Everybody Here Has A Bucket!
This page is a recap of the ideas, songs and activities covered in the Red's presentation. The links in red will take you to each song's lyric page that features an audio player of the song, videos showing the sign language when available, and links to the song's accompanying activities. Have fun!
Power To Change The World (Sign Language)
History of Bucketfilling
Donald O. Clifton
The Bucketfilling model was conceived by Dr. Donald O. Clifton. In his research into why US POWs in the Korean War had the highest mortality rate of any war despite a lack of unusual physical abuse he discovered that it was the N. Koreans' intentional breaking down and destruction of the human connections between the US prisoners that caused them to give up and die. In thinking about the dire consequences of this kind of dismantling of support and caring he began to investigate its opposite. What would happen if time and energy and care were given to building connections between people. This began his life's work which has led him to be called the Father of Positive Psychology.
From his work he developed the concept of everyone having an invisible "bucket" inside of them that holds all their good feelings about themselves. When our bucket is full we are happy and everything seems possible. When it is empty we are sad and depressed and defeated.
Carol McCloud
Early childhood educator, Carol McCloud, found this model to be a simple and effective way to develop and support the pro-social behaviors and interactions with her students. Sensing a need she wrote the best-selling picture book, "Have You Filled A Bucket Today?" which brought bucketfilling to early childhood and elementary education.
There are three rules of bucketfilling:
Bucket Filling Rule #1: Fill Other's Buckets
Fill A Bucket (Round)
Bucket Filling Rule #2: Don't Dip
Help children distinguish between bucket filling and bucket dipping by playing "Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down" with various scenarios.
Bucket Filling Rule #3: Use Your Lid
Bucket filling and bucket dipping are both contagious.
When we use our lid we stop the "dipping energy" and change the outcome.
Fill EVERYONE'S bucket:
Introvert, extrovert, happy, sad, easy, difficult
"5 Minute Rule" - When you meet someone give them 5 minutes of kindness, caring, love, and safety. If you do they will usually begin to show up with their true, wonderful self.
Creating A Bucketfilling Environment With Songs, Stories and Service
Bucketfilling Songs For Kindness and Empathy
See Me Beautiful (Sign Language)
Kraft Paper Kids - Instructions
"See Me Beautiful" Glasses
I Think You're Wonderful (Sign Language and Coupon)
Bucket Filling All The World Around
Rapp Song (Tootsie Roll Pops) - "We all look different, but we're all the same."
Teaching Peace (Sign Language, Spiral March)
Bucket Filling For The Planet
Fill My Bucket With Fun
These are great songs to use to hit the "reset" button in your classroom and have a collective experience of fun.
Barnyard Boogie (Rooster Hats, Clucking Cups)
Down By The Sea (Motions, Make Up New Verses)
Building A Bucket Filling Identity and Culture
Songs and art
Everybody Here Has A Bucket (Bucket Hat)
Bucket Fillers, That's Who We Are (March, buttons and signs)
Click on images for pdf templates of buttons and signs
I Am A Bucket Filler (Videos, bracelet)
Circle of Light ("Bucket of Light" Circle Time, Energy Ball)
Stories
Sharing your own bucketfilling experiences with the children is a powerful way for them to connect to the ideas involved.
Red's Story w Kyle Crabb
Service
Doing classroom service projects in the context of bucketfilling helps the meaning of the activity become more concrete to young students.
In Closing...
Here are Carol McCloud's words to every group of students she meets:
"Do you want to have the happiest year of your life? Be a bucket filler!"
