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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Bucketfilling programs leave behind an easy-to-understand metaphor that becomes a part of the social-emotional fabric of the school community.  With a little bit of continuation and continuity it becomes a forever tool in the character education toolbelt that is accessible at all times by students, staff, and families. Here is how I teach it:

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  • School Assemblies: I offer large group assemblies (K-2/3 is 35 minutes, and 3-5/6 is 40 minutes).

  • Grade-level workshops: I offer a variety of 20-30 minute whole-grade enrichment workshops.  Workshops are typically delivered after the assemblies, are highly interactive and allow students extra time in a smaller group setting to work with the concept of choosing kindness as a habit.

  • Parent workshops: Parent morning workshops (45 min) provide opportunities for parents and caretakers to learn ways to support and grow the bucketfilling message in the home environment.

Description of Large-group assemblies:

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15 years of bucket filling school assemblies

Younger assembly (K-2/3)

Is approximately 35 minutes and includes

  • Introduction to the bucketfilling metaphor and how our personal bucket level impacts how we feel

  • Concept of choice in being a bucket filler or a bucket dipper

  • Effects of Kindness, Caring, Loving, and Sharing for filling others’ and our buckets

  • Effects of Meanness, Anger, Selfishness, and Bullying for dipping in others’ and our buckets

  • Using our “lid” of resilience

  • Four students come up, play instruments to "Fill More Dip Less" song

  • Two teachers come up, have silly hats put on them, sing repeat-after-me Bucketfillers Song (“singing oh way oh!”)

  • Simple pledge

Older assembly (3/5-6) 

Is approximately 40 minutes and includes

  • Introduction to the bucketfilling metaphor and how our personal bucket impacts how we feel

  • Concept of choice in being a bucket filler or a bucket dipper

  • Effect of Kindness, Caring, Loving, and Sharing for filling others’ and our buckets

  • Effect of Meanness, Anger, Selfishness, and Bullying for dipping in others’ and our buckets

  • Using our “lid” of resilience

  • Three ways to be an incredible bucketfiller:  1) Have more fun 2) Be more positive 3) Be more welcoming

  • Simple pledge

  • Bucketfiller Rap

Students love bucket filling school assemblies
Kelly Nickel leading the learning about bucket filling

7th and 8th

Grade Programs

Are grade-level presentations that bring the core concepts of the assemblies to life in a fast-paced, funny, and highly-engaging learning experience that includes relevant stories, multi-media examples, and student involvement. While this is admittedly a challenging age group to move to outcomes in a 40-minute presentation, the simplicity of the message and the power of the metaphor accelerate the internalization of the benefits that will motivate participants toward mindful, intentional positive behavior choices.

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