Lesson Plan
Empathy Explorers Club
Students will learn to identify and respond to the emotions of others, fostering empathy and strengthening social-emotional skills.
Developing empathy helps students build stronger relationships, understand different perspectives, and navigate social situations more effectively, contributing to a positive classroom and community environment.
Audience
1st-3rd Grade Students
Time
45-60 minutes
Approach
Through stories, role-playing, and discussion, students will explore and practice empathy.
Materials
Empathy Explorers Slide Deck, Emotion Scenario Cards, Empathy in Action Worksheet, and Discussion Guide: Understanding Feelings
Prep
Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Empathy Explorers Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print and cut out the 'Emotion Scenario Cards' (create 1 set per small group).
- Print copies of the Empathy in Action Worksheet (1 per student).
- Review the Discussion Guide: Understanding Feelings to prepare for facilitating group conversations.
- Arrange desks for small group work.
Step 1
Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students how they are feeling today. Encourage them to use an emotion word.
- Briefly discuss that everyone has different feelings and that's okay. (Refer to Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 1)
Step 2
Introduction to Empathy
10 minutes
- Introduce the concept of empathy: understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
- Use the Empathy Explorers Slide Deck to explain what empathy looks and sounds like.
- Read a short story that highlights a character showing empathy. (Refer to Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slides 2-4)
Step 3
Activity: Emotion Scenario Cards
15 minutes
- Divide students into small groups.
- Give each group a set of 'Emotion Scenario Cards'.
- Instruct groups to read each scenario and discuss how the person in the scenario might be feeling and what they could do to show empathy. (Refer to Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 5)
- Circulate among groups to facilitate discussion and provide guidance.
Step 4
Worksheet: Empathy in Action
10 minutes
- Distribute the Empathy in Action Worksheet to each student.
- Students will draw a face showing an emotion and write about a time they showed empathy or someone showed empathy to them.
- Provide support as needed.
Step 5
Discussion: Understanding Feelings
10 minutes
- Bring the class back together for a whole-group discussion using the Discussion Guide: Understanding Feelings.
- Ask students to share examples from their worksheets or group activity.
- Emphasize that practicing empathy makes our classroom and world a kinder place. (Refer to Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 6)
Step 6
Cool Down: Empathy Pledge
5 minutes
- Lead the class in an
Step 7
Warm Up: Our Emotions
10 minutes
- Teacher introduces the concept of emotions and how to identify them through facial expressions and body language. Use the Empathy Explorers Slide Deck for visual aids.
- Students participate in a 'Feelings Charades' activity, where they act out an emotion and others guess it.
- Discuss how different emotions feel in our bodies and how they might look on others.}
Step 8
Reading & Discussion: Understanding Perspectives
15 minutes
- Read aloud a story (e.g., 'A Chair for My Mother' by Vera B. Williams or 'Hey, Little Ant' by Phillip and Hannah Hoose) that presents a clear scenario where characters have differing feelings or perspectives.
- After reading, use the Understanding Feelings Discussion Guide to facilitate a discussion about the characters' feelings and why they might feel that way.
- Ask students to consider how they would feel in similar situations and how they could show care for the characters.
Step 9
Activity: Empathy Role-Playing
15 minutes
- Introduce various scenarios where empathy can be practiced (e.g., a friend drops their lunch, someone is left out of a game, someone is sad about losing a toy).
- Use the 'Emotion Scenario Cards' (from prep) for this activity.
- Divide students into pairs or small groups and assign each group a scenario to role-play.
- Students practice identifying the emotion and responding with an empathetic action or statement.
- Circulate to provide guidance and feedback. (Refer to Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 5)
Step 10
Worksheet: Showing Empathy
10 minutes
- Distribute the Empathy in Action Worksheet.
- Students will complete the worksheet by drawing or writing about how they can show empathy in different situations.
- Provide support and encourage creative solutions.
Step 11
Cool Down: Empathy Pledge
5 minutes
- Gather students for a final reflection.
- Lead a class discussion on what they learned about empathy and how they can use it in their daily lives. (Refer to Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 6)
- Have students make a personal
Step 12
Warm Up: Our Emotions
10 minutes
- Teacher introduces the concept of emotions and how to identify them through visual aids on the Empathy Explorers Slide Deck.
- Students participate in a 'Feelings Charades' activity, where they act out an emotion and others guess it.
- Discuss how different emotions feel in our bodies and how they might look on others.}
Step 13
Reading & Discussion: Understanding Perspectives
15 minutes
- Read aloud a story (e.g., 'A Chair for My Mother' by Vera B. Williams or 'Hey, Little Ant' by Phillip and Hannah Hoose) that presents a clear scenario where characters have differing feelings or perspectives.
- After reading, use the Understanding Feelings Discussion Guide to facilitate a discussion about the characters' feelings and why they might feel that way.
- Ask students to consider how they would feel in similar situations and how they could show care for the characters.
Step 14
Activity: Empathy Role-Playing
15 minutes
- Introduce various scenarios where empathy can be practiced (e.g., a friend drops their lunch, someone is left out of a game, someone is sad about losing a toy).
- Use the 'Emotion Scenario Cards' (from prep) for this activity.
- Divide students into pairs or small groups and assign each group a scenario to role-play.
- Students practice identifying the emotion and responding with an empathetic action or statement.
- Circulate to provide guidance and feedback. (Refer to Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 5)
Step 15
Worksheet: Showing Empathy
10 minutes
- Distribute the Empathy in Action Worksheet.
- Students will complete the worksheet by drawing or writing about how they can show empathy in different situations.
- Provide support and encourage creative solutions.
Step 16
Cool Down: Empathy Pledge
5 minutes
- Gather students for a final reflection.
