The Humble Pencil

image of pencils

Lessons Learned

Much has been said of the "mighty pen" but what of the humble pencil? From elegant handwriting to charcoal sketches to improvised hair pins, pencils fill many roles! At this busy time of year we take a moment to spotlight this simplest of tools, without whose help students would never be able to take our tests. Next time you use your humble pencil, take a closer look and learn a few life lessons. Remember that …

  • Pencil marks can easily be corrected.
  • Pencils are readily available.
  • Pencils must have a "point" to be effective.
  • A pencil's value is on the inside.
  • A pencil can do its work anywhere--upside down, under water... (try that with a pen!)

But most importantly, a pencil is useful only when it is in someone's hand. This Christmas season may you celebrate with us the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please enjoy our printable pencil activity and remember the value the humblest of us has when used by God's hand.

Pencils Demystified

Myth: A #2 pencil must be used for marking answers on a test.

Fact: Any pencil that leaves a dark mark that can still be erased, will work just fine. It's a more important that the answer "bubble" be filled in completely. What won't work is a pen, since the scoring machines scan for graphite concentrations.