Western U.S. Region Programs
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“Fill more, Dip less!”
Kelly Nickel’s unique programs teach children and adults the value of actively caring for others and the benefits that come with treating others with Empathy, Kindness, and Respect. Through engaging and entertaining Student Assemblies, Classroom Enrichment Workshops, Staff Development, and Parent Workshops, participants learn how to:
*Strive for Positive Attitudes
*Increase their Feelings of Self-worth
*Practice Resiliency
*Communicate their Feelings Constructively
*Enjoy the Benefits of Serving Others
Kelly offers three variations of a funny and interactive assembly, one for the younger students (K-1), one for older students (2-3), and one for the oldest students (4-6). All three are approximately 40-50 minutes. He also offers a variety of classroom and whole-grade enrichment workshops (20-30 minutes) that allow him to meet the students and promote deeper understanding of the concepts.
Description of Assemblies
The K-1 assembly lasts approximately 40 minutes and includes the following:
- 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
- Power of Kindness, Caring, Loving, and Sharing for filling others’ and our buckets
- Power of Meanness, Anger, Selfishness, and Bullying for dipping in others’ and our buckets
- Concept of the “lid” of resilience
- 13 minute Intercultural/Intergenerational “story” (projected) about learning to be bucketfillers
- Four student volunteers come up and share/answer bucketfilling “scenario” questions
- Four teachers come up, have silly hats put on them, answer bucketfilling “scenario” questions
- Repeat after me Bucketfillers Song (“singing oh way oh!”)
- Presentation of framed certificate to Principal
The 2-3 assembly is nearly identical to the younger assembly, but exchanges the projected “story” with several activities involving student volunteers that introduce the concepts of striving for positive attitudes, being welcoming to everyone, and service nobility. It lasts approx 45 minutes.
The 4-6 assembly is a bit different, very interactive, is funny and engaging, and lasts approx 45 minutes:
- 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
- Power of Kindness, Caring, Loving, and Sharing for filling others’ and our buckets
- Power of Meanness, Anger, Selfishness, and Bullying for dipping in others’ and our buckets
- Concept of the “lid” of resilience
- Choosing to be a bucketfiller makes you “Incredible!”
- Three ways to be an incredible bucketfiller:
1. Strive for a positive attitude
2. Be welcoming to everyone
3. Treat each other special
- Repeat after me Bucketfillers Song (“singing oh way oh!”)
- Presentation of framed certificate to Principal
Description of Enrichment Workshops
For K-1, Kelly uses Todd Parr’s “It’s Okay to be Different” to help children understand empathy for others and pride for their own uniqueness, which leads to respect for each other.
For 2nd and 3rd graders Kelly likes to have staff dramatize bucketfilling vs bucketdipping using “real” interpersonal examples from their day and then also do a pair-share activity where the students learn a little bit more about their fellow students (it’s about building community, getting to know each other, finding out what makes us unique, leads to empathy and appreciation of others).
For 4-6 students, Kelly will clarify the metaphor and discuss how it applies to their daily lives, do a 3-2-1 activity, asking them to write down/report out 3 “predictions” about what their school would look/be like if everyone practiced bucketfilling, write down/report out 2 bucketfilling behaviors that they wish others would practice toward them, write down/report out 1 bucketfilling choice they commit to doing before end of the school day.
Staff Development and Parent Workshops
Kelly also offers customized staff professional development, Leadership/PTA/Foundations workshops, and parent night workshops in order to reach all stakeholders. Staff development workshops inspire educators to unleash their creative talents to bring the bucketfilling concepts alive in the classroom and school site. Parent workshops are designed to inspire participants to keep the bucketfilling message alive at home with a focus on creating a positive atmosphere, promoting social-emotional development, and helping children understand what makes them valuable to their world.
With any programming, Kelly includes a set of great resources and handouts for the staff to use right away in their classrooms. You may mix and match and create the schedule that meets your needs and budget. All programs can be customized to support your desired outcomes and existing character ed initiatives. Just know that Kelly is very flexible and can work with special requests.