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The Adventures of Pinocchio
Scouts · 1st–3rd
Geppetto says boys always promise when they want something, yet he makes the feet and then sells his coat. Is he wise to trust Pinocchio's promises, or does his love get ahead of his good sense?
The tension Geppetto doubts Pinocchio's promises out loud, but his actions give Pinocchio feet, clothes and a book, and the chapter shows what that costs him.
Notice what Geppetto says about promises, and then what he does.
Pinocchio grumbles for new feet, and Geppetto lets him alone all morning and doubts his promises. After seeing Pinocchio so unhappy, he makes the feet and then makes a paper suit, bark shoes and a dough cap. Pinocchio wants an A-B-C book, and neither of them has money. Geppetto goes out in his old coat, comes back with the book and no coat, and Pinocchio understands and kisses him.
Start with the coat: ask what Geppetto said about it, and what the day was like.
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the grumbling, the promises, the new feet, the paper suit, the A-B-C book, and the coat.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence about something made, with two or three describing words after a comma.
Debate Take sides on the big question: is Geppetto wise to trust Pinocchio's promises, or does his love get ahead of his good sense? Each side uses one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might end on a boy who finally understands what his father has given.
Easier Read the coat scene aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 5 only.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student give one critical-thinking answer aloud with two things from the chapter.
Harder Ask the student what Geppetto might have said instead of 'too warm' if he wanted Pinocchio to know the truth, and what that would change.
1. Geppetto answers each promise by saying boys always promise when they want something. Is that fair to Pinocchio? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether doubting a promise is fair when the person promising has broken promises, or has only just asked.
It is fair: Pinocchio did run away, and he promises only when he wants something.
Why should I make your feet over again? To see you run away from home once more?
The Marionette, as soon as his hunger was appeased, started to grumble and cry
It is not fair: Pinocchio is sobbing and says he means it, and Geppetto does not wait to see.
I promise you,” answered the Marionette, sobbing
Geppetto, though trying to look very stern, felt his eyes fill with tears and his heart soften when he saw Pinocchio so unhappy.
A strong answer Geppetto has reason to doubt: Pinocchio ran away, and he starts grumbling as soon as his hunger is gone. But Pinocchio is sobbing as he promises, and Geppetto's own heart softens. A strong answer weighs what Geppetto remembers against what he sees, and says whether doubting was fair.
2. Pinocchio says, “I am better than all of them and I always tell the truth.” What do you make of him saying that?Character
What it asks It asks what Pinocchio's big words show about him, when the chapter before shows him blaming the cat.
He is boasting to win Geppetto over, and he does not seem to see how it sounds.
But I am not like other boys! I am better than all of them and I always tell the truth.
I promise to go to school every day, to study, and to succeed
He means it, in the moment, because he really wants to be good.
answered the Marionette, sobbing, “that from now on I’ll be good--”
Pinocchio, although a happy boy always, became sad and downcast at these words.
A strong answer Pinocchio says he is better than all other boys and always tells the truth, a big boast to make while begging for feet. It sounds like a boy trying to win Geppetto over. But he is sobbing and unhappy as he says it, and the chapter shows him sad when he learns there is no money. A strong answer can say he is boasting or truly wants to be good, and uses his words.
3. Geppetto says, “Close your eyes and sleep!” and glues on the feet while Pinocchio pretends to sleep. Why might he do it that way?Inference
What it asks It asks why Geppetto has Pinocchio shut his eyes, and what Pinocchio's pretending shows.
Geppetto wants to work in peace, without a fussy Marionette watching.
Geppetto stuck on the two feet with a bit of glue melted in an eggshell, doing his work so well that the joint could hardly be seen
Geppetto wants Pinocchio to be still so that the feet will hold, and Pinocchio only pretends.
Close your eyes and sleep!
Pinocchio closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep
A strong answer Geppetto asks Pinocchio to close his eyes and sleep while he glues the feet on, so that Pinocchio is quiet and still. Pinocchio only pretends, which is just the sort of thing a boy does when he cannot wait. A strong answer says why Geppetto might want it done that way, and what the pretending shows.
