The Adventures of Pinocchio
Chapter 7 — Teaching Companion
Carlo Collodi · Scouts 1st–3rd
Coaching, not a script — and not an answer key: every question here has more than one defensible answer.
This chapter's big question
Pinocchio says he will not eat the core, yet he ends by eating every skin and core, and Geppetto says he was right. Was it Geppetto's lesson that worked, or only hunger?
The tension Geppetto gives up his own breakfast and keeps saying everything may be of some use, while Pinocchio gives in only when there is nothing else left to eat.
Today's focus
Notice what Geppetto gives, what he says about it, and how Pinocchio's words change from a flat no to giving in.
Two core ideas
- Love can show in what a person gives up: Geppetto hands over his own breakfast.
- Words and actions can pull apart: Pinocchio says he will not eat the core, and later the cores and skins disappear.
The shape at a glance
Half asleep, Pinocchio falls at the door and tells Geppetto the cat ate his feet. Geppetto climbs in through the window, angry at first but sad when he sees Pinocchio really without feet. After a long, jumbled story of the night, Pinocchio gets three pears, Geppetto's own breakfast, and has them peeled. Still hungry, he eats the skins and cores, and Geppetto says he was right.
A way in
Start at the table with the skins and cores: ask what Geppetto has left to give, and what Pinocchio says when he sees it.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the fall at the door, the cat, Geppetto at the window, the long story, the three pears, and the cores and skins.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence in the same pattern: how something started, then "but", then what followed one after another.
Debate Take sides on the big question: did Geppetto's lesson do the work, or only hunger? Each side uses one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might end a kind scene with Geppetto saying he was right.
Easier Read the pear scene aloud together in two voices and talk through discussion questions 3 and 4 only.
On level Talk through all four discussion questions, then have the student give one critical-thinking answer aloud with two things from the chapter.
Harder Ask the student what Pinocchio would have done if Geppetto had had one more pear, and what in the chapter makes them think so.
Discussion
- When Geppetto asks who ate his feet, Pinocchio says the cat. Is he lying, or does he really not know? What makes you think so?Inference
What it asks It asks whether Pinocchio's answer is a made-up excuse or an honest guess, and what the chapter tells us he knows.
One reading
He is making it up: he blames the first thing he sees.
answered Pinocchio, seeing that little animal busily playing with some shavings in the corner of the room
Because someone has eaten my feet.
Another reading
He really does not know: he is half asleep and has not found out what happened.
who was still half asleep, had not yet found out that his two feet were burned and gone
I don’t know, Father
Listen for
- Remembers that Pinocchio is still half asleep.
- Uses what Pinocchio says later, when Geppetto asks how he burned his feet.
If stuck
- What has Pinocchio not yet found out?
- What is the cat doing when Pinocchio names it?
- What does he say when Geppetto asks how he burned his feet?
A strong answer The chapter says he was still half asleep and had not yet found out his feet were burned, so he may be guessing. He names the cat just as he sees it busily playing in the corner, which looks like the first thing that came to him. Later he tells Geppetto, "I don’t know, Father," when asked how he burned them. A strong answer decides between a made-up excuse and an honest guess, and gives the words that show it.
- At first Geppetto is angry, then tears run down his cheeks. What does that show about him? What makes you think so?Character
What it asks It asks what kind of man Geppetto is, when his feelings change so fast once he sees Pinocchio.
One reading
He is tender-hearted: the sight of Pinocchio hurt melts his anger at once.
he felt very sad and sorrowful
he fondled and caressed him, talking to him while the tears ran down his cheeks
Another reading
He is quick to think the worst and quick to anger.
Geppetto, thinking that all these tears and cries were only other pranks of the Marionette
or I’ll give you a sound whipping when I get in
Listen for
- Uses what Geppetto says or does, not only that he cries.
- Notices what he believed before he came in through the window.
If stuck
- What does Geppetto threaten from the street?
- What does he think the cries are?
- What does he do when he sees Pinocchio on the floor?
A strong answer Geppetto first threatens a sound whipping and climbs through the window, thinking the cries are only more pranks. But when he sees Pinocchio really without feet he is sad and sorrowful, picks him up, and cries. That shows a man quick to think the worst and just as quick to melt. A strong answer can call him tender-hearted or hot-tempered, or both, and says which words show it.
- Geppetto gives all three of his own breakfast pears to Pinocchio. Was that wise, or should he have kept one? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether giving away everything you have is the right kind of kindness, and who it leaves hungry.
One reading
It was right: Pinocchio is wailing with hunger, and Geppetto gives gladly.
felt sorry for him, and pulling three pears out of his pocket, offered them to him
I give them to you gladly
Another reading
It was not wise: the pears were his own breakfast, and now all three are gone.
