Lesson Plan
Empathy Circle Plan
Students will practice active listening and compassionate sharing in small Empathy Circles, using a talking piece, story prompts, and appreciative feedback to build trust and social awareness.
This lesson nurtures 5th graders’ social-emotional growth by giving them structured opportunities to listen, empathize, and express kindness—key skills for positive peer relationships and a supportive classroom.
Audience
5th Grade Students
Time
40 minutes
Approach
Guided circle activities with clear prompts.
Materials
- Listening & Understanding Slides, - Story Share Round Discussion Guide, - Appreciation Shout-Out Cards, and - Talking Piece (a small object for turn-taking)
Prep
Prepare Empathy Circle Materials
10 minutes
- Review Listening & Understanding Slides and familiarize yourself with key talking points.
- Print and cut out Appreciation Shout-Out Cards.
- Gather a talking piece (e.g., a smooth rock or soft toy).
- Read through the Story Share Round Discussion Guide to choose prompts that match your group’s needs.
- Arrange seating in a circle to foster eye contact and equality.
Step 1
Welcome & Establish Norms
5 minutes
- Invite students to sit in a circle and place the talking piece in the center.
- Explain circle norms: one speaker at a time, respectful listening, confidentiality, and kindness.
- Model passing the talking piece and using a “listening face” (eyes on speaker, quiet body).
- Differentiation: Provide visual norm cards or quick role-play examples for students needing extra support.
Step 2
Active Listening Mini-Lesson
10 minutes
- Display Listening & Understanding Slides.
- Teach three listening steps: Stop, Face, Respond.
- Show a short example: Teacher or student shares a one-sentence story while others practice the listening face.
- Ask students to rate themselves on a listening scale (thumbs up/middle/down).
- Differentiation: Pair stronger listeners with peers who need encouragement; use sentence stems like “I noticed you said…”.
Step 3
Story Share Round
15 minutes
- Introduce the Story Share Round Discussion Guide with prompts (e.g., “Share a time someone showed you kindness.”).
- Pass the talking piece clockwise; only the holder may speak.
- Each student uses 1–2 minutes to share their story.
- After each share, the group responds with a brief, “Thank you for sharing.”
- Teacher monitors for understanding and gently prompts quieter students.
- Differentiation: Offer pre-written sentence starters or allow students to draw and share instead of speaking.
Step 4
Appreciation Shout-Out
5 minutes
- Distribute Appreciation Shout-Out Cards.
- Ask each student to write a short note of appreciation to a peer (name and kind action).
- Collect cards and read a few aloud anonymously, celebrating positive behaviors.
- Differentiation: Allow oral shout-outs for students who struggle with writing; circulate with visuals to prompt ideas.
Step 5
Debrief & Reflection
5 minutes
- Lead a whole-group reflection: “What did you learn about listening? How did it feel to share with kindness?”
- Record key takeaways on chart paper or slide.
- Encourage students to set one personal goal (e.g., “I will listen without interrupting.”).
- Close by inviting one final round of gratitude statements or a class cheer.
- Differentiation: Use a feelings chart or thumbs-up/sideways/down check-in for students to indicate comfort levels.
Slide Deck
Listening & Understanding
Welcome to our Active Listening session!
In this lesson, we'll learn how to truly listen to our classmates and understand their stories.
Welcome students to the Active Listening mini-lesson. Explain that good listening helps us understand and support each other in our Empathy Circle.
Why Listening Matters
- Helps us understand how others feel
- Builds trust and friendship
- Shows respect and kindness
Discuss why listening is important—connect it back to empathy and kindness. Encourage students to share quick examples.
Listening Norms
- One speaker at a time
- Eyes on the speaker
- Quiet body and mind
- Speak kindly and respectfully
Introduce the basic norms for our circle. Emphasize that these keep everyone safe and respected.
Step 1: Stop
- Pause your own talking or thoughts
- Turn away from distractions
- Give your full attention to the speaker
Explain Step 1. Model turning away from distractions like phones or fidgets.
Step 2: Face
- Face the speaker with your body
- Maintain gentle eye contact
- Show you’re paying attention with a listening face
Explain Step 2. Demonstrate a “listening face” (eyes on speaker, nodding).
Step 3: Respond
- Nod or use small verbal cues (“uh-huh,” “I see”)
- Ask questions to clarify: “Can you tell me more?”
- Give feedback: “I understand you feel…”
Explain Step 3. Model a simple response like nodding or paraphrasing.
Practice Listening
I’ll share a short story now.
While I talk, practice:
• Stop distracting thoughts
• Face me and use a listening face
• Respond with a nod or brief comment
Lead a quick live practice. Share a one-sentence story and prompt students to use Stop, Face, Respond.
Rate Your Listening
👍 Thumbs Up: I listened well
🤔 Thumbs Sideways: I tried but got distracted
👎 Thumbs Down: I found it hard to listen
Ready to share your own story?
Guide students to rate themselves. Then transition to the Story Share Round using these listening skills.
Discussion
Story Share Round Discussion Guide
Objective
Guide students to share personal stories of kindness or empathy, practice active listening skills, and build connections within the circle.
Group Setup & Timing
• Group Size: 4–6 students
• Time: 15 minutes
• Materials: Talking Piece, Appreciation Shout-Out Cards (for later)
Discussion Norms
- Only the person holding the talking piece speaks.
- Listeners use Stop, Face, Respond steps: eyes on speaker, quiet body, nod or brief comment.
- Respect confidentiality: what’s shared in the circle stays in the circle.
- Respond with kindness: "Thank you for sharing."
Story Prompts (Choose 2–3)
• Share a time someone showed you unexpected kindness.
• Describe a moment you helped someone feel better.
• Tell us about a time you felt proud of being compassionate.
• Recall when a friend or family member listened to you with care.
Sentence Stems & Supports
• “I felt _______ when _______.”
• “One thing I noticed was _______.”
• “I appreciated it when _______ because _______.”
Visual Supports: Provide prompt cards with icons or keywords.
Written/Draw Options: Students may sketch their story first and then explain.
Follow-Up Questions & Extensions
After a student shares, you may ask:
• “How did that make you feel afterward?”
• “What do you think you learned from that experience?”
• “Why do you think that act of kindness mattered?”
Encourage peers to connect: “Has anyone else experienced something similar?”
Differentiation Notes
• For students needing extra support, offer a one-on-one preview of prompts.
• Pair with a peer buddy who can help rephrase or remind of norms.
• Allow nonverbal responses (e.g., thumbs-up, heart sign) if a student chooses not to speak.
Teacher Facilitation Tips
• Keep track of time: remind students to wrap up after 1–2 minutes.
• Gently prompt quieter students with a choice of two prompts.
• Model a brief example story to set the tone.
• Celebrate each share by saying, “Thank you for sharing your story.”
Ready to begin? Pass the talking piece clockwise and invite your first speaker!
Cool Down
Appreciation Shout-Out Cards (Printable)
Instructions for Teacher:
- Print these cards double-sided on cardstock so each sheet produces front/back matching cards.
- Cut along dotted borders to create individual cards.
- Distribute one card to each student during the “Appreciation Shout-Out” segment.
- After students write, collect cards to read aloud anonymously or have peers exchange them.
Front of Card
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Appreciation Shout-Out │
│ │
│ To: ______________________________ │
│ │
│ I appreciate you because: │
│ ________________________________ │
│ ________________________________ │
│ ________________________________ │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
Back of Card
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Write one kind action this person │
│ did today and how it helped. │
│ │
│ Kind action: _____________________ │
│ │
│ Helped because: __________________ │
│ │
│ From: ____________________________ │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