Lesson Plan
Empathy Explorers
Students will be able to identify different emotions in themselves and others, understand that others may feel differently, and practice showing kindness and understanding.
Developing empathy at a young age helps children build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts peacefully, and become more compassionate individuals. This lesson provides foundational skills for social-emotional intelligence.
Audience
Pre-Primary Students
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Interactive stories, games, and discussions.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Empathy Explorers Slide Deck, Teacher Script: Empathy Explorers, Feeling Faces Warm-Up, Empathy Story Reading, How Would You Feel? Worksheet, Role-Play Activity Cards, Empathy Bingo Game, Empathy Check Quiz, Empathy Check Quiz Answer Key, My Empathy Journey Project Guide, Empathy Project Rubric, Kindness Count Cool Down, A short video about feelings (e.g., from 'Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood' or similar age-appropriate educational content), Crayons or markers, and Pencils
Prep
Gather Materials & Review Content
15 minutes
- Review the Empathy Explorers Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Empathy Explorers Slide Deck, Teacher Script: Empathy Explorers, Feeling Faces Warm-Up, Empathy Story Reading, How Would You Feel? Worksheet, Role-Play Activity Cards, Empathy Bingo Game, Empathy Check Quiz, Empathy Check Quiz Answer Key, My Empathy Journey Project Guide, Empathy Project Rubric, Kindness Count Cool Down.
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready for the slide deck and video.
- Print copies of the How Would You Feel? Worksheet, Role-Play Activity Cards, and Empathy Bingo Game.
- Prepare a short, age-appropriate video about feelings (approx. 2-3 minutes).
Step 1
Warm-Up: Feeling Faces
5 minutes
- Begin with the Feeling Faces Warm-Up. Ask students to make different feeling faces (happy, sad, angry, surprised) as you call them out.
- Discuss briefly: "How do your faces feel when you make these expressions?"
Step 2
Introduction to Empathy (Slides & Script)
10 minutes
- Use the Empathy Explorers Slide Deck (Slides 1-3) and follow the Teacher Script: Empathy Explorers to introduce empathy.
- Explain that empathy is understanding how someone else feels.
- Show the short video on feelings.
Step 3
Empathy Story Time
10 minutes
- Read the Empathy Story Reading aloud to the class.
- Pause at key moments to ask questions about how characters might be feeling and why, as guided by the script.
- Facilitate a brief discussion using prompts from the Teacher Script: Empathy Explorers and the Empathy Story Reading itself.
Step 4
How Would You Feel? Worksheet
10 minutes
- Distribute the How Would You Feel? Worksheet.
- Guide students through the worksheet, asking them to draw or circle the emotion they think a person in a given scenario might feel.
- Walk around to provide individual support and encourage students to explain their choices.
Step 5
Empathy Role-Play Activity
10 minutes
- Introduce the Role-Play Activity Cards. Divide students into small groups or pairs.
- Have each group pick a card and act out the scenario, focusing on showing empathy.
- Afterwards, discuss as a class what they observed and how the characters showed empathy.
Step 6
Empathy Bingo Game
10 minutes
- Play the Empathy Bingo Game. Call out scenarios or emotions, and students mark their bingo cards.
- This reinforces their recognition of feelings and empathetic actions in a fun way.
Step 7
Project Introduction & Cool Down
5 minutes
- Introduce the take-home My Empathy Journey Project Guide and explain the Empathy Project Rubric briefly.
- Conclude with the Kindness Count Cool Down, asking students to share one kind thing they can do today.
Slide Deck
Empathy Explorers: Understanding Feelings
Welcome, Empathy Explorers!
Today, we're going on an adventure to learn about feelings and how to be kind friends. Have you ever wondered how someone else feels?
Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of empathy. Ask them what they think empathy might mean before revealing the definition. This sets a curious tone.
What is Empathy?
Empathy means understanding how someone else feels. It's like putting yourself in their shoes to imagine what it's like to be them! When we have empathy, we try to understand if a friend is happy, sad, or maybe even a little scared.
Introduce the concept of empathy simply. Use gestures like putting your hand over your heart or pointing to your head and heart to connect with feelings and understanding.
Let's watch a short video to see different feelings and how they look!
Show the pre-selected age-appropriate video about feelings. Afterwards, ask students to identify some of the feelings they saw in the video and briefly discuss why the characters might have felt that way. This connects to the video mentioned in the lesson plan prep.
Story Time: How Do They Feel?
