Lesson Plan
Empathy Circuit Training
Students will understand the core components of empathy, identify various perspectives in given scenarios, and practice constructing empathetic responses to improve peer relationships and conflict resolution skills.
Developing empathy is crucial for navigating social interactions, resolving conflicts constructively, and fostering a supportive and inclusive school environment. This lesson equips students with practical tools to understand and connect with others' feelings.
Audience
7th Grade Group
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Interactive activities, scenario-based learning, and reflective journaling.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Stepping Into Their Shoes Slide Deck, Scenario Solutions Challenge Cards, and Perspectives Journal Prompts
Prep
Review Materials and Setup
15 minutes
- Review the Stepping Into Their Shoes Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
* Print and cut out the Scenario Solutions Challenge Cards.
* Prepare copies of the Perspectives Journal Prompts for each student.
* Ensure the projector or whiteboard is ready for use.
* Arrange seating to facilitate small group discussion (e.g., U-shape or small clusters).
Step 1
Warm-Up: What is Empathy?
10 minutes
- Begin by asking students what empathy means to them. (2 minutes)
* Show Slide 1: What is Empathy? and facilitate a brief discussion using the Stepping Into Their Shoes Slide Deck. (3 minutes)
* Introduce the idea of
Step 2
Activity 1: Stepping Into Their Shoes
15 minutes
- Present Slides 2-4 from the Stepping Into Their Shoes Slide Deck, which offer various scenarios.
* For each scenario, ask students to consider:
* How might the person in the scenario be feeling?
* Why might they be feeling that way?
* What could be a helpful or empathetic response?
* Encourage open discussion, prompting students to explain their reasoning. (10 minutes)
* Guide students to understand that empathy involves understanding both feelings and underlying reasons. (5 minutes)
Step 3
Activity 2: Scenario Solutions Challenge
20 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (2-3 students per group).
* Distribute one Scenario Solutions Challenge Card to each group.
* Instruct each group to read their scenario and brainstorm at least three different empathetic responses or solutions.
* Encourage them to think about different perspectives involved in the scenario.
* After 10 minutes, have each group share their scenario and their proposed empathetic solutions with the larger group.
* Facilitate a brief class discussion after each sharing, highlighting different empathetic strategies.
Step 4
Reflection: Perspectives Journal
10 minutes
- Distribute the Perspectives Journal Prompts to each student.
* Ask students to choose one prompt and write a short reflection on what they learned about empathy today or how they might apply empathetic thinking in their own lives.
* Assure students that this is a personal reflection and not for grading, but encourage them to share if they feel comfortable.
Step 5
Wrap-Up: Empathy in Action
5 minutes
- Briefly review the key takeaways about empathy.
* Challenge students to practice empathetic listening and understanding in their interactions throughout the week.
* Thank them for their participation.
Slide Deck
What is Empathy?
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It's about seeing the world through someone else's eyes and trying to feel what they feel.
Key components:
- Perspective-taking: Imagining yourself in their situation.
- Emotional understanding: Recognizing and relating to their feelings.
- Concern/Care: Wanting to help or support them.
Ask students what empathy means to them. Encourage them to share personal experiences where they either showed empathy or someone showed empathy towards them. Connect their ideas to the definition presented.
Scenario 1: Lunchroom Dilemma
Imagine your friend accidentally drops their entire lunch tray in the busy school cafeteria. Everyone stops and looks. They quickly bend down to pick it up, their face flushed.
- How might your friend be feeling?
- Why do you think they feel this way?
- What empathetic response could you offer?
Present this scenario. Ask: 'How might your friend be feeling?' 'Why might they be feeling that way?' 'What could you say or do to show empathy?' Guide discussion to explore different possible emotions and reasons.
Scenario 2: The New Kid
A new student just joined your class mid-year. They sit alone during group work and seem very quiet. You notice them looking a bit nervous when the teacher asks a question.
- How might the new student be feeling?
- What might be some reasons for these feelings?
- How can you demonstrate empathy towards them?
Present this scenario. Ask: 'What emotions might the new student be experiencing?' 'What challenges might they be facing?' 'How can we make them feel more welcome?' Focus on understanding the 'why' behind feelings.
Scenario 3: Team Trouble
During a practice game, your teammate misses an easy shot, causing your team to lose. They look down, clearly frustrated and upset with themselves. Some other teammates are grumbling.
- How do you think your teammate is feeling?
- What thoughts might be going through their mind?
- What is an empathetic way to respond to their frustration?
Present this scenario. Ask: 'How might your teammate be feeling after making a mistake?' 'What's the difference between sympathy and empathy in this situation?' 'How can you support them without making them feel worse?'
Journal
Perspectives Journal Prompts
Choose one of the prompts below to reflect on your learning about empathy today. Write your honest thoughts and feelings.
Prompt 1: Today's Empathy Insights
What did you learn about empathy today that surprised you, or that you found particularly important? How might this new understanding change the way you interact with others?
Prompt 2: Stepping Into Different Shoes
Describe a time when you successfully (or tried to) understand someone else's perspective, even if you disagreed with them. What was challenging about it, and what did you learn from the experience?
Prompt 3: Empathy in Action
Think about a recent situation at school or home where you witnessed or experienced a disagreement. How might practicing empathy (understanding feelings and perspectives) have changed the outcome or the way people reacted?
Game
Scenario Solutions Challenge Cards
Instructions: In your groups, read the scenario on your card. Discuss and brainstorm at least three different empathetic responses or solutions. Think about what each person involved might be feeling and why.
Scenario Card 1: The Frustrated Teammate
During a basketball game, one of your teammates repeatedly misses shots and looks visibly frustrated, slamming the ball down after a particularly bad miss. Other teammates are starting to get annoyed.
- How might your frustrated teammate be feeling? Why?
- How might the other annoyed teammates be feeling? Why?
- What empathetic actions or words could you offer to your frustrated teammate?
Scenario Card 2: The Online Misunderstanding
You see a group chat where a friend is being left out of plans, and another student is making slightly hurtful jokes at their expense. Your friend in the chat has suddenly stopped responding.
- How might your friend who is being left out be feeling? Why?
- How might the student making jokes be feeling or thinking? Why?
- What empathetic response could you make in the group chat or outside of it?
Scenario Card 3: The Overwhelmed Student
A classmate, who usually gets good grades, seems overwhelmed and stressed. They confide in you that they have several big assignments due this week and don't know how they're going to finish them all, plus they seem a bit sad.
- How might your overwhelmed classmate be feeling? Why?
- What might be some of the pressures they are facing?
- What empathetic support or advice could you offer to them?
Scenario Card 4: The Different Background
A new student from a different country joins your class. During a class discussion, they share an opinion that is very different from what most people in your community believe, and some classmates are openly giggling or whispering.
- How might the new student be feeling? Why?
- How might the giggling classmates be feeling or thinking? Why?
- What empathetic steps could you take to support the new student and encourage understanding?