Building Bridges, Not Walls

Introduction

Welcome to our session on empathy and understanding. Today, we will learn about how our actions can affect others. We will use simple words and pictures to help everyone understand. Let's work together to build bridges, not walls!

Activity Steps

1. Reflective Discussion & Role-Playing (9 minutes)

• Step 1: Personal Reflection
  
  Think of a time when you felt left out or sad. Draw a picture or write one or two simple sentences about that time:
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Step 2: Role-Playing Scenarios
  
  With your teacher, act out these short scenes. Use simple words and pictures to help you talk about your feelings:
  
  
  
  Scenario A: Feeling Left Out
  

  • One person pretends to be a student who feels alone during a group activity.
    
  • The other person acts as a friend who notices and says kind words to include them. Consider using visual cue cards with simple words like "friend", "help", or "play".
    
    
    
    Scenario B: Misunderstanding
    
  • One person acts as a student whose message was misunderstood. They can use a picture or simple phrases like "sorry" or "I didn’t mean that."
    
  • The other person asks gentle questions to understand and then uses a kind tone to help clear up the misunderstanding.
    
    
    
    Scenario C: Bullying
    
  • One person shows someone being teased because of their differences, using simple phrases and pictures to convey feelings like "sad."
    
  • The other person acts as a helper or friend who uses simple supportive words (e.g., "I care," "I'm here") and gestures to comfort the friend.
    
    
    
    Debrief Discussion:
    
    After each role-play, your teacher will help you answer these questions using simple language:
  • How did you feel when you played your role?
  • What words or actions made you feel better?
  • What can you do next time to help a friend who is feeling bad?
    
    
    
    

2. Interactive Game: Empathy Challenge (5 minutes)

• Your teacher will show pictures or short sentences of different situations. For each one, think about these two questions:
  • How might the person in the picture feel? (Happy, sad, left out, etc.)
    
  • What is one kind thing you can say or do to help them?
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

3. Creative Expression Exercise (3 minutes)

• Use paper and crayons, markers, or pencils to show how a kind action builds a friendly community. You can draw a picture or write a very short sentence with help:
• Think about a time when someone did something kind that made you feel happy.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Wrap-Up

• Sharing and Reflection:
  
  With the help of your teacher, look at your drawings, pictures, or writings. Talk about one kind action you learned today and one new way you can help a friend next time.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Remember: Even small kind actions can build big bridges between people. Your kind heart and simple actions are important and can help everyone feel welcome.

Modifications for WIDA Level 1 Students

• Use clear, simple language and short sentences throughout the activity.
• Include visuals such as pictures, cue cards, or drawings to support understanding. For example, include images that depict feelings and actions.
• Allow extra time for responses and provide sentence starters if needed (e.g., "I feel...", "I can help by...").
• Provide one-on-one support and check in frequently to ensure comprehension.
• Encourage participation by using gestures and expressions to convey meaning.

By using these modifications, every student will be able to participate in and benefit from the activity, building an understanding of empathy and the importance of kind actions.