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Can Math Make Us Kinder?

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kristina.brisco

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Empathy Equations Lesson Plan

Students will collaborate on math problems using empathy to understand peers' strategies and feelings, strengthening both math skills and classroom community.

By integrating empathy into math, students learn to value diverse perspectives, build supportive communication skills, and foster a positive learning environment that boosts confidence and achievement.

Audience

4th Grade Class

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Guided discussions, paired problem-solving, and personal reflection.

Materials

Building Empathy Through Math Slides, Feelings Number Line, Pair-and-Share Problem Solving, and Reflection Ticket

Prep

Material Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review Building Empathy Through Math Slides to familiarize yourself with prompts and timing.
  • Print copies of the Feelings Number Line for each student.
  • Prepare student pairs for the Pair-and-Share Problem Solving activity.
  • Print and cut out Reflection Ticket slips.
  • Set up chart paper or whiteboard space for group share-outs.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Feelings Check

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Feelings Number Line to each student.
  • Ask students to mark how they feel about math today (1 = discouraged, 5 = excited).
  • Invite volunteers to share their rating and why.

Step 2

Introduction to Empathy in Math

10 minutes

  • Project the Building Empathy Through Math Slides and discuss what empathy means.
  • Highlight how understanding peers’ strategies can improve learning.
  • Ask students to recall a time someone kindly helped them learn.

Step 3

Collaborative Problem-Solving Pairs

20 minutes

  • Pair students, mixing skill levels.
  • Assign each pair a problem from the slide deck.
  • Students take turns solving and explaining steps while partners listen, ask clarifying questions, and offer encouragement.
  • Rotate roles for each new problem.
  • Circulate to prompt deeper discussion and model empathetic feedback.

Step 4

Reflection and Share-Out

10 minutes

  • Hand out Reflection Ticket to each student.
  • Ask students to write: one way they showed kindness, one new strategy they learned, and one goal for next time.
  • Invite a few students to share their reflections.
  • Collect tickets for informal assessment.
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Slide Deck

Can Math Make Us Kinder?

Building Empathy Through Math

Welcome students and introduce the lesson question: Can math make us kinder? Explain we're focusing on empathy in math.

Today’s Goals

  • Define empathy
  • Practice collaborative problem-solving
  • Learn new math strategies

Read through the goals aloud. Emphasize connecting feelings with math strategies.

What Is Empathy?

Empathy is imagining how someone else feels and understanding their point of view.

Ask students to turn to a neighbor and share what they think empathy means before revealing the definition.

Empathy in Action

Example: When you explain your way of solving a problem in a kind, patient way, you help others feel understood.

Use a quick story: share an example of someone helping you in math. Encourage a few volunteers to share their own experiences.

Why Empathy Matters in Math

  • Improves understanding
  • Builds confidence
  • Strengthens friendships

Discuss each bullet. Ask students: how might empathy help you when you're stuck on a problem?

Collaboration Norms

  1. Listen carefully
  2. Ask clarifying questions
  3. Offer words of encouragement
  4. Take turns explaining

Review the four norms. Have students practice one norm with a partner (e.g., asking a clarifying question).

Problem 1

Solve: 24 + 17 = __
Then explain your steps to your partner.

Project the problem. Give students 2 minutes to solve it individually, then explain to partner using empathy.

Problem 2

Emma has 3 bags of 8 apples. How many apples in total? Show your work and share with your partner.

Project the word problem. Remind students to listen and encourage as their partner explains.

Let’s Get Started!

Work with your partner:

  • Decide who explains first
  • Use our collaboration norms
  • Swap roles after each problem

Provide instructions for the collaborative activity. Circulate and model empathetic feedback as students work.

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Warm Up

Feelings Number Line

On the number line below, place an “X” to show how you feel about doing math today.
1 = Discouraged   5 = Excited

1  2  3  4  5
___  ___  ___  ___  ___

Why did you choose this number?
Write one sentence explaining how you feel about math right now.




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lenny

Activity

Pair-and-Share Problem Solving

Time: 20 minutes
Work with your partner to solve each problem. Take turns explaining your thinking and listening with empathy. Use our collaboration norms.

Instructions

  1. Choose who will explain first and who will listen.
  2. The explainer solves Problem 1 and explains each step clearly.
  3. The listener asks two clarifying questions (e.g., “Can you show me how you got that number?” or “What helped you decide that step?”) and offers an encouraging comment.
  4. Swap roles for the next problem.
  5. Repeat steps 2–4 for all problems.

Problems

1. 24 + 17 = ___
Explain your steps:



Listener’s feedback:


2. Emma has 3 bags of 8 apples. How many apples in total? Show your work:



3. Solve: 56 – 29 = ___
Draw a quick picture or number line to help:



4. Miguel read 125 pages on Monday and 98 pages on Tuesday. How many pages did he read in total?
Show your equation and explain your strategy:





Remember: Listen carefully, ask clarifying questions, offer encouragement, and take turns explaining!

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lenny

Cool Down

Reflection Ticket

Name: __________________________

1. One way I showed kindness today:




2. One new math strategy I learned:




3. A goal I have for next time:




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