We're going to read a story together. As we read, pay close attention to the characters. How do you think they are feeling? Why might they feel that way?
This slide sets up the story time. Remind students to listen carefully and think about how the characters feel.
Worksheet Fun: Guess The Feeling!
Now it's your turn to be a feeling detective! You'll get a worksheet with some pictures. For each picture, think about how the person might feel. Circle or draw the feeling!
Explain the worksheet activity. Emphasize that there are no 'wrong' feelings, and it's okay for characters to feel many things, but we're trying to guess the main one. Encourage discussion as they work.
Role-Play: Be a Feeling Friend!
Let's try acting out some situations! In groups, you'll get a card with a short story. One of you can be the person feeling something, and others can be the 'feeling friends' who show empathy. How can you show you understand?
Introduce the role-play. Explain that acting out situations helps us truly understand what it might be like to be in someone else's shoes. Encourage creativity and gentle participation.
Game Time: Empathy Bingo!
It's time for a game! We're going to play Empathy Bingo. I'll read out different situations, and if you have that feeling or action on your card, you can mark it! Who will get Bingo first?
Explain Empathy Bingo. Make sure everyone understands how to mark their cards. This should be a lively, interactive game to reinforce learning.
My Empathy Journey: At Home!
Empathy is something we can practice every day, everywhere! You'll get a special project to do at home with your family. It's called 'My Empathy Journey'!
Briefly introduce the take-home project. Explain that it's a way to keep practicing empathy at home. Reassure them that they'll get a guide.
Be a Kind Friend!
Remember, being an Empathy Explorer means trying to understand how others feel and choosing to be a kind friend. What is one kind thing you can do for someone today?
Conclude the lesson by bringing it back to kindness. Ask students to share one kind thing they can do before they leave.
Script
Teacher Script: Empathy Explorers
Warm-Up: Feeling Faces (5 minutes)
(As students settle in)
"Good morning, Empathy Explorers! Today, we're going on a super important adventure to learn about feelings and how we can be amazing friends. But first, let's get our faces ready!"
"Can everyone make a happy face? Show me your biggest smiles!"
"Now, can you make a sad face? Oh no, a little frown!"
"How about a surprised face? Whoa! Eyes wide open!"
"And maybe a gentle, worried face? Hmm, what could be on your mind?"
"Great job! How did your face feel when you made a happy face? What about a sad face? Sometimes, our faces and bodies tell us how we're feeling, even before we use words!"
Introduction to Empathy (10 minutes)
(Display Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 1: Title Slide)
"Today's adventure is called Empathy Explorers! We're going to explore something called 'empathy'. Has anyone heard that word before? What do you think it might mean?"
(Listen to student responses. Affirm and guide.)
(Display Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Empathy?)
"That's right! Empathy means understanding how someone else feels. It's like putting yourself in their shoes to imagine what it's like to be them! When we have empathy, we try to understand if a friend is happy, sad, or maybe even a little scared."
"Why do you think it's important to understand how our friends feel?"
(Listen to responses, guiding towards making friends feel better, being kind, helping each other.)
(Display Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 3: Feelings All Around Us! (Video))
"We all have lots of feelings, and so do our friends! Let's watch a short video to see different feelings and how they look!"
(Play the pre-selected age-appropriate video about feelings, approx. 2-3 minutes.)
(After the video)
"Wow, so many feelings! Can you tell me some of the feelings you saw in the video?"
"Why do you think the characters in the video felt that way sometimes?"
Empathy Story Time (10 minutes)
(Display Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 4: Story Time: How Do They Feel?)
"Now, we're going to read a special story together called The Lost Toy. As I read, I want you to be a super feeling detective. Pay close attention to the characters. How do you think they are feeling? Why might they feel that way?"
(Read The Lost Toy. Pause at indicated points and use prompts from the story.)
(After reading)
"That was a wonderful story about understanding feelings. What did you notice about how Lily felt when she lost her toy? How did Sam show he understood?"
How Would You Feel? Worksheet (10 minutes)
(Display Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 5: Worksheet Fun: Guess The Feeling!)
"Now it's your turn to be a feeling detective on your own! You'll each get a worksheet called How Would You Feel? Worksheet with some pictures. For each picture, look at what's happening and think about how the person might feel. Then, circle or draw the feeling face that matches."
(Distribute worksheets and pencils/crayons. Circulate and assist.)
"Remember, it's okay for people to have different feelings. Just think about what makes sense for each picture."
