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 has sparked some of the best classroom discussions I’ve ever had. It’s a great way to learn about feelings, growing up, and how choices may change for the better. I want to share a few of the ideas and activities I have tried using with this novel to make it even more relatable to my students.
Activating Background Knowledge: Exploring Emotions
I always start, when teaching this novel, by talking about feelings. 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!
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 Lesson Plan Idea
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 to being a “Good Seed” and make their own Good 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.
