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Empathy Boost

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Lesson Plan

Empathy Boost Plan

Guide students to recognize and label peers’ emotions and practice empathetic responses through interactive activities, strengthening supportive relationships and social awareness.

Building social awareness and empathy equips students with skills to understand others’ feelings, fosters positive peer connections, and creates a more inclusive, supportive classroom community.

Audience

5th Grade Small Group

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions and hands-on empathy activities

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Introduce the concept of empathy: noticing and understanding others’ feelings
  • Ask students to share a moment when they recognized someone else’s emotion
  • Emphasize the importance of paying attention to verbal and nonverbal cues

Step 2

Emotion Radar

8 minutes

  • Display Emotion Radar Slides
  • Review various facial expressions and body language signals
  • In pairs, one student makes a facial expression or pose; the other guesses the emotion and explains their reasoning
  • Rotate roles and repeat

Step 3

Feelings Mapping

8 minutes

  • Distribute the Feelings Mapping Worksheet
  • Students interview a partner about a specific scenario (e.g., first day of school) and map out possible emotions
  • Encourage noting both the context and physical/emotional cues
  • Volunteers share one scenario and emotion map with the group

Step 4

Kindness Bingo

6 minutes

  • Explain Kindness Bingo Game rules: find peers who demonstrate listed empathetic behaviors
  • Students mingle and observe classmates, marking off squares when they witness or perform an empathetic act
  • First student to complete a row yells “Bingo!” and shares one empathetic act they saw or did

Step 5

Closing Reflection

3 minutes

  • Bring the group together and ask: “What surprised you about noticing feelings today?”
  • Have each student name one empathetic action they will try this week
  • Praise efforts and remind students to apply these skills daily
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Slide Deck

Emotion Radar

Strengthening our empathy by noticing and understanding peers’ feelings.

Welcome students and set the stage. Say: “Today we’re turning on our Emotion Radar to notice how others feel.” Explain that empathy means tuning in to emotions.

What Is Empathy?

• Noticing how someone else feels
• Understanding another person’s emotions
• Responding kindly and supportively

Define empathy in kid-friendly terms: noticing feelings, stepping into someone else’s shoes. Emphasize it’s more than words—it’s paying attention to signals.

Why Notice Emotions?

• Builds trust and friendship
• Helps us offer support when peers need it
• Creates a kinder, more inclusive classroom

Explain why it matters. Read each bullet and ask for a quick thumbs-up if they agree or thumbs-down if they’re unsure.

Facial Expressions

Happy Sad Angry Surprised Scared Disgusted

Show a set of face photos or clip-art for each emotion. Point to each and name them. Invite students to mimic the expressions.

Body Language

• Eye contact (or avoidance)
• Posture (open vs. closed)
• Gestures (clenched fists, shrugging)

Discuss each posture. Ask students: “What might crossed arms signal?” Encourage them to share ideas.

Activity: Guess That Emotion

  1. Pair up with a partner
  2. Student A makes a facial expression/posture only
  3. Student B names the emotion and explains why
  4. Switch roles and repeat

Explain the pair activity step by step. Clarify that one student acts out an emotion silently while the partner guesses.

Ready, Set, Empathize!

• Follow activity steps
• Be kind with feedback
• Observe both face and body cues

Wrap up instructions. Encourage respectful feedback and lots of positive reinforcement during practice.

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Worksheet

Feelings Mapping Worksheet

Use this worksheet to explore a peer’s emotions by mapping out what happened, how they felt, and how you can respond with empathy.

1. Scenario Description

Describe the situation your partner shares (when, where, who was involved):











2. Possible Emotions

List at least three emotions your partner might have felt in this scenario. Under each emotion, leave space to explain why.

Emotion 1: ___________________________


Emotion 2: ___________________________


Emotion 3: ___________________________


Emotion 4 (optional): ___________________


Emotion 5 (optional): ___________________


3. Physical & Emotional Cues

What clues did you notice in your partner’s face, body language, or tone of voice that helped you identify these emotions?







4. Thoughts & Beliefs

What do you think your partner might have been thinking or believing during this situation?







5. Reflection Questions

  1. Why is it helpful to pay attention to these cues when someone is sharing their feelings?



  2. What is one empathetic response or action you can offer to support your partner next time they feel a similar way?





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Game

Kindness Bingo

Objective: Practice noticing and celebrating empathetic actions among classmates by completing a bingo row.

Instructions:

  1. Each student receives a Kindness Bingo card.
  2. Mingle with classmates to find someone who has done the empathetic action in a square.
  3. When you observe or perform the action, ask that classmate (or yourself) to write initials in the square.
  4. The first student to mark five squares in a row—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—shouts “Bingo!” and shares one empathetic act they noticed or did.
Gave a compliment to a peerAsked “Are you okay?” and listenedShared a genuine smileHelped tie someone’s shoesOffered your seat
Listened without interruptingFREE SPACEPassed a thank-you noteHeld the door open for someoneEncouraged someone struggling
Offered to share suppliesInvited someone new to joinGave a friendly high-fiveShowed patience during a taskSaid “I understand you”
Wrote a kind noteShared your snackHelped with classworkRecognized someone’s effortAsked someone to play together
Said “Thank you”Gave a positive nodCheered up a classmateShared classroom materialsGave a warm greeting
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