Are you searching for bucket filling activities that will make Back-to-School smooth and joyful? ✏️🌈 Teaching students to be “bucket fillers” is an easy, high-impact way to weave social-emotional learning (SEL) into your daily routine and create a positive classroom environment from day one.
What Is a Bucket Filler?
The idea comes from the beloved picture book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud (illustrated by David Messing). The story explains that everyone carries an invisible bucket that holds our feelings. When we show kindness, we “fill” someone’s bucket—and our own. When we are unkind, we “dip” from those buckets. You can find the book here along with a variety of useful resources and teaching tools to set the stage for your SEL lessons.
How Bucket Filling Builds a Positive Classroom
Because the metaphor is so concrete, even preschoolers “get it” right away. Students learn to:
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Recognize emotions—they can see when a friend’s bucket is “full” or “empty.”
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Practice empathy—they notice ways to fill buckets all day long.
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Use positive language—compliments flow naturally when kids know they add a drop to someone’s bucket.
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Reduce behavior issues—instead of focusing on what not to do, children concentrate on kindness, cooperation, and respect.
The result? A calmer, happier learning space—along with smoother classroom management for you!
Easy Paper-Cup Bucket Craft
Turn ordinary paper cups into adorable “buckets” your students can’t wait to fill!
You’ll need
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White paper cups
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Markers or crayons
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Chenille stems (pipe cleaners)
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Clear tape or classroom stapler
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Fun add-ons: stickers, googly eyes, beads
Directions
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Decorate the cup. Let kids draw faces, patterns, or bucket-filling slogans with markers.
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Add the handle. Bend a chenille stem into a half-circle and tape (or staple) each end to opposite sides of the cup.
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Embellish. Stick on googly eyes, sprinkle on stickers, or slide beads onto the handle for extra sparkle—and a dash of fine-motor practice.
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Fill with kindness. Provide small slips of paper so students can write or draw bucket-filling messages and tuck them inside.
Voilà! A quick, low-mess craft that doubles as a daily reminder to spread kindness.
More Bucket Filling Activities to Try
I’ve bundled some bucket filling activities into one low-prep Bucket Filling Pack designed for Preschool, Pre-K, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade. These may be particularly useful if you’re hoping to set up a bucket filling classroom and need a few extra resources to help you get prepped! Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find (pictures below!):
Bucket Crafts – Choose from paper-bag or pocket buckets plus a fun crown craft.
Sorting Activities – Sort bucket-filling vs. bucket-dipping behaviors.
<< Get these bucket filling vs bucket dipping sorting activities here>>
Worksheets – You can choose from a variety of writing prompts, dot marker and sorting worksheets. You can see a few examples below.
<< Find these bucket filling worksheets here>>
Discussion Cards & PowerPoint® – Spark rich conversations during morning meeting.
Student Awards & Sticker Charts – Celebrate every drop of kindness all year long. You can choose from a variety of bucket filler awards. I love printing the black and white ones on bright colored paper (see below).
<< Grab these bucket filler awards here>>
Clip Cards – These are a fun way for children to identify bucket filling and bucket filling behaviors. They’re great for fine motor practice too!
<< Grab these bucket filler vs bucket dipper clip cards here>>
Writing Area Printables – Set up a special bucket-filling writing station with ready-to-print pages. Kids can jot kind notes on bucket slips or create cards to share.
<< Get these bucket filling writing printables here>>
Ready to Fill Every Bucket?
You can grab the complete Bucket Filling Activities Pack here. Click the link below the photos, download, and watch your students’ kindness overflow!
Have a magical week and happy bucket filling! 🌟
More Positive Classroom Resources
You may also like the following freebies, be sure to check them out too! 😊
FREE Star of the Week Printables
FREE Sticker and Stamp Reward Charts
