Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is one of those perfect middle school novels that teaches character resilience while keeping kids engaged page after page. The Great Depression setting gives you a built-in angle for teaching historical fiction, which is something many teachers struggle to find in age-appropriate books.
If you're looking for Bud, Not Buddy lesson plans that help you tackle character analysis, historical context, and comprehension, I've listed some engaging activities below, along with my complete novel study unit.
Why Bud, Not Buddy Works for Middle School
I've taught Bud, Not Buddy several times, and I promise your student will love it! Here are some of the reasons it works so well…
Perfect for 4th-6th Grade: The 10-year-old protagonist makes it relatable for upper elementary and younger middle schoolers. Even intervention-level readers connect with Bud's journey.
Great Depression Setting: Unlike many middle school novels, this book naturally includes a historical element. Your students get to explore the setting and challenges of this time period, along with an introduction to the foundations of jazz music.
Character Resilience: Bud faces real obstacles and keeps moving forward. Your students will discuss perseverance, hope, and finding family in unexpected places. Perfect for sparking authentic classroom conversations.
Page-Turner Plot: Short chapters and fast pacing mean your reluctant readers stay engaged. The adventure keeps them wanting to know what happens next.
Character Suitcase Project
Since Bud carries his own suitcase filled with his important possessions throughout his journey, one easy project is to have your students create a “character suitcase.” They can either draw the contents or collect items from home.
I always add a size limit to character bag/box projects. Distributing paper lunch bags in advance will help you keep the clutter down. Each item should have an obvious connection to the story, and each student gets a couple of minutes to tell us about their favorite item and what it means. From there, you can have them list each item and its significance on a worksheet.
Projects like this are perfect for reinforcing character analysis concepts, and it helps readers develop more empathy with the characters.
Michigan Map Activity
Bud’s journey takes him to a variety of places between Grand Rapids and Flint, Michigan. You could easily turn this into a map activity using a printable map of these areas or even create an interactive digital map. This is a great way to dig deeper into the setting of the story, and it helps students visualize the impressive journey Bud experienced.
Setting Analysis and Discussion
While the map activity covers geography, don't overlook the different settings within the book. Bud experiences dramatically different settings from the Amos household to Hooverville to the mission to the Log Cabin, and each one shapes how he feels and what he learns.
Use discussion questions to help students analyze why setting matters: How does being in Hooverville change Bud's perspective? What does the Log Cabin represent that other places don't? Why is finding a safe place so important to Bud's character arc? The image above shows an example of the chapter-by-chapter lesson plans in my Bud, Not Buddy Novel Study.
These conversations naturally lead to deeper character understanding and help students see that setting isn't just “where the story happens”—it's integral to who Bud becomes.
Figurative Language: Simile and Metaphor
Christopher Paul Curtis uses rich figurative language throughout Bud, Not Buddy. Your students will find similes and metaphors woven naturally into the story. From the opening page calling out high-heeled shoes that sound like firecrackers, to powerful comparisons about hope and resilience.
Instead of worksheets that feel disconnected from the book, have students hunt for figurative language in the text itself. Ask them to identify 3-5 similes or metaphors, explain the comparison, and discuss why Curtis chose those particular images. This teaches literary devices through authentic reading, not in isolation.
My novel study unit includes figurative language worksheets that guide students through this thinking with specific examples from the text, making the connections clear and meaningful.
My Novel Study
If you are looking for a novel study unit to help you guide your readers through the story, my Bud, Not Buddy unit features chapter-by-chapter lesson plans and comprehension activities. All of my novel studies include the usual reader response questions and journal prompts, but I also incorporate character analysis, context clues, and story map worksheets as well.
Recently, I added a digital version of this resource that can be used with Google Classroom. Both versions have the same content, but the digital one allows students to complete the work on their Chromebooks.
See below for the full list of what's included. Learn more about this novel study here.
- Daily Lesson Plans with Class Discussion Ideas
- Separate PDF and Digital Versions
- Context Clue Worksheets
- Character Analysis Worksheets
- Main Idea Activity
- 23 Pages of Chapter Reader Response Questions
- Story Map Worksheet
- Figurative Language Activity
- 3 Journal Prompts
- Answer Key
