Quiet

Quiet is a touching tale of courage and how sometimes the smallest voice can deliver the biggest message.

English:

Write an acrostic poem based on the word ‘QUIET’.
Can you find examples of onomatopoeia in the story (e.g. swoosh and rumble)? Can you think of any others?
Make a list of new and unfamiliar words (e.g. ominous and riotous). Can you find their definitions?
Write a newspaper report about the destruction of the woods.
Add some speech / thought bubbles to the illustrations to show how the little bird (and the other animals) feel at different points in the story.
Write a persuasive letter to encourage people to protect areas of woodland.
Create a diary entry from the little bird’s point of view about her day.
Write a newspaper report about a time in the future when your voice will be heard.
Write a new story about this little bird. What might happen to her next?
Watch this video featuring the author Tom Percival discussing emotions. What questions would you like to ask him?

How many different animals can you count in the illustrations?
Record the noise levels in your classroom at different times of day, then use them to create a variety of charts and graphs.

What does ‘Quiet’ mean? What is the opposite of quiet?
How do we hear sounds? Create a report to teach others about this topic.
Sort everyday sounds into loud and quiet sounds.
Make a list of plants and animals that you might find in woodlands near where you live.
Choose one of the animals in the illustrations and write a report about it.

Design a game in which a bird has to fly and warn other animals about a potential danger.
Create an animation of the little bird flapping its wings.
Create some illustrations of birds and other woodland animals using drawing software.
Design some posters that provide strategies for staying calm during times of stress.
Record the sounds in different places around your home / school. What can you hear? How would you describe the noise level?

Can you create some illustrations of the bird in the story?
Look at the illustrations of the woods in the book. Can you make similar pictures using photos of a nearby woodland?
Look at the colourful illustration near the end of the book, when the animals are all singing. Could you use this technique in your own picture?
Watch the video above and use Tom’s tips on drawing eyebrows to give your characters different emotions.

Investigate different instruments. How are they played? How can people play them quietly and loudly?
Listen to your favourite songs (or pieces of classical music) and identify periods of quiet and loud music. How and why do musicians change the volume of a song?

Create a story map that shows different places from the story. Add labels to show what happened in each location.
Create a map showing a journey from your home to a nearby woodland. How will you get there?
Make a map that shows loud and quiet places around your home or school.

Research sacred spaces that are designed for quiet reflection (e.g. churches, temples and mosques).

Find out the word for ‘bird’ and ‘quiet’ in other languages. Make some posters to teach these to others.

Have you ever been in a group of people and felt unable to speak?
What could you do to help a person who is being quiet but wants to join in with a group?
Do you enjoy periods of quietness? Are there any particular places that are quiet and help you feel calm? What are your favourite quiet moments?
The story tells us that ‘everyone has something to offer’. What does this mean? What do you have to offer to your family, community and to the world?