Day 20: Mysteries of The Curio Shop Lesson Plan
Today’s lesson keeps us deep in William Kotzwinkle’s The Curio Shop. Students will wrap up the questions they began yesterday, then move on to a fresh set of prompts that focus on the elements of fiction.
1. Silent Reading – 15 Minutes
As always, we’ll begin with quiet reading time. Students should log an important detail from their novels in their reading logs.
2. Finish Yesterday’s Questions on The Curio Shop
Students complete the responses they began yesterday. Encourage them to check for clarity and completeness.
Get the questions and short story here.
3. Additional Questions on the Elements of Fiction
Once students finish, they’ll move on to the following three questions, designed to help them dig deeper into the short story. Assign as many as you like!
Character – How does the main character’s perception of the shop change throughout the story, and what does this reveal about his character?
Setting – In what ways does the description of the shop itself contribute to the mood and meaning of the story? Provide examples.
Theme – What central idea or theme emerges from the events of the story, and how do the characters and setting work together to develop this theme?
Symbolism – What might the objects in the shop symbolize? Choose one item mentioned in the story and explain how it reflects a larger idea or theme.
Point of View –How does the story’s point of view shape the reader’s understanding of what is real or imagined? Would the story feel different if told by another character?
Conflict – Identify the central conflict in the story. Is it internal, external, or both? Explain how this conflict drives the story’s tension and resolution.
Tone and Mood – Describe the tone of The Curio Shop. How does Kotzwinkle’s word choice or imagery create a particular mood for the reader?
Interpretation – The story leaves readers with a sense of mystery. What do you think the ending means? Does it suggest closure, transformation, or something unsettling? Explain your interpretation using evidence from the text.
Conclusion
Day 20 closes with a thoughtful exploration of The Curio Shop and the layers that make it such a powerful story. By revisiting their earlier responses and then tackling deeper questions about character, setting, and theme, students are moving from comprehension to true literary analysis. They’re learning to see how every detail—description, dialogue, and atmosphere—works together to build meaning. This lesson strengthens not only their understanding of fiction but also their ability to think critically about how stories reflect human experience.
