Bucket Fillers

Over the last few days, you may have heard your child talking about an invisible bucket that they carry. Or, you may have even heard the phrase "You're a bucket filler". Bucket filling is a concept that is taught and utilized in many classrooms in our school and in our school division.

The idea is simple, but very powerful. We learned that everyone in the world carries around an invisible bucket. Did you know that our pets carry around invisible buckets too? When our bucket is full, we feel happy. When our bucket is empty, we feel sad. When we say or do kind things, we are being bucket fillers. When we say mean things or make bad choices, we are being bucket dippers.

When we fill someone's bucket, we fill our own buckets too! However, some might think that dipping from someone's bucket will fill their own but that is not the case. You can never fill your bucket by dipping from someone else's. All day long, our buckets are either being filled or dipped from. 

Over the week, we read 3 different books about filling buckets. These books showed us SO many ways that we can be bucket fillers at school, at home, and in our community. These books were purchased from Scholastic and are often featured in their monthly flyers.

 

 

 

 

After we finished reading these stories, we sorted these actions to see if they would make people feel happy (bucket fillers) or if they would make people feel sad (bucket dippers). We had some great conversations led by the students. For instance, one child said that "cut in line" could go under being a Bucket Filler because a friend might have been nice enough to save him or her a spot in the line. We also talked about the fact that sometimes we do or say things that do not make others happy. When we recognize that we are being bucket dippers, we simply need to change our words and actions around to do the right thing! 

 

Our chart also inspired us to talk about a time when we were a bucket filler! Here are what some of the students said:

 

·         I helped Newman reach his toy when it was on the dresser – Nina

·         When Lucas fell on the ground, I gave him a bandaid and a nice snack – Lily

·         I listen to my mom and dad – Benjamin

·         I clean up my room – Adriana

·         I clean up my room right away when my mom asks – Cruz

·         I invite my cousins to go bowling – Udit

·         I share toys with Farrah – Kayden

·         I eat my supper when my mommy tells me to – Addison

·         When my cats’ toys are too high, I help them – Daniel

·         When mom said colouring time was over, I listened right away – Isabella

·         I clean up right away when mom plays the clean up song – Mac

·         I share my doctor case supplies with Easton – Katelyn

·         I clean up my toys right away – Thomas

·         I rake up the leaves with mom and dad – Connor

·         I clean up right away in my bedroom – Emily

·         I like raking up the leaves - Adam