The Buddy Bench is part of our Starts With a Story Collection, which includes more than 550 picture book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Learn more about this children’s book below! - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
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SUMMARY
"The Buddy Bench" by Patty Brozo is a heartwarming children's book that addresses themes of friendship, empathy, and inclusivity. The story centers around a class filled with students playing in groups or shy students standing alone at recess. Once play time is over and the students went back to class they talked about a solution to the recess problem. Their teacher came up with an idea and explained that the Buddy Bench can be a place where someone can sit if they're feeling lonely or need a friend. Through kind and inclusive actions the children in the book demonstrate the power of kindness and the positive impact one person can have on others. The book encourages children to be compassionate and considerate, and it showcases the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive community.
 USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Our read aloud lesson plans for this picture book come with reading comprehension questions (with sample student responses), 30 writing prompts, teaching ideas for grammar skills, social emotional learning discussion ideas, and more. Check out our list below to get a sneak peek at some of the skills this resource teaches.
- Discuss the author’s use of rhyme and rhythm in this book.
- Help students to analyze what the author’s purpose for writing the book might be.
- Teach a lesson on making connections to enhance comprehension.
- Discuss the different adjectives used in the book.
- Teach students how contractions are used.
- Explore examples of inclusion in the story.
- Discuss friendship and the qualities that make a good friend.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30Â writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book is a must have for your school or classroom library. Your students are going to love completing these activities for the book and you will be impressed with how much they learn. You will want to read this book to your class every year.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will love the similar books listed below, which can all be found in our free picture book list.
- The Cool Bean by Jory John
- You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown
- Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes
- Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
- Bird Hugs by Ged Adamson
- Corduroy by Don Freeman
- The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
- Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
- The Seed of Compassion by His Holiness The Dalai Lama
- It Fell From the Sky by The Fan Brothers
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
