Bucket Basics
What is an invisible bucket?
It’s something everyone carries that holds your feelings. or HEART
Q: What is bucket dipping?
A: Saying or doing unkind things that take away happiness.
Q: What feeling do you get when your bucket is empty?
A: Lonely, sad, or upset.
Q: Name one way you can fill your family’s bucket at home.
A: Helping clean, saying “I love you,” giving hugs.
Q: Who wrote Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
A: Carol McCloud.
True or False: Everyone carries an invisible bucket.
TRUE
Q: Give an example of bucket dipping.
A: Calling someone a mean name, leaving them out, being unkind.
Q: Name one kind word you could say to a friend to fill their bucket.
A: “Great job!” / “You’re my friend.” / “I like playing with you.”
Q: Name one way you can fill a teacher’s bucket at school.
A: Listening, following directions, saying “thank you.”
Q: What is the main idea of the book?
A: We should be kind and fill each other’s buckets.
What happens to your bucket when people say or do kind things?
IT FILLS UP
Q: True or False: When you dip into someone’s bucket, your bucket gets fuller.
A: False, your bucket gets emptier too.
Q: How do your choices affect other people’s buckets?
A: They can fill or dip buckets depending on what you do.
Q: Name one way you can fill your own bucket.
A: Do something kind, smile, make good choices.
Q: What happens to your bucket when you smile at someone?
A: Their bucket and your bucket both get filled.
How do you feel when your bucket is full?
HAPPY LOVED AND GOOD INSIDE
Q: How does being a bucket dipper make others feel?
A: Sad, hurt, or left out.
Why is it important to notice other people’s feelings?
A: So we can help fill their buckets when they need it.
Q: Share a time when someone filled your bucket.
FREE POINT
Q: The author says we make choices every day. What are those choices?
A: To be a bucket filler or a bucket dipper.
Give one example of filling someone’s bucket at school.
Smiling, helping, inviting to play, giving a compliment, etc.
Q: What could you do instead of dipping to fill someone’s bucket?
A: Say kind words, include them, share, help, or listen.
Q: Imagine a classmate is sitting alone—what could you do to fill their bucket?
A: Invite them to join, sit with them, say something kind.
Q: What is a “bucket filling plan” for recess (what kind things will you do?).
A: (Student answers: invite friends, share equipment, cheer others on, etc.)
Q: Why do you think the author used a “bucket” to explain feelings?
A: Because it’s an easy way to understand how kindness fills us up and unkindness takes away.