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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?

Maths:

• 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.

Science:

• 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.

Computing:

• 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?

Design Technology:

• Design and make a bird box for the little bird to live in.
• Design and make a ‘calm box’ to store items that can help you stay calm.
• Make a model of a bird with flapping wings.

Art:

• 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.

Music:

• 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?

Geography:

• 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.

Religious Education:

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

Languages:

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

PSHE:

• 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?