Lesson Plan
Empathy Adventure Plan
Guide the student to recognize and label emotions in herself and others, demonstrate caring behaviors, and replace mean comments with supportive words through engaging stories, activities, and role-play.
Targeted empathy training supports social-emotional growth, reduces peer conflict, and builds positive relationships for a 2nd grader with ADHD and ODD by giving her concrete strategies for kindness.
Audience
2nd Grade Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Use storytelling, discussion, worksheets, and games to practice empathy.
Materials
Prep
Preparation
10 minutes
- Review Empathy Adventure Reading Passage and Empathy Story Slides.
- Print copies of Feelings Identification Worksheet, Supportive Words Replacement Activity, and Kindness Role-Play Game Cards.
- Set up a quiet, distraction-free space with a table and chairs for one-on-one work.
Step 1
Story Read-Aloud
5 minutes
- Introduce today’s goal: exploring feelings, empathy, and kindness.
- Read the Empathy Adventure Reading Passage while displaying Empathy Story Slides.
- Pause after key scenes and ask: “How do you think this character feels?”
Step 2
Guided Discussion
5 minutes
- Ask: “Have you ever felt like that character?” and “What would you do to help a friend who feels that way?”
- Encourage sharing examples of kind and mean comments.
- Highlight differences between teasing and supportive language.
Step 3
Feelings Identification Worksheet
5 minutes
- Give the student the Feelings Identification Worksheet.
- Have her look at facial expressions and circle the matching emotion word.
- Provide verbal prompts and positive feedback.
Step 4
Supportive Words Replacement
7 minutes
- Present mean-comment examples and guide her to rewrite each into a kind comment using the Supportive Words Replacement Activity.
- Discuss why supportive words feel better.
- Praise and reinforce each successful rewrite.
Step 5
Kindness Role-Play and Reflection
8 minutes
- Draw scenario cards from Kindness Role-Play Game Cards and take turns role-playing a kind response.
- Teacher models first if needed, then student responds.
- After each role-play, ask: “How did it feel to be kind? How do you think your friend feels?”
- Give positive reinforcement for empathetic responses.
Slide Deck
Empathy Adventure
Today we will learn how to show empathy and kindness to our friends.
Welcome! Today we’re starting our Empathy Adventure. We’ll read a story about Luna and her friends, notice how they feel, and learn how to use kind words. Encourage the student to pay close attention and think about feelings.
The Story Begins
Luna is playing at recess when she notices her friend Ava sitting alone, looking sad.
Question: Why do you think Ava feels sad?
Introduce the characters and story setting. Point to the picture of Luna and Ava. Ask the student: “Why do you think Ava looks sad?”
Luna Shows Empathy
Luna remembers how it feels to be sad. She walks over and gently asks, “Are you okay?”
Question: What else could Luna say or do to help Ava feel better?
Explain that empathy means noticing others’ feelings. Ask: “What could Luna say or do to help Ava feel better?” Praise any caring ideas.
A Teasing Moment
Suddenly, Ryan comes over and says, “Your snack looks weird!”
Question: How might Ava feel when she hears that?
Highlight the moment someone hurts another with words. Ask the student: “How might Ava feel when Ryan teases her?”
Turning Mean into Kind
Instead of teasing, Ryan could say:
“I’m sorry if my words hurt you. Want to share my snack?”
Question: Can you think of another kind thing Ryan could say?
Model how to turn a mean comment into something kind. Then invite the student to brainstorm other supportive phrases.
Your Turn to Practice
Think of a time your friend felt sad. What kind words could you say to help them feel better?
Write or share one kind sentence.
Prepare the student to practice empathy in her own life. Encourage her to think of a real example.
Key Takeaways
• Empathy means noticing how others feel.
• Kindness is choosing words that help.
Question: How will you show empathy and kindness today?
Summarize the key ideas and link to next activities (worksheets, role-play). Ask the student to commit to one empathetic action for today.
Reading
Empathy Adventure Reading Passage
Luna skipped across the playground, her pigtails bouncing in the sunshine. She waved happily at her friend Ava, who sat alone on a bench. Ava’s head was down and her shoulders drooped. Luna’s chest felt tight when she saw her friend looking so sad.
“Hi, Ava,” Luna said softly as she knelt beside her. “Are you okay?” Ava shook her head and wiped a small tear from her cheek. Luna remembered the time she felt lonely when she lost her favorite toy. She gently offered, “Do you want to talk about it or play together?”
Just then, Ryan and his friends ran up. Ryan sneered, “Your snack looks weird!” Ava’s lip quivered and she hugged her arms around herself. Luna’s heart hurt to see her friend like that. She took a deep breath and faced Ryan.
