Student Activities for Tops and Bottoms
Essential Questions for Tops and Bottoms
- Is there a time when being lazy is all right? Explain.
- Is it ok to trick someone?
- Why is it important to do things for yourself, rather than depending on others to do them for you?
A Quick Synopsis of Tops and Bottoms
Bear is lazy. His father, being a smart business bear, gave Bear all his money and land, but all Bear wanted to do was sleep, all the time!
Hare lived down the road from Bear. He and his family were in very bad shape. Hare had lost a bet to a tortoise and had to sell his land to Bear to pay off his debt. They had no money and the children were starving, so Hare and his wife came up with a plan.
Hare went to see Bear, who was, of course, asleep. Hare said he and his family would plant, harvest, and do all the work on the farm, if they could use Bear’s field. Then when the crops were ready they would split it 50/50. With the condition that Bear would get the top half of everything, Bear agreed.
Bear went back to sleep and Hare and his family went to work. Harvest arrived, Hare woke up Bear and then he dug up the radishes, carrots, and beets. He pulled off all the tops and tossed them in a pile for Bear and the bottoms for himself. Bear knew he had been tricked; Hare had a wonderful pile of vegetables, while he had a pile of useless tops. He ordered Hare to plant again, this time he would get the bottoms and Hare would get the tops.
While Hare’s family worked planting the second round of crops, Bear slept. When it was time for the harvest, Hare woke up Bear. Hare piled up lettuce, broccoli, and celery for his pile and tossed the bottoms into Bear’s pile. Bear looked at his pile and was furious because he had been tricked again. He ordered Hare to plant the crops again but this time he would get the tops AND the bottoms.
Bear was asleep again while the Hare family planted, watered, and weeded the third round of crops. Harvest arrived and they brought in what they had planted, cornstalks. Hare pulled off the roots at the bottom and the tassels at the top, putting them in a pile for Bear. Then he collected the ears of corn in the middle and put them in his pile. Bear was really awake now and told Hare that he would plant his own crops from now on, so he could keep the tops, bottoms, and middles.
Bear never slept through another planting season, and Hare was able to buy his land back from Bear and open a vegetable stand. Bear and Hare learned to live happily as neighbors, but they never became business partners again.
Other activities could include:
- Research different vegetables and how they grow. For example, root vegetables grow underground.
- Create a storyboard depicting one of the themes from the story. For example: “hard work pays off”.
- Give three examples from the story of Hare demonstrating that he was “clever”.
- Chose three events to illustrate and narrate from Bear’s point of view.
- Janet Stevens also retells and illustrates another tale that includes the character of Hare called, The Tortoise and the Hare. Compare and contrast Hare’s character in the two stories.
How Tos about Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
Engage students with a classroom garden project inspired by Tops and Bottoms
Introduce a hands-on activity by creating a small classroom garden. This encourages students to connect with the story’s theme of hard work and lets them see firsthand how tops and bottoms of vegetables grow. It’s a fun, collaborative way to reinforce lessons from the book!
Choose easy-to-grow vegetables and assign student roles
Select vegetables such as carrots, radishes, or lettuce that clearly show tops and bottoms. Assign students roles like planters, waterers, and record keepers to foster responsibility and teamwork. Giving each student a job builds engagement and ownership.
Discuss and predict which part of each vegetable will be edible
Guide students to examine seeds and seedlings, then predict whether they’ll eat the tops, bottoms, or both. Use this as a conversation starter about plant parts and connect it to Bear and Hare’s business deals.
Track growth and reflect on effort with a class chart
Keep a simple chart or journal where students log watering, sunlight, and growth. Encourage reflection on how their work affects the plants and relate it back to Hare’s persistence in the story.
Celebrate the harvest with a tasting and story discussion
When it’s time to harvest, let students sample their crops and compare their predictions to the actual results. Use this moment to discuss how hard work pays off—just like Hare learned!
Frequently Asked Questions about Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
What is the main lesson in Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens?
The main lesson in Tops and Bottoms is that hard work and clever thinking bring success, while laziness leads to missed opportunities. Students learn the value of doing things for themselves rather than relying on others.
How can I teach Tops and Bottoms in a quick and engaging way?
Use activities like storyboarding themes, comparing Hare’s character in different stories, and researching how vegetables grow. These hands-on approaches make lessons engaging and help students understand the story’s messages efficiently.
What are some fun activities for Tops and Bottoms lesson plans?
Fun activities include creating storyboards, illustrating events from Bear’s point of view, giving examples of Hare’s cleverness, and comparing Hare in this story to The Tortoise and the Hare. These activities encourage creativity and critical thinking.
Why is it important to do things for yourself in Tops and Bottoms?
Doing things for yourself is important because it teaches responsibility and ensures that you benefit from your own efforts. In the story, Bear’s dependence on Hare leads to disappointment, while Hare’s initiative helps his family succeed.
What is the difference between Hare and Bear’s work ethic in Tops and Bottoms?
Hare is clever and hardworking, solving problems and helping his family through effort and planning. Bear is lazy and misses out on rewards because he relies on others and sleeps through planting seasons.
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