We Wonder
Week 22
We wonder why we need to be quiet at the library
[Note: The emphasis in this story is not on being quiet but on our wondering. Our goal is not to give the answers to the “Why” we need to be quiet but on how we wonder if we should be quiet in certain settings where as wild parrots never wonder whether they should be quiet. To wonder why is part of the preciousness of humanity.]
Point to emphasize
We often wonder whether we should be quiet or loud in different situations.
References
Hebrews 10:24
[Begin the time with the children with this song.]
We rush through the door and there’s so much to say,
But Mom’s on the bed and she looks kind of gray.
Shhhhh…This is when we’re quiet.
I’m in the library, looking at books,
If I make a noise then I get funny looks.
Shhhhh…This is when we’re quiet.
Today’s our meeting; my friends have all come,
We’ve sung and we’ve chatted; now story’s begun.
Shhhhh…This is when we’re quiet.
Sample content and conversations with children
Today we are going to see that we often wonder when we should be quiet.
- Play this short video (below) https://www.youtube.com/embed/4-vPUl_idQM?rel=0 and ask the children what these are. [Let them answer.] These are wild parrots. Have you ever seen or heard them? They are noisy and never quiet even to the point of waking people up. I have some that live in my neighborhood and they are definitely noisy any time of day, especially early in the morning when people might still be sleeping. These wild parrots never wonder whether they should be quiet.
- How about you? God made us in a different way. God made us in a way that we often wonder how quiet or how loud we can be depending where we are at. It is really good that we can wonder IF we need to be quiet or if we can be loud! When you go into new places that you are not familiar with, right away you wonder if you should be quiet or if you can be loud. Sometimes without anyone telling you, you notice you need to be quiet.
- I’m going to show you a picture. I want you all to look at it carefully. After you figure out what the place is, I want you to consider whether you should be quiet or if you can be loud.
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- [Show picture of auditorium/child playing piano (Picture #2) and let the children answer.] Yes, you should be quiet! One time, I went to watch a piano recital. I was so impressed that everyone was SO quiet! We could only clap at certain times, and even enter the room in between songs so we won’t make noises with the door. At these events, no one is talking, even suppressing coughs or sneezes! No one is munching on food, slurping, or rattling through program pages! All phones are turned off! You may wonder why it’s so quiet?! Well, when it was that quiet we were able to REALLY appreciate every sound on the stage. (Storyteller, you can share a short personal story.)
- [Show picture of a library. (Picture #3)] What is this place? When we walk into a library, we look around and we wonder if we should be quiet or loud. [Let the children answer.] Yes, we should be quiet!
- [Show a picture of a waiting room at a doctor’s office. (Picture #4)] What is this place? It looks so quiet. This is the waiting room at a doctor’s office. I wonder if you should be quiet or loud? [Let the children answer.] Yes, we should be quiet!
- God made us in a way that when we walk into any place, we stop, we look around and right away, we wonder if we should be quiet or if we can be loud! This is wonderful!
- What are some quiet activities you can do when you need to be quiet? [Let the children answer. Some examples are drawing, coloring, looking at a book, working on a puzzle…]
- Now we are going to play an activity. I will show some pictures and will tell you what is going on in the picture. You all will wonder if you should be quiet or if you can be loud. If we need to be quiet we will all bring our index finger to our mouth and whisper Shhh. If we can be loud, we will all bring our hands next to our mouth like if we were screaming! [Show pictures and let the children answer in each one. Use as needed.]
- the baby is sleeping #5
- cheering on a soccer game #6
- mommy is praying or reading the Bible #7
- saying hi to greet people #8
- it’s bedtime #9
- parents are working #10
- answering the teacher’s questions (we should say it a bit louder instead of murmuring so that people can hear it clearly) #11
- older brothers or sisters are doing homework #12
- singing in the meeting #13
- playing outside #14
- our parents are in a meeting in person #15
- our parents are in a meeting on line (zoom) #16
Suggested activities
- Photography Memory – Have three simple items (i.e. cup, fork, spoon, brush, crayon, etc. ) on a tray. Show for (5-10 seconds) and then cover the items and then ask the children to name the items they remember. You can add more items to the tray, depending on your audience.
- Singing while playing “the conductor” – We are going to sing a song while playing “follow the conductor”. If I am the conductor and my hand is up, you all will sing as loud as you can. If my hand is down you will song very soft, almost whispering. If my hand is in the middle, you will sing normal.
Other suggested songs
If You Want a Great Big Smile
Jesus is the Lord and He cares for Me
Pictures