Day 19: Silent Reading, Colons Quiz, and The Curio Shop
Master punctuation precision and explore the “big reveal” in fiction. Day 19 of the Grade 9 English course begins with a summative Colons Quiz to verify mastery of yesterday’s grammar lesson. The focus then shifts to a close reading of William Kotzwinkle’s “The Curio Shop,” a story that challenges students to identify shifts in perspective and analyze haunting symbolism like “large sooty stains” and “the glittering, milky boulevard.”
75 Minutes | Key Concepts: Colons Quiz, Perspective Shifts, Symbolism, Critical Discussion
Learning Goals and Standards
By completing this quiz, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of correct colon usage
- Identify when a colon properly introduces a list, explanation, or quotation
- Distinguish between correct and incorrect colon placement
- Recognize how colons clarify relationships between ideas
- Apply punctuation conventions accurately in sentence construction
Aligned Global Competencies / Standards / ELA Curriculum
This quiz supports international secondary English expectations such as:
Ontario Curriculum Alignment (ENL1W)
Strand B: Foundations of Language — Demonstrating understanding of punctuation conventions used to communicate meaning clearly (B2.3)
Strand D: Creating Texts — Applying grammar and punctuation accurately to communicate ideas effectively in writing (D2.2)
Common Core (Grades 9–10 Language)
Demonstrate command of conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing (L.9–10.2)
IB Language & Literature (ATL Skills)
Develop precision and clarity in written communication through accurate language conventions
Cambridge IGCSE English Language
Use accurate punctuation to structure meaning and improve clarity in writing
OECD Global Competence Framework
Communicate ideas clearly using discipline-appropriate written conventions
UNESCO Literacy Framework
Strengthen writing accuracy through correct punctuation use
Resources for Colons Quiz and “The Curio Shop”
Bell Ringer for Colons Quiz
“Fix the Colon Mistake” (5 minutes)
Write this sentence on the board:
My favourite school subjects are: English, history, and science.
Ask students:
Is the colon correct here? Why or why not?
Students quickly discover that the colon is incorrect because the sentence before the colon is not a complete idea. A colon should follow an independent clause and introduce related information such as a list or explanation.
Follow with the corrected version:
I have three favourite school subjects: English, history, and science.
This reinforces the rule that a colon introduces information that explains or expands a complete sentence.
Lesson Flow
1. Silent Reading – 15 Minutes
As always, begin class with focused silent reading. Students should log one idea, theme, or image from their independent reading that stood out to them today.
2. Colons Quiz
Introduce today’s colons quiz. This is a short check-in to reinforce the punctuation rules learned yesterday.
3. Read The Curio Shop by William Kotzwinkle
After the quiz, students will read The Curio Shop. Once the story is finished, they will complete the following comprehension activities individually.
Comprehension Questions:
Identify the turning point of the story—where the perspective becomes clear. Write a few point-form notes to show how this moment changes your understanding of the story. You may wish to show your thinking in a “before-and-after” chart.
Consider the following phrases in the context of the story. Write in full sentences to explain their meaning and implications:
“large sooty stains”
“once the corrosion began it couldn’t be reversed”
“The spirit must have departed only recently.”
“the glittering, milky boulevard”
Create three thoughtful questions about the story that you would like answered. Then, exchange your questions with a partner. After trying to answer each other’s questions, join another pair and work in groups of four to compare your responses and expand your understanding of the story.
| Analysis Focus | Evidence / Textual Clue | Interpretive Meaning |
| The “Reveal” | “The glittering, milky boulevard” | The setting is actually space; the “boulevard” is the Milky Way. |
| Symbolism | “Large sooty stains” | Represents the environmental decay or destruction of Earth. |
| Irony | “Bought for twice its worth” | The seller thinks he won, but the buyer bought an entire planet as a trinket. |
| Tone | “The spirit must have departed recently” | A somber, clinical observation of a dead or dying world. |
4. Test Date Announcement
At the end of class, let students know that the short story unit test will be on Day 25. Encourage them to review their notes, quizzes, and completed activities to prepare.
First-Hand Suggestions
I treat punctuation quizzes like this as quick confidence checks rather than high-stakes assessments. Students usually understand colon rules conceptually but need practice spotting subtle mistakes, especially when a colon appears after an incomplete clause. A short review discussion after the quiz helps lock the rule in place before we move forward to more complex sentence structure work.
Differentiation
For Students with IEPs
- Provide reduced-choice versions of quiz questions
- Allow extra processing time
- Highlight the independent clause before the colon in sample sentences
- Offer sentence-sorting activities instead of full corrections
- Permit verbal explanations of answers when appropriate
For English Language Learners
Pre-teach key terms:
| Term | Student-Friendly Meaning |
|---|---|
| colon | punctuation mark with two dots |
| independent clause | a complete sentence |
| list | several items together |
| explanation | extra information about something |
Support strategies:
- Model correct colon placement visually
- Compare colon vs comma usage directly
- Provide sentence frames such as:
- “There is one problem: ___”
- “I brought three things: ___”
- Use classroom examples instead of abstract grammar sentences
Colons Quiz FAQ
What is the ‘twist’ in The Curio Shop by William Kotzwinkle? The twist is a shift in perspective: what the characters describe as a small, corroded ‘bauble’ or ‘orb’ is actually the planet Earth, and the ‘milky boulevard’ is the Milky Way galaxy.
What does the ‘corrosion’ symbolize in the story? The corrosion and ‘sooty stains’ on the orb symbolize human pollution, industrialization, and the eventual environmental death of the planet.
How does the Colons Quiz fit into the Grade 9 curriculum? The quiz provides a summative assessment of the punctuation rules introduced in Day 18, ensuring students can use colons for lists, emphasis, and formal introductions.
Previous Lesson: Colons, Last Day for Scripting and Storyboarding
Next Lesson: Mysteries of “The Curio Shop”