These three pears were for my breakfast
But I have no more to give you.
Listen for
- Weighs Pinocchio's hunger against Geppetto's own.
- Gives a reason from the words in the chapter.
If stuck
- What were the pears for?
- How does Geppetto say he gives them?
- What does Geppetto have left to give at the end?
A strong answer The pears were Geppetto's own breakfast, and he gives all three, gladly, to a boy who is screaming with hunger. That is kind. But the pears he meant for himself are gone, and he says he has no more to give. A strong answer weighs a kindness that costs something against sharing, and says which seems wiser.
- Geppetto puts the skins in a row and saves the cores, saying “Who knows?” Why might the author have him do that?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the saved skins and cores do for the story, and what they tell us about Geppetto.
One reading
They set up the ending: the skins and cores are on the table when Pinocchio is still hungry.
And later the three cores were placed on the table next to the skins.
I have only these three cores and these skins.
Another reading
They show Geppetto as a careful man who wastes nothing, with a saying for everything.
Oh, no, don’t throw it away! Everything in this world may be of some use!
“Who knows?” repeated Geppetto calmly.
Listen for
- Notices where the skins and cores are when Pinocchio says he is still hungry.
- Says what Geppetto's calm answer shows about him.
If stuck
- What does Geppetto do with the skins?
- What does he say when Pinocchio starts to throw the core away?
- Where are the skins and cores when Pinocchio says he is still hungry?
A strong answer Geppetto puts the skins in a row on the table and will not let Pinocchio throw the core away, since everything may be of some use. So the skins and cores are right there when Pinocchio says he is still hungry. A strong answer can say the author planted them to set up the ending, or to show a man who wastes nothing, or both, and points to the words that show it.
Critical thinking
- Pinocchio says of the Cricket, “It was his own fault, for I didn’t want to kill him.” Using two things from the chapter, tell whether that is fair.
What it asks It asks whether Pinocchio's way of telling the Cricket's death is fair to the Cricket, and what he owns up to.
One reading
It is partly fair: he says he did not want to kill the Cricket, and the Cricket had called him names.
for I didn’t want to kill him
‘You are a Marionette and you have a wooden head;’
Another reading
It is not fair: he is the one who threw the hammer, yet he blames the Cricket.
and I threw the hammer at him and killed him
It was his own fault
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that explains the choice.
If stuck
- Who threw the hammer, in Pinocchio's own story?
- What does he say about what he wanted?
- Whose fault does he say it was?
A strong answer Pinocchio says he threw the hammer and killed the Cricket, so he owns up to what he did, and he says he did not want to kill him. But then he says it was the Cricket's own fault, which puts the blame on the one who is dead. A strong answer says whether the telling is fair, using two things Pinocchio says.
- Pinocchio says he will not eat the pears unless they are peeled. Using two things from the chapter, tell whether he is really fussy about food.
What it asks It asks the student to weigh what Pinocchio says about food against what he does with it.
One reading
He is fussy: he asks for peeling and will not eat pears he does not like.
If you want me to eat them, please peel them for me.
I will not eat the pears if they are not peeled. I don’t like them.
Another reading
He is not really fussy: he eats the pears quickly and is still hungry.
Pinocchio ate one pear in a twinkling
Pinocchio had eaten the three pears, or rather devoured them.
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Uses both what Pinocchio says and what he does.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio ask Geppetto to do with the pears?
- How fast does he eat the first pear?
- How does the author say he ate the three pears?
A strong answer Pinocchio asks for his pears peeled and says he will not eat them otherwise, which sounds fussy. But once they are peeled he eats the first in a twinkling and devours all three. A strong answer uses what he says and what he does, and says whether fussy is the right word for him.
- Geppetto calls Pinocchio “bad, very bad” for being fussy, then peels the pears anyway. Using two things from the chapter, tell what that shows about Geppetto.
What it asks It asks what Geppetto's strict words and his soft actions, side by side, show about him.
One reading
He is soft-hearted: he scolds, but he still does what Pinocchio asks.
Bad, very bad!
And good old Geppetto took out a knife, peeled the three pears
Another reading
He is firm where it counts: he peels the pears but will not let the core be thrown away.
Geppetto held his arm.
“Who knows?” repeated Geppetto calmly.
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Notices both what Geppetto says and what he does.
If stuck
- What does Geppetto say about being fussy?
- What does he do with the knife?
- What does he do when Pinocchio starts to throw the core away?
A strong answer Geppetto says it is bad, very bad to be fussy, and still takes out a knife and peels all three pears. That is a soft heart. But when Pinocchio starts to throw the core away he holds his arm, and answers calmly. A strong answer uses one soft thing and one firm thing, and says what kind of man that makes him.