Lesson Plan
Empathy Through Literature
Students will explore empathy by reading a selected short story, identifying characters’ emotions, engaging in guided discussions, and reflecting personally to practice perspective-taking and compassionate responses.
Building empathy enhances students’ social awareness and relationships by connecting literature to real-life feelings, fostering kindness and a supportive classroom culture.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Review and Prepare Materials
15 minutes
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Learning Objectives & Standards
5 minutes
Step 3
Reading Activity
15 minutes
Step 4
Guided Discussion
15 minutes
Step 5
Perspective-Taking Activity
10 minutes
Step 6
Journal Reflection
5 minutes
Step 7
Closure & Assessment
5 minutes

Slide Deck
Voices & Perspectives
What Is Empathy?
Learning Objectives
Short Story Snapshot
Guided Discussion Prompts
Reflection & Next Steps

Reading


Discussion


Journal

