The Adventures of Pinocchio
Chapter 9 — 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 plans a gold-and-silver coat for Father, then sells the book that cost Father his old one. Does he mean his plan, or does he mean it only while it is easy?
The tension Pinocchio says aloud that Geppetto deserves a coat because he sits in his shirt sleeves for the book, and within minutes he sells that very book to see a show.
Today's focus
Notice what Pinocchio says he will do for Geppetto, and what he does with the book a few minutes later.
Two core ideas
- A plan can be easier to say than to keep: Pinocchio dreams of a coat of gold and silver, then follows the pipes.
- The author lets the reader see more than Pinocchio says: the last sentence goes to Geppetto, shivering at home.
The shape at a glance
Pinocchio hurries to school with his new A-B-C book, planning to learn, earn money, and buy Father a coat of gold and silver. He hears pipes and drums, decides to follow them for today, and finds the Great Marionette Theater. He cannot pay the four pennies, and the boy refuses his coat, shoes and cap. At last he offers the book, and a ragpicker buys it, while Geppetto sits at home in his shirt sleeves.
A way in
Start with Pinocchio's plan on the road: ask what he says he will do for Geppetto, and then what he does at the theater.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the plans on the road, the pipes, the theater, the four pennies, the offers, and the book.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes two sentences in the same pattern: a short one about a feeling, then a longer one about what held someone back.
Debate Take sides on the big question: does Pinocchio mean his plan, or does he mean it only while it is easy? Each side uses one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might fill Pinocchio's head with plans just before he gives them up.
Easier Read Pinocchio's plan on the road aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 2 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 Pinocchio could have done at the theater to keep both the book and his plan, and what in the chapter makes them think so.
Discussion
- On the way to school, Pinocchio plans a coat of gold and silver for Geppetto. Is that real thinking or daydreaming? What makes you think so?Character
What it asks It asks whether Pinocchio's plan for the coat is a real wish to thank Geppetto or a daydream, and what his own words show.
One reading
It is real thinking: he remembers what Geppetto gave up and says he deserves a coat.
That poor man certainly deserves it; for, after all, isn’t he in his shirt sleeves because he was good enough to buy a book for me?
On this cold day, too!
Another reading
It is daydreaming: the plan grows bigger with every sentence.
building hundreds of castles in the air
No, it shall be of gold and silver with diamond buttons.
Listen for
- Uses Pinocchio's own words about the coat.
- Notices that the coat grows from cloth to gold and silver.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say he will buy first?
- What does he say it shall be made of when he changes his mind?
- What does the author call his plans?
A strong answer Pinocchio remembers that Geppetto is in his shirt sleeves on a cold day because he bought the book, and he says Geppetto deserves a coat. That sounds like real thanks. But the plan grows from a cloth coat to gold and silver with diamond buttons, and the author calls his plans castles in the air. A strong answer can say real thinking or daydreaming, or a bit of both, and points to the words that show it.
- Pinocchio decides, “Today I’ll follow the pipes, and tomorrow I’ll go to school.” Is that a fair plan or an excuse? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether putting school off for one day is a small choice or a way of dodging what he planned to do.
One reading
It is a fair plan: he still means to go to school, only a day later.
Today I’ll follow the pipes, and tomorrow I’ll go to school.
There’s always plenty of time to go to school
Another reading
It is an excuse: he drops his plan the moment something more fun comes along.
In school today, I’ll learn to read, tomorrow to write
What a nuisance that I have to go to school!
Listen for
- Remembers what he planned to do today before he heard the pipes.
- Gives a reason for fair or excuse, not only the word.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio plan to learn in school today?
- What does he call school when he hears the pipes?
- When does he say he will go to school instead?
A strong answer At first Pinocchio plans to learn to read today and write tomorrow. Then the pipes start, he calls school a nuisance, and he says there is always plenty of time. Putting it off one day sounds small. But he decides in a moment, and the plan he made just before is gone. A strong answer weighs a short delay against how easily he talks himself into it, and says whether fair plan or excuse fits better.
- The boy turns down the paper coat, the shoes and the cap. Is he mean, or sensible? What makes you think so?Character
What it asks It asks whether the boy's refusals are cruel mocking or plain good sense, and what the author lets us see of him.
One reading
He is mean: he makes fun of Pinocchio when he is begging.
answered the other, poking fun at him
Fine bargain, indeed! A cap of dough! The mice might come and eat it from my head!
Another reading
He is sensible: a coat of paper is no use to him.
If it rains, what shall I do with a coat of flowered paper? I could not take it off again.
said the little fellow with far more common sense than the Marionette
Listen for
- Uses what the boy says about the coat, the shoes or the cap.
- Notices that he can be both unkind and sensible.
If stuck
- What does the boy say he would do with a paper coat if it rains?
- How does the author say he answered when Pinocchio first asked for four pennies?
- What does the author say about the boy's common sense?
A strong answer The boy pokes fun at Pinocchio, and a boy who is almost in tears is not helped by that. But his reasons are real: a paper coat cannot come off in the rain, and mice might eat a cap of dough. The author even says he had far more common sense than the Marionette. A strong answer can call him mean or sensible, or both, and uses what he says.
