Subject: kindness, manners, helping, etc. Who got the Parrot? Directions: I like to print the pictures onto off-white cardstock so the faces will have a flesh color. Then I chalk them, then rub with my fingers, blending the colors. It helps when I want to add a bit of cheek color to the faces and gives the pictures a nice overall look. Then I use clear contact paper and stick it just to the front of each picture to protect the chalking (it s a cheap alternative to laminating), then cut out the pictures and put flannel on the back. Note: You can also use markers or colored pencils. If you do use the clear contact paper over the pictures, do NOT use oil base markers as the colors will bleed over time. Use the pictures during the story at the times indicated and remove when indicated. Story: There was a little old woman who lived in a small house. On the front porch of the house hung a big bird cage in which there was a beautiful parrot (stick onto cage) who liked to talk quite a bit. He would chatter away at the little old woman and anyone who happened to be passing by. One day Alice, Betty, and Catherine passed the house. They pointed to the bird and talked about how much each wanted a bird of their own. The little old woman heard what they were saying and she called out to them, Girls, wouldn t one of you like to have a parrot? I ve had this one for many years, and I m tired of his chatter. The three girls ran up to the little old woman s porch. Give me the parrot, cried Alice. I want the parrot, shouted Betty. I too would like to have the parrot, said Catherine. Well, well, well, laughed the old woman. I have only one parrot and all three of you want it. Let s sit down and think what to do. So they sat down on the front porch and thought. After they had thought for awhile, the little old woman said, Each of you may take the parrot home for one week. While you have him, your job is to teach him some new words to say. She pointed to Alice, and said, Perhaps you can teach him to say good morning. Next, she looked at Betty and said, How about if you teach him to say good afternoon? Then, she turned to Catherine, and said, And what if you teach him to say goodnight? After each of you has had a turn with the parrot for one week, the three of you can bring him back to me, and I shall decide which of you may keep him for your very own. She lifted the parrot s cage and handed it to Alice. Here Alice, you may have him first. (Remove all pictures except Alice and the bird.) All the girls supposed that whoever taught the parrot best would be the one to keep him.
Alice put the parrot s cage in the parlor when she got home. Everyday she sat beside the cage and tried to teach the bird to say good morning. But he was slow to learn, and Alice neglected her regular work. Whenever her mother called her, Alice would answer, Not yet, not yet, wait awhile, and she would continue to talk to the parrot. Finally, before the week was up, the bird learned to say good morning and Alice was glad. Then Betty took the bird (remove Alice, put up Betty) and put it up in the attic where she could be alone with it all day long. Whenever her mother called her, Betty answered, Don t bother me, don t bother me. But don t you know it, before the week was over she had taught the bird to say good afternoon. Then Catherine took the parrot to her home (remove Betty, put up Catherine), she put it in the kitchen, so that she could talk to the bird while she helped her grandmother by washing the dishes and sweeping the floor. Often times, she would sit down beside the cage and talk to the funny green bird, trying to get him to say goodnight, but whenever her grandmother called, she answered, Coming Grandma. Now surely you know, by the end of the week she had taught the bird to say good night. At last the three weeks had ended and the girls met back on the little old woman s porch. (Put everyone back up.) Catherine put the cage on a table and they all sat down to await the decision. They were so excited and could hardly wait to hear who was going to take the bird home. The parrot looked at each of the girls, jumped to the bottom of the cage and cried, Good morning, good afternoon, good night. Oh dear, said the little old woman. Each of you has taught him what to say. How can I tell who should have the parrot? And then she had an idea and called out, Alice, Alice, Alice in just the way she thought her mother might have called Alice for help. The old woman had no sooner called when the parrot opened his mouth and shrieked, Not yet, not yet, wait awhile. Now who do you suppose he heard say that? the old woman asked. The she called out, Betty, Betty, Betty. No sooner had she called Betty s name, than the parrot said, Don t bother me, don t bother me, in a very harsh voice. But when the old woman called out, Catherine, Catherine, Catherine, the bird softly said, Coming, grandma. Alice cried, Isn t he the smartest bird you ever saw? I want him! But the bird answered Not yet, not yet, wait a while. Then Betty pleaded, You ll come with me, won t you, pretty bird? Don t bother me, don t bother me, said the parrot, very harshly.
I d like to take the dear thing home with me, said Catherine. The parrot flapped his wings, and said, Coming Grandma. And the little old woman smiled, and said, I think I know who should have the parrot. Do you know who got the parrot? (Remove everyone except Catherine and the bird.) So you can see that it s important to be kind to your family and those around you. We need to be careful of what we say and how we say it because you just never know who is listening and who will be hurt by your harsh words. Ask: How should we talk to others so they know we love them?