philadelphia? Blue flies buzzing around his head; it was stinky from crowded horse stables; garbage on the ground p.18
Chapter 3
- Who answered the door to the state house? a soldier p.20
- Why was it a soldier? 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 p.21
- What was the meeting about? The men all gathered were writing the Constitution for the United States of America p. 26
- What’s the Constitution of the United States of America? A very important document that contains basic laws that define how the American government works p.26
Chapter 4
- Describe what George Washington did in the meeting? He was in charge p.29
- Did George Washington recognize them? 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 p.32
- What was Dr. Ben’s reaction when Jack and Annie said they were from the press and with the Gazette? He was panicked and hurried them out of the back of the state house to talk p.33
Chapter 5
- What newspaper did Annie say they were from to help Dr. Ben feel better? The Frog Creek News p.38
- What’s a lightning rod and who invented it? a rod with a wire attached that lightning hits and goes through the wire to the earth; Benjamin Franklin p.41
- How are lightning rods useful? They direct the lightning to the ground to prevent it from hitting the house and causing a fire p.42
Chapter 6
- Why did Benjamin Franklin only go to school for two years? He was one of fifteen children and they were very poor, so he had to go to work to help his family p.44
- List two inventions Benjamin Franklin invented. 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 p.45
- How does Benjamin Franklin feel about the document he’s working on with the other delegates? 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 p.47
Chapter 7
- What’s Ben Franklin’s biggest concern for America? He knows they need to end slavery p.50
- What’s the big secret Annie told Ben? She told him about the magic tree house p.53
- Why did Annie tell him about the tree house? 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 p.52
- What did Ben first think about the magic tree house? that Jack and Annie were pretending and that it was a game p.57
Chapter 8
- How did Ben react to traveling to the future? Confused and perplexed at first, but accepted it and became excited to see how things were p.59
- Name two things Ben thought were amazing in Frog Creek. Smooth black paved road, a car, sprinkler system, power lines and telephone lines, an airplane p.61
Chapter 9
- After seeing the airplane, what did Ben Franklin want to do and why? He wanted to go home; he was overwhelmed by the technology p.68
- What did Annie want to show Ben before he went back home and why did Jack say that it was a brilliant idea? The public library; Ben respects books and opened the first library in Philadelphia p.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? He got teary eyed p.74
Chapter 10
- What did Jack look up on the computer to show Ben Franklin? Information on the United States of America p.77
- Ben Franklin said it is so important for the people of America to come together as one. Why? We’re all different, but we need to learn to work together, be kind to each other and listen to each other p.78
- What did Ben realize about the Constitution and why he needed to sign it? 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 p.80
- What did Jack and Annie promise Ben Franklin? That they would never take the wondrous things of their world for granted p.83