- The chapter ends by showing Geppetto at home in his shirt sleeves, shivering. Why might the author end there?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the author gets by turning from Pinocchio to Geppetto at the very end, and how that changes how we see the sale of the book.
One reading
It makes the sale hurt: the reader sees what the book cost.
Then and there, the book changed hands.
having sold his coat to buy that little book for his son!
Another reading
It shows the author is sorry for Geppetto and gentle with Pinocchio.
decided the little rascal at last, shrugging his shoulders
poor old Geppetto sat at home in his shirt sleeves, shivering with cold
Listen for
- Notices that the last sentence leaves Pinocchio and goes to Geppetto.
- Says what the reader is left feeling, with words from the chapter.
If stuck
- Who is the last sentence about?
- What is Geppetto doing, and why?
- What does the author call Pinocchio earlier, when he chooses the pipes?
A strong answer Most of the chapter follows Pinocchio's plans and the pipes, and only at the end does it turn to Geppetto shivering at home in his shirt sleeves. That makes the sale of the book feel heavier, since the reader sees what the book cost. But the author also calls Pinocchio a little rascal and Geppetto poor old Geppetto, which sounds sorry for Geppetto and gentle with Pinocchio. A strong answer says what the ending makes the reader feel, and points to the words that do it.
- Pinocchio tells the boy, “I’d like to read, but somehow I can’t today.” Why might he say that?Inference
What it asks It asks whether Pinocchio cannot read yet or is covering himself, and what the odd little words somehow and today suggest.
One reading
He cannot read yet: he has not been to school, and he is only on his way to learn.
In school today, I’ll learn to read, tomorrow to write, and the day after tomorrow I’ll do arithmetic.
Read the sign and you’ll know.
Another reading
He is making an excuse, as if he could read on another day.
I’d like to read, but somehow I can’t today.
Oh, really? Then I’ll read it to you.
Listen for
- Remembers that Pinocchio has not yet been to school.
- Says what the words somehow and today make us think.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio plan to learn in school today?
- What has he been doing instead of going to school?
- How does the boy answer him?
A strong answer Pinocchio is on his way to learn to read, so he really cannot read the sign yet. But he says somehow and today, as if he could read on another day, and the boy answers, Oh, really? A strong answer decides between not knowing how and making an excuse, and uses his words to show it.
Critical thinking
- Pinocchio loses all his pride and begs for four pennies. Using two things from the chapter, tell how far he will go to get in.
What it asks It asks the student to judge how strong Pinocchio's wish to see the show is, and whether anything holds him back.
One reading
He will go very far: he gives up his pride and begs from a boy he does not know.
Pinocchio, who was wild with curiosity to know what was going on inside, lost all his pride and said to the boy shamelessly
Will you give me four pennies until tomorrow?
Another reading
He has a limit: he is almost in tears and holds back before the last offer.
He hesitated, he wondered, he could not make up his mind.
but he lacked the courage to do so
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that explains how far he goes.
If stuck
- What does the author say Pinocchio is wild with?
- What does he ask the boy for?
- What does he do just before he asks about the book?
A strong answer Pinocchio is wild with curiosity, loses all his pride, and shamelessly asks a boy for four pennies, so he will go far. But he is almost in tears, and he hesitates and lacks the courage to make one last offer before asking about the book. A strong answer says how far he goes and where he stops, using two things from the chapter.
- The boy will not buy the book, but the ragpicker buys it at once. Using two things from the chapter, tell what is different about the two.
What it asks It asks the student to compare the boy's answer with the ragpicker's, and to say what each shows about the other.
One reading
The boy turns it down on a rule of his own, while the ragpicker offers to buy at once.
I am a boy and I buy nothing from boys
I’ll give you four pennies for your A-B-C book
Another reading
The ragpicker simply does what Pinocchio asks, and does not mock him as the boy does.
answered the other, poking fun at him
Then and there, the book changed hands.
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says what the boy and the ragpicker each do, with a reason.
If stuck
- What does the boy say about buying from boys?
- What does the ragpicker offer?
- How fast does the book change hands?
A strong answer The boy says he buys nothing from boys, and the author says he had far more common sense than the Marionette. The ragpicker, who stood by, offers four pennies and the book changes hands then and there. A strong answer says what is different about the two, and uses two things they say or do.
- The pipes and drums grow louder as Pinocchio runs. Using two things from the chapter, tell how the author makes the music pull at him.
What it asks It asks how the author makes the sounds feel strong, and what they do to Pinocchio's plans.
One reading
The sounds get louder, so they feel closer and harder to ignore.
On he ran, and louder grew the sounds of pipe and drum: pi-pi-pi, pi-pi-pi, pi-pi-pi . . .zum, zum, zum, zum.
Another reading
The music cuts into his plan and makes him stop and wonder.
He stopped to listen.
What a nuisance that I have to go to school! Otherwise. . .
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says what the music does to Pinocchio.
If stuck
- What happens to the sounds as he runs?
- What does Pinocchio do when he first hears them?
- What does he say just before he stops, puzzled?
A strong answer The author writes the sounds out as pi-pi-pi and zum, zum, zum, and says they grow louder as Pinocchio runs. The music also breaks into his thinking: he stops to listen, and his sentence about school trails off at otherwise. A strong answer says how the music pulls at him, using two things the chapter says.