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Empathy Circles: Building Strong Class Communities

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Lesson Plan

Empathy Circles: Building Strong Class Communities

Strengthen empathy and understanding

This lesson involves forming small groups where students can share personal experiences and listen to one another. The activity aims to strengthen empathy and understanding, fostering a supportive classroom environment as students return from break. This lesson is important as it helps students develop social-emotional skills, enhances their ability to empathize with peers, and builds a strong, supportive class community.

Audience

Grades 6-8 Students

Time

35 minutes

Approach

Strengthen empathy and understanding

Materials

Discussion Guidelines, Empathy Circle Prompts, and Reflection Worksheet

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Begin by explaining the purpose of the empathy circles: to share experiences and listen to others to build understanding and support.
  • Discuss the importance of empathy in creating a positive classroom environment.

Step 2

Group Formation

5 minutes

  • Divide the class into small groups of 4-5 students.
  • Ensure each group has a comfortable space to sit in a circle.

Step 3

Empathy Circle Activity

15 minutes

  • Provide each group with the Empathy Circle Prompts.
  • Instruct students to take turns sharing their experiences while others listen attentively.
  • Encourage students to use active listening skills and show empathy.

Step 4

Group Reflection

5 minutes

  • After the sharing session, ask groups to discuss how it felt to share and listen.
  • Use the Discussion Guidelines to facilitate this reflection.

Step 5

Closure

5 minutes

  • Bring the class back together and ask for volunteers to share insights from their group discussions.
  • Distribute the Reflection Worksheet for students to complete individually, summarizing their thoughts on the activity.
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Discussion

Discussion Guidelines

Guidelines to help facilitate group discussions during the empathy circles.

What did you learn from listening to your peers?

Encourage students to reflect on new perspectives they gained.







How did it feel to share your own experiences?

Guide students to express their emotions and any relief or support they felt.







What can we do to continue supporting each other?

Discuss ways to maintain a supportive environment in the classroom.







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Worksheet

Empathy Circle Prompts

Prompts to guide students in sharing personal experiences during the empathy circles.




Share a time when you felt proud of yourself.







Talk about a challenge you overcame recently.







Describe a moment when you helped someone else.







Share something you are looking forward to.







Talk about a time when you felt supported by a friend.




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Worksheet

Reflection Worksheet

A worksheet for students to reflect on their experiences during the empathy circles.

What was the most meaningful part of the empathy circle for you?








How did listening to others' stories make you feel?








What is one thing you learned about a classmate today?








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Empathy Circles: Building Strong Class Communities • Lenny Learning