Empathy Role-Play Activity (10 minutes)
(Display Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 6: Role-Play: Be a Feeling Friend!)
"Alright, Empathy Explorers, get ready to act! We're going to do a Role-Play Activity. I have some Role-Play Activity Cards with short stories on them. You'll work in small groups or pairs."
"One of you can be the person who is feeling something, and the others can be the 'feeling friends' who show empathy. How can you show you understand? You can use your words, your kind actions, or even a gentle touch."
(Divide students into groups and distribute Role-Play Activity Cards. Give them a few minutes to act out their scenarios.)
(After the role-plays)
"Excellent acting, everyone! What did you observe in your groups? How did your 'feeling friends' show they understood?"
Empathy Bingo Game (10 minutes)
(Display Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 7: Game Time: Empathy Bingo!)
"Now for some fun! We're going to play Empathy Bingo Game! Each of you will get a bingo card. I'll read out different situations or feelings. If you have that on your card, you can mark it with a crayon or marker. The first one to get three in a row says 'BINGO!'"
(Distribute bingo cards and markers/crayons. Explain the rules again if needed and begin playing.)
"Remember to think about what feeling matches the situation!"
Project Introduction & Cool Down (5 minutes)
(Display Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 8: My Empathy Journey: At Home!)
"You've all been amazing Empathy Explorers today! Empathy is something we can practice every day, everywhere. To help you keep practicing, I have a special project for you to do at home with your family. It's called My Empathy Journey Project Guide! You'll draw and talk about times you showed empathy or saw someone being empathetic."
"Your grown-ups can help you with it, and we'll even have a special Empathy Project Rubric to help us know what makes a great project!"
(Display Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 9: Be a Kind Friend!)
"To finish our empathy adventure for today, let's do our Kindness Count Cool Down. Can each of you tell me one kind thing you can do for someone today? It could be for a friend, a family member, or even a pet!"
(Call on students to share. Affirm their responses.)
"Wonderful ideas! Remember, being an Empathy Explorer means trying to understand how others feel and choosing to be a kind friend. Keep exploring feelings and being kind!"
Warm Up
Feeling Faces Warm-Up
Instructions: Follow your teacher's lead and make different faces for each feeling! Use your whole face to show how you feel!
- Happy Face! Show me your biggest, brightest smile!
- Sad Face! A little frown, maybe a wobbly lip.
- Surprised Face! Eyes wide open, mouth in an
Reading
Empathy Story: The Lost Toy
Once upon a time, in a bright, sunny classroom, there was a little girl named Lily. Lily loved her fluffy blue bunny more than anything. She took it everywhere! One morning, when it was time to play outside, Lily put her blue bunny carefully on her cubby shelf.
When it was time to come back inside, Lily rushed to her cubby. But oh no! Her blue bunny was gone! Lily looked under the cubby. She looked behind the cubby. She looked inside her backpack. No blue bunny. (Pause here: How do you think Lily is feeling right now? Why?)
Lily felt a big lump in her throat. Her eyes started to get watery, and a tear rolled down her cheek. She missed her bunny so much! She sat on the floor, feeling very, very sad.
Her friend, Sam, was playing with blocks nearby. He saw Lily sitting all by herself, looking sad. Sam remembered how he felt when he couldn't find his favorite red car. His tummy felt funny, and he wanted to cry too. (Pause here: What is Sam doing? How is he showing empathy?)
Sam put down his blocks and walked over to Lily. He didn't say, "Don't be sad!" or "It's just a toy!" Instead, he sat down next to her quietly. He put his hand gently on her arm. "Are you looking for your blue bunny, Lily?" he asked softly.
Lily nodded, still sniffling. "I can't find him anywhere!" she whispered.
Sam thought for a moment. "I know how much you love your blue bunny. Losing something special makes my heart feel achy," he said. "Let's look together. Maybe he rolled under the table?" (Pause here: How do you think Lily feels now that Sam is helping her? Why is it important that Sam understood her feelings first?)
Lily looked up at Sam. She felt a little bit better, knowing her friend understood. Together, they looked under the art table. And guess what? There, tucked behind a paint pot, was the fluffy blue bunny!
Lily gave her bunny a big hug and then gave Sam a big hug too. "Thank you, Sam," she said, a happy smile spreading across her face. "You helped me feel better."
Sam smiled back. He was happy he could help his friend. He understood that sometimes, just knowing someone understands how you feel is the best help of all.