Some books just have a way of grabbing your heart and your students’ attention, and The Bad Seed by Jory John is one of them. This funny, relatable story about a sunflower seed who feels “bad” but decides to turn things around is a great way to learn about feelings, growing up, and how our choices can help us change for the better. In this blog post I am sharing my favorite The Bad Seed activities and teaching ideas for your The Bad Seed read aloud sessions.
The Bad Seed activities to enhance vocabulary and activate Background Knowledge: Talking about Feelings and Emotions
I always start by talking about feelings to make sure students know how to use the right vocabulary. I make this big chart of different feelings, happy, sad, angry, proud, and take a few minutes to share some times we felt those ways. That helps students immediately connect to the Bad Seed-after all, who hasn’t felt lonely or frustrated like him? By comparing experiences with his, we set the stage for some real discussion about how our emotions influence our actions.
You can find more activities like this in the complete resource!
The Bad Seed activities to establish text-to-self connection – Writing Activity: Why Are You a Good Seed?
I think one of my favorite things after reading this book to the class is watching them realize that they all are “good seeds” in some special, kind way. Ask them to describe what makes them special and kind. They really enjoyed drawing themselves as little seeds with big smiles. I love to see their confidence grow with them writing things that make them special. So sweet-a nice, gentle way to promote self-reflection and a little seed of self-love.
Find more writing prompts like this in the full resource!
Compare and Contrast: Good Seed vs. Bad Seed
This is a great book to have children reflect on growth of character. We complete a simple Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the Bad Seed’s choices at the beginning of the story with his actions at the end. Then, my students make their “Good Seed Plans,” full of ways they might be kind or helpful. Wow, they always amaze me with just how reflective they can be given the time to do so!
Even more compare-and-contrast activities can be found in the full resource!
The Bad Seed Activities & Lesson Plan Suggestions
Objective: Students help identify main idea and some character development.
Pre-Reading: Start an emotions chart as an activator of prior knowledge.
During Reading: Stop and discuss what the Bad Seed might be feeling, and why he may behave one way or another.
Post-Reading Have the students write about being a “Good Seed” and make their own behavior reflection charts.
Seed Plans Wrap-Up Share plans within the class and celebrate all the great ideas!
This story has such great potential to teach empathy, self-reflection, and growth mindset-and I have created a resource to help you make the most of it! It’s full of writing prompts, graphic organizers, and creative activities that your students will love. Click HERE to explore The Bad Seed resource and bring this wonderful story into your classroom.
In this unit, you’ll get 5 days of detailed lesson plans that focus on comprehension, meaningful discussion, and some fun creative expression. Plus, you’ll find literacy-building activities that connect directly to the book’s themes, like writing prompts and a craft. The Bad Seed activities in the unit are designed to be rigorous but fun, and they’re perfect for a range of learners with plenty of differentiation options to suit your class.
Here’s what’s inside:
- 5 days of lesson plans with activities that focus on comprehension, discussion, and creativity
- Fun literacy activities that help students think about the big ideas in The Bad Seed
- Writing prompts and reflection activities that get students thinking critically
- A creative writing craft!
- Writing prompts and reflection activities that get students thinking critically
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