Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: questions to ask and activities to try
Everyone carries an invisible bucket that holds their good feelings. Kind words fill it up, unkind ones empty it. A simple idea many schools use to talk about kindness.
What age is Have You Filled a Bucket Today? for?
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? is best for ages 4–8.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? (Carol McCloud and David Messing)
- Age
- 4-8
- Best for
- Kindness, and understanding how our words make others feel
Only 50pHave You Filled a Bucket Today? activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
After reading, use the bucket idea through the day: ’You just filled my bucket!’ Notice together when someone fills or dips from a bucket.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 4–8 (Reception to Year 3)
- What they'll enjoy
- Everyone carries an invisible bucket that holds their good feelings. Kind words fill it up, unkind ones empty it. A simple idea many schools use to talk about kindness.
- Helps with
- Kindness, and understanding how our words make others feel
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Kindness
- Understanding feelings
- How words affect others
- Noticing good behaviour
Comprehension and discussion questions for Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What is the invisible bucket?”
- “How can you fill someone’s bucket?”
- “What is a bucket dipper?”
- “How does it feel when your bucket is full?”
- “Who filled your bucket today?”
- “Whose bucket could you fill tomorrow?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
All 6 questions for Have You Filled a Bucket Today? on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Bucket jar
Put a jar out for the week. Add a pom-pom or button whenever someone in the family fills a bucket.
Bucket notes
Write short kind notes and hide them for family members to find.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to Have You Filled a Bucket Today?, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about kindness.
A 20-minute session for ages 4–8 (Reception to Year 3), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: After reading, use the bucket idea through the day: ’You just filled my bucket!’ Notice together when someone fills or dips from a bucket.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “What is the invisible bucket?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Bucket jar. Put a jar out for the week. Add a pom-pom or button whenever someone in the family fills a bucket. Children who finish early can try Bucket notes.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The Have You Filled a Bucket Today? activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
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- Best for
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- Age
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- Best for
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- Age
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- Age
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.