- Lead a class discussion on what they learned about empathy and how they can use it in their daily lives. (Refer to Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 6)
- Have students make a personal
Step 17
Warm Up: Our Emotions
10 minutes
- Teacher introduces the concept of emotions and how to identify them through visual aids on the Empathy Explorers Slide Deck.
- Students participate in a 'Feelings Charades' activity, where they act out an emotion and others guess it.
- Discuss how different emotions feel in our bodies and how they might look on others.}
Step 18
Reading & Discussion: Understanding Perspectives
15 minutes
- Read aloud a story (e.g., 'A Chair for My Mother' by Vera B. Williams or 'Hey, Little Ant' by Phillip and Hannah Hoose) that presents a clear scenario where characters have differing feelings or perspectives.
- After reading, use the Understanding Feelings Discussion Guide to facilitate a discussion about the characters' feelings and why they might feel that way.
- Ask students to consider how they would feel in similar situations and how they could show care for the characters.
Step 19
Activity: Empathy Role-Playing
15 minutes
- Introduce various scenarios where empathy can be practiced (e.g., a friend drops their lunch, someone is left out of a game, someone is sad about losing a toy).
- Use the 'Emotion Scenario Cards' (from prep) for this activity.
- Divide students into pairs or small groups and assign each group a scenario to role-play.
- Students practice identifying the emotion and responding with an empathetic action or statement.
- Circulate to provide guidance and feedback. (Refer to Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 5)
Step 20
Worksheet: Showing Empathy
10 minutes
- Distribute the Empathy in Action Worksheet.
- Students will complete the worksheet by drawing or writing about how they can show empathy in different situations.
- Provide support and encourage creative solutions.
Step 21
Cool Down: Empathy Pledge
5 minutes
- Gather students for a final reflection.
- Lead a class discussion on what they learned about empathy and how they can use it in their daily lives. (Refer to Empathy Explorers Slide Deck - Slide 6)
- Have students make a personal
Step 22
Empathy Pledge
2 minutes
- As a class, lead students in an empathy pledge. Example: 'I will try to understand others' feelings. I will be kind. I will show empathy every day!'
- Congratulate students on becoming official Empathy Explorers!
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Slide Deck
Welcome, Empathy Explorers!
How are you feeling today?
Happy? Sad? Excited? Calm?
It's okay to feel all sorts of emotions!
Welcome students and ask them to share one feeling they have today. Emphasize that all feelings are okay.
What is Empathy?
Empathy is when you understand how someone else is feeling.
It's like putting yourself in their shoes!
Introduce the idea that we all have feelings, and it's important to understand them, especially in others. Introduce the word 'empathy'.
Empathy in Action!
Empathy looks like:
- Listening with your eyes and ears
- Giving a kind look or a hug
- Helping someone who is sad or hurt
Empathy sounds like:
- "Are you okay?"
- "I understand you're feeling..."
- "How can I help?"
Give concrete examples of how empathy looks and sounds. Use simple, relatable scenarios for 1st-3rd graders.
Let's Read About Empathy!
Once there was a little bear who saw his friend bunny trip and fall. Bunny was very sad and started to cry.
Little Bear didn't just walk away. He went to Bunny, asked, "Are you okay?", and helped Bunny up. That's empathy!
Briefly describe a scenario where a character shows empathy. This can be a very short, imagined story or a simplified one from a book.
Emotion Scenario Cards Activity
Work with your group!
- Read each card.
- Talk about how the person might feel.
- Think about how you can show empathy.
What would you do? What would you say?
Explain the 'Emotion Scenario Cards' activity. Clarify that students will work in groups to discuss feelings and empathetic responses.
Become an Empathy Explorer!
Today, we learned about empathy!
- How can you show empathy at school?
- How can you show empathy at home?
Let's all be Empathy Explorers!
Lead the class in a discussion about what they learned and how they can apply empathy every day. Conclude with the Empathy Pledge.
Activity
Emotion Scenario Cards
Instructions: Read each scenario with your group. Discuss how the person in the story might be feeling and what you could do or say to show them empathy.
Scenario 1
Your friend accidentally knocks over their stack of building blocks, and all their hard work is ruined. They look down and sigh.
- How might your friend be feeling?
- What could you do to show empathy?
- What could you say?
Scenario 2
A new student joins your class. They sit quietly by themselves during recess and look a little shy.
- How might the new student be feeling?
- What could you do to show empathy?
- What could you say?
Scenario 3
Your classmate forgot their lunch at home. They look sad when they realize they don't have anything to eat.
- How might your classmate be feeling?
- What could you do to show empathy?
- What could you say?
Scenario 4
Someone in your group didn't get to share their idea during a class project, and they seem frustrated.
- How might this person be feeling?
- What could you do to show empathy?
- What could you say?
Scenario 5
Your teacher looks a little tired, and there are many papers to grade on her desk.
- How might your teacher be feeling?
- What could you do to show empathy?
- What could you say?
Worksheet
Empathy in Action!
Instructions:
- Draw a face showing an emotion you might feel or see someone else feel.
- Think about a time you showed empathy to someone, or someone showed empathy to you. Write about what happened.
My Emotion Drawing
Draw a face here:
What emotion is this?
My Empathy Story
Write about a time you showed empathy or someone showed empathy to you:
What did you do or say?
Discussion
Discussion Guide: Understanding Feelings
Instructions: Use these questions to guide a class discussion after the Empathy in Action Activity and Worksheet.
Opening Questions:
- Who would like to share an emotion they drew on their Empathy in Action Worksheet? What does that emotion feel like?
- Can someone share one of the scenarios from the Emotion Scenario Cards? How did the person in your scenario feel?
Exploring Empathy:
- What does it mean to