Why was Tobin staying late after school?
He was finishing his science project.
What did Tobin find in the corner of the lab?
A steel machine with a hinged door.
What happened after Tobin turned on the light inside the machine?
The machine lit up, started shaking, and locked him inside.
Where did the time machine take Tobin?
Bascom, Ohio, in the year 1933.
Who did Tobin meet in 1933?
A boy about his age sitting on a stump near a field.
What was the boy from 1933 doing?
Taking a break from carrying logs to the house.
What did the digital screen say when Tobin was in the machine?
“Bascom, Ohio, 1933.”
How did Tobin return to his time?
He pressed buttons until the screen read “Return to original location.”
How do we know Tobin felt lonely in the lab?
He said he wanted to be outside with his friends and felt defeated.
What can you infer about the boy’s life in 1933?
He had to do a lot of physical work and didn’t go to school anymore.
Why do you think Tobin was surprised to see the machine?
He hadn’t noticed it before, even though he’d been in the lab all week.
What does Tobin’s reaction to the time machine tell us about him?
He was curious and impulsive—he crawled in without knowing what it was.
Why did Tobin rush back to the time machine after talking to the boy?
He realized that school might not be so bad compared to the hard farm work.
What does the conversation between the boys reveal about their different lives?
Tobin complains about school, while the other boy wishes he could go to school.
What does the word “defeated” mean in the sentence, “Lonely and defeated, Tobin stood up and walked around the room."”?
Feeling hopeless or like giving up.
What does the word “frigid” mean in the sentence, “The air was frigid as Tobin stepped out of the time machine."”?
Very cold.