Instead of teasing, Luna said, “I’m sorry if you think Ava’s snack is strange. I like grapes—do you want to try one?” Ava looked up, surprised. She smiled a little and took a grape from Luna’s hand. Ryan shifted his feet and quietly said, “Sorry, Ava.” Luna felt proud that she helped her friend feel better.
Worksheet
Feelings Identification Worksheet
Look at each face below. Circle the word that tells how the person feels.
- 🙂 Options: happy sad angry scared
- 😢 Options: sad happy surprised tired
- 😠 Options: angry bored excited happy
- 😮 Options: surprised scared proud sad
- 😱 Options: scared angry silly sleepy
- 😐 Options: bored confused happy angry
Activity
Supportive Words Replacement Activity
Instructions: Below are some mean comments. For each one, rewrite it into a kind, supportive comment that would help someone feel better.
- Mean comment: “You’re so slow, hurry up!”
Kind rewrite: ________________________________ - Mean comment: “Your shoes look stupid.”
Kind rewrite: ________________________________ - Mean comment: “Nobody likes your drawing.”
Kind rewrite: ________________________________ - Mean comment: “You’re always wrong.”
Kind rewrite: ________________________________ - Mean comment: “That’s a dumb idea.”
Kind rewrite: ________________________________
Reflection: How did you feel when you turned mean words into kind words?
________________________________________
Discussion Prompt: Why do you think people feel better when they hear supportive words instead of mean ones?
________________________________________
Game
Kindness Role-Play Game Cards
Use these scenario cards to practice showing kindness. Draw one card at a time, read the situation, and take turns role-playing with the teacher. Act out how you would respond using kind words or actions.
How to Play:
- Shuffle the cards and place them face down.
- Draw the top card and read the scenario aloud.
- One person acts as the friend in the scenario; the other practices a kind response.
- Switch roles and draw another card.
- After each role-play, discuss: “How did it feel to be kind? How do you think your friend felt?”
Cards
- Scenario: You see a classmate sitting alone at recess, looking sad.
Role-Play: What kind words or offer could you say to help them feel included? - Scenario: A friend trips and drops all their books in the hallway.
Role-Play: How could you help and say something supportive? - Scenario: Someone answers a question incorrectly in class and looks disappointed.
Role-Play: What could you say to encourage them? - Scenario: A classmate forgot their snack and looks hungry.
Role-Play: How might you share or help? - Scenario: Your friend lost a toy at recess and feels upset.
Role-Play: What caring words or actions could you use to comfort them? - Scenario: Someone’s drawing got smudged, and they look frustrated.
Role-Play: How can you show support for their effort? - Scenario: A new student is standing shyly by themselves at lunchtime.
Role-Play: What could you say to help them feel welcome? - Scenario: A friend is practicing a song but keeps making mistakes and seems embarrassed.
Role-Play: What kind words can you share to help them keep trying?
Discussion
Empathy Discussion Guide
Purpose
This guide helps you lead a short, focused conversation about empathy and kindness with your student. Use these prompts after reading the story or reviewing the slides to deepen understanding and connect ideas to real life.
Setup
- Create a calm, distraction-free space.
- Have Empathy Adventure Reading Passage and Empathy Story Slides ready.
- Encourage the student to speak in full sentences and praise all attempts.
Warm-Up Questions (5 minutes)
- In the story, how did Ava feel when Luna found her? Why do you think so?
- Have you ever felt lonely or sad like Ava? What happened?
Core Discussion Questions (10 minutes)
- What did Luna say or do to help Ava feel better? How did that show empathy?
- When Ryan teased Ava by saying, “Your snack looks weird,” how might Ava have felt? Why are mean comments harmful?
- How could Ryan have turned his comment into something kind? (Refer back to Supportive Words Replacement Activity.)
Reflection Prompts (5 minutes)
- Think of a time you saw someone upset. What kind words or actions could you use to help them?
- Why is it important to think before we speak? How can our words make someone feel better or hurt them?
Follow-Up Extension (5 minutes)
- Choose one scenario from Kindness Role-Play Game Cards and act it out.
- Ask: “How did it feel to be kind? How do you think the other person felt?”
- Encourage the student to set a small empathy goal for today (e.g., “I will say one kind thing to a friend”).
Teacher Tips
- Provide praise and positive reinforcement for every empathetic idea.
- Model calm, caring language and tone.
- Keep questions open-ended and give the student time to think and respond.
- If the student struggles, share a simple personal example of empathy to guide them.