lenny

Empathy Explorer

user image

Lesson Plan

Empathy Explorer Plan

Guide a 3rd grader to recognize others’ feelings and practice respectful responses through a brief storytelling and role‐play activity, followed by personal reflection.

Building empathy and respect early strengthens social skills, improves peer interactions, and fosters a positive classroom climate.

Audience

3rd Grade Student

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Story prompts, role‐play, and reflection.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduce Empathy

2 minutes

  • Greet the student and explain: we’ll explore what empathy and respect mean.
  • Ask: “What does it feel like when someone understands you?”
  • Briefly define empathy (“putting yourself in someone else’s shoes”) and respect (“treating others kindly”).

Step 2

Storytelling Activity

7 minutes

  • Have the student draw one card from the Empathy Story Prompt Cards.
  • Read the scenario together.
  • Ask the student:
    • “How do you think this person feels?”
    • “What respectful thing could you say or do?”
  • Encourage details: emotions, tone of voice, actions.

Step 3

Role-Play Practice

4 minutes

  • Choose one scenario from the prompt cards.
  • Assign roles: student plays the empathic friend; teacher plays the character in need.
  • Practice expressing concern (“I’m sorry you feel…”), asking questions, and offering help.
  • Offer gentle feedback on tone and body language.

Step 4

Reflection and Close

2 minutes

  • Hand the student the Empathy Reflection Worksheet.
  • Prompt them to write or draw:
    • “One thing I learned about how someone feels.”
    • “One respectful action I can take.”
  • Praise their effort and set a goal to use empathy today.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Activity

Empathy Story Prompt Cards

Cut out each card and fold so the scenario and guiding questions are on one side. Use these cards during your session to spark discussion.

Card 1
Scenario: Mia sits quietly at lunch and pokes at her food. She doesn’t join the conversation.
Questions:

  1. How do you think Mia feels?
  2. What could you say or do to show you care?

Card 2
Scenario: Carlos drops his art supplies, and paints spill on his project. He looks frustrated and upset.
Questions:

  1. How might Carlos be feeling right now?
  2. What respectful action could you take to help?

Card 3
Scenario: Emma’s new classmate, Luis, is shy and speaks softly. Other kids aren’t including him in games.
Questions:

  1. What emotions do you think Luis has?
  2. What could you say or do to make Luis feel welcome?

Card 4
Scenario: Jayla is staring out the window during math class. She misses her grandma who is sick.
Questions:

  1. What might Jayla be feeling inside?
  2. How could you show respect and understanding?

Card 5
Scenario: Malik tries to read aloud but stumbles over the words. He lowers his head and frowns.
Questions:

  1. How do you think Malik feels when he struggles to read?
  2. What kind words or actions could you offer to help him?

Card 6
Scenario: Zoe’s friend forgot her birthday card. Zoe looks disappointed.
Questions:

  1. What is Zoe feeling?
  2. What respectful thing could you say to comfort her?
lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Empathy Reflection Worksheet

  1. One thing I learned today about how someone feels:






  2. One respectful action I can take to show I care:






  3. When will I use this empathy and respect today?






lenny
lenny

Slide Deck

Empathy Explorer

Welcome to Empathy Explorer!

• Understand others’ feelings
• Practice respectful responses

This session is 15 minutes long and has three steps: story, role-play, and reflection.

Slide 1 (2 minutes)
Greet the student warmly. Introduce the session: “Welcome to Empathy Explorer! Today we’ll learn how to understand how others feel and show respect in just 15 minutes.” Point out the steps: storytelling, role-play, and reflection. Set the timer.

What Is Empathy & Respect?

Empathy:
• Imagining how someone else feels

Respect:
• Treating others kindly and fairly

Ask: “How do you feel when someone shows they care?”

Slide 2 (2 minutes)
Ask: “What does it feel like when someone really understands you?” Listen to their answer. Define key terms: “Empathy is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Respect is treating others kindly, even when they’re different.”

Storytelling Activity

  1. Draw one Empathy Story Prompt Card.
  2. Read the scenario together.
  3. Answer:
    • “How do you think this person feels?”
    • “What respectful thing could you say or do?”

Slide 3 (7 minutes)
Hand over the prompt cards. Let the student pick one card. Read the scenario out loud. Guide them to answer both questions. Encourage full sentences and details about emotions, tone, or actions.

Role-Play Practice

• Pick a scenario card.
• Roles:
– Student: caring friend
– Teacher: character in need
• Practice phrases:
– “I’m sorry you feel…”
– “How can I help?”
• Focus on tone and body language.

Slide 4 (4 minutes)
Choose one scenario from the cards again. Assign roles: student is the caring friend; you play the character in need. Model one example, then let them try. Offer feedback on their tone of voice, facial expression, and words.

Reflection

Complete your Empathy Reflection Worksheet:

  1. One thing I learned about how someone feels.
  2. One respectful action I can take.
  3. When I will use empathy and respect today.

Slide 5 (2 minutes)
Give the student the reflection worksheet. Ask them to write or draw: one thing they learned about feelings, one respectful action, and when they’ll use empathy today. Celebrate their ideas.

Next Steps

Great work today!

• Notice others’ feelings around you.
• Use kind words and actions.
• Practice empathy every day.

Wrap up (under 1 minute)
Praise their effort: “You did a great job understanding feelings and showing respect!” Encourage them to notice moments today when they can use what they practiced. End on a positive note.

lenny
Empathy Explorer • Lenny Learning