4. The author says, “When poverty shows itself, even mischievous boys understand what it means.” Do you think that is true? What in the chapter helps you decide?Theme
What it asks It asks the student to test the author's saying against what Pinocchio does in this chapter.
It is true here: Pinocchio goes quiet and sad as soon as he hears there is no money.
Pinocchio, although a happy boy always, became sad and downcast at these words.
I have none.
It is only partly true: he understands at last, but only after Geppetto sells the coat and gives a false answer.
It was too warm.
Pinocchio understood the answer in a twinkling
A strong answer When Geppetto says he has no money Pinocchio, though always a happy boy, becomes sad and downcast, so he seems to understand poverty. But he asks why the coat was sold and only understands the answer after Geppetto says it was too warm. A strong answer says whether the saying is true for Pinocchio here, and uses two moments.
5. Geppetto says the coat was “too warm” on a cold day. Why might the author have him say something so plainly untrue?Author's choice
What it asks It asks why the author has Geppetto tell a plain untruth, and what that shows about him and about Pinocchio.
Geppetto is hiding his gift so Pinocchio will not feel guilty.
“Why did you sell your coat?” “It was too warm.”
In his hands he had the A-B-C book for his son, but the old coat was gone.
The author wants Pinocchio and the reader to see through it, so the kindness is clear.
The poor fellow was in his shirt sleeves and the day was cold.
Pinocchio understood the answer in a twinkling
A strong answer The day is cold and Geppetto is in his shirt sleeves, so the coat was not too warm. The author lets us see he is hiding what he gave up, and lets Pinocchio see it too. A strong answer says what the false answer shows about Geppetto, and why the author might let the reader and Pinocchio see through it.
1. Geppetto lets Pinocchio alone the whole morning before he agrees to make the feet. Using two things from the chapter, tell what he hopes the waiting will do.
What it asks It asks the student to work out why Geppetto holds off, and whether the waiting is a punishment or a test.
He hopes it will punish Pinocchio for his mischief and teach him not to ask so quickly.
in order to punish him for his mischief, let him alone the whole morning
He hopes it will show whether Pinocchio will really change, so he can trust the promise.
To see you run away from home once more?
Boys always promise that when they want something
A strong answer The chapter says plainly that Geppetto lets him alone the whole morning to punish him for his mischief. After dinner he also asks whether he should make new feet only to see Pinocchio run away again, so he may hope to see whether Pinocchio can be trusted. A strong answer picks punishing or testing, or both, and uses two things the chapter says.
2. Pinocchio runs to a bowl of water and says, “Now I look like a gentleman.” Using two things from the chapter, tell how Pinocchio feels about the clothes.
What it asks It asks how Pinocchio feels about his paper clothes, and what Geppetto's answer adds.
He is proud and happy: he looks at himself and says he looks like a gentleman.
he felt so happy that he said proudly
Now I look like a gentleman.
He is pleased with how he looks, but Geppetto reminds him that clothes are not enough, and he agrees.
fine clothes do not make the man unless they be neat and clean
Very true,” answered Pinocchio
A strong answer Pinocchio runs to a bowl of water, feels so happy, and says proudly that he looks like a gentleman. Geppetto agrees, but reminds him that clothes do not make the man unless they are neat and clean, and Pinocchio says that is very true. A strong answer says how he feels about the clothes, using two things from the chapter.
3. Geppetto jumps up and says, “What does it matter, after all?” Using two things from the chapter, tell what he decides to do.
What it asks It asks what Geppetto decides in a moment, and what the chapter shows about what he is giving up.
He decides to get the book at any cost, and he gives up his coat to do it.
Putting on his old coat, full of darns and patches, he ran out of the house without another word.
In his hands he had the A-B-C book for his son, but the old coat was gone.
He decides not to let the lack of money stop him, because Pinocchio is sad.
Neither have I,” said the old man sadly.
Pinocchio, although a happy boy always, became sad and downcast at these words.
A strong answer Geppetto jumps up, puts on his old coat full of darns and patches, and runs out without a word. He comes back with the A-B-C book and no coat, in his shirt sleeves on a cold day. A strong answer says what he decides and why, using two things from the chapter.