Students will understand the concept of empathy by recognizing and naming emotions, discussing feelings, and practicing caring actions through story and art activities.
Introducing empathy at a young age helps children build social-emotional skills, relate to peers, and create a caring classroom environment.
Pre-K
30 minutes
Storytelling, discussion, and hands-on art to explore feelings.
10 minutes
5 minutes
8 minutes
7 minutes
7 minutes
3 minutes
No credit card needed
Welcome to our lesson on empathy! Today we will learn how to recognize feelings and show kindness to our friends.
Gather children on the rug in a circle. Introduce the lesson and set an inviting tone.
Empathy means understanding how someone else feels.
• Show a happy face
• Show a sad face
Show the Emotion Face Cards. Ask children to mimic each face and name the emotion.
Let’s listen to our story about helping a friend.
• How do you think our friend feels?
• What could we do to help?
Hold up the Empathy Story Script. Read slowly, show any illustrations, and pause to ask the questions below.
Match each face to a feeling on the chart.
• Have you felt like this?
• What helped you feel better?
Display the Feelings Chart Poster and hand out face cards. Invite volunteers to place cards on the chart.
Draw or color someone being kind to a friend.
• Who is helping?
• How does it make them feel?
Distribute large paper, crayons, and the Empathy Coloring Page Template. Encourage creativity and conversation.
Share one kind action you can do today.
When we help others, we show empathy!
Invite each child to share one kind thing they can do for a friend. Lead a cheer and end with a group hug.
Teacher: “Friends, today I’m going to read you a story about two pals who learn how to care for each other. Ready to listen?”
(Show illustration of a sunny day by the pond.)
Teacher (reading):
“Once upon a time, Lucy the Duck and Sam the Turtle were playing by the big blue pond. Lucy quacked happily, and Sam splashed with his flippers. They were best friends!”
Teacher (prompt): “Can everyone show me how Lucy quacks? And how Sam splashes?”
(Show Lucy and Sam skipping on the rocks.)
Teacher (reading):
“They hopped from rock to rock, laughing together. But oh no—Sam slipped on a wet stone and tumbled into the muddy water!”
Teacher (pause & ask): “Uh-oh—how do you think Sam feels right now?”
(Show Sam looking sad, water dripping off his shell.)
Teacher (reading):
“Sam sat in the mud, his shell all covered in goo. He felt sad and scared.”
Teacher (follow-up): “Has anyone ever fallen down and felt sad like Sam? What helped you feel better?”
(Show Lucy waddling over to Sam with a big smile.)
Teacher (reading):
“Lucy saw her friend crying. She waddled right over and said, ‘I’m here for you, Sam!’ Then she gently helped him stand up.”
Teacher (prompt): “What kind thing did Lucy do for Sam?”
(Show Lucy sharing a soft leaf towel with Sam.)
Teacher (reading):
“Lucy found a soft leaf to wipe Sam’s shell. She gave him a caring smile, and Sam felt much better.”
Teacher (ask): “How do you think Sam’s heart feels now? Happy? Warm?”
(Show Lucy and Sam hugging or high-five.)
Teacher (reading):
“Sam wiped away his tears and quacked a happy ‘Thank you!’ They held wings and flippers in a special friend hug. Together, they played until the sun went down.”
Teacher (wrap-up): “That is empathy—when we notice a friend’s feelings and do something kind to help.”
Teacher (closing question): “What kind thing could you do if you saw a friend feeling sad?”
Teacher (encourage responses): “Yes—sharing a hug, offering a toy, or saying, ‘I’m here for you!’—all show empathy.”
Teacher: “Great listening, everyone! Let’s remember to help our friends when they feel sad.”
(End of story)
Cut along the lines to create individual cards you can hold up for each emotion.
A smiling face to show happiness.
A teardrop and downturned mouth to show sadness.
Furrowed brows and frown to show anger.
Wide eyes and open mouth to show surprise.
Wide eyes and small mouth to show fear.
Furrowed brows and slight frown to show worry.
Cut out the Emotion Face Cards and place each card next to the matching emotion below. This hands-on chart helps children see and talk about different feelings and practice empathy by matching faces to words.
😊 Happy: ☐
😢 Sad: ☐
😠 Angry: ☐
😮 Surprised: ☐
😨 Scared: ☐
😟 Worried: ☐
Hang this poster at children’s eye level. Invite volunteers to come up, name the feeling, and stick the card in the box as you discuss each emotion together!
Below is a simple scene of one child helping a friend. Use crayons or markers to color the picture!
[Teacher: Print this page on plain paper so children can color the drawing below.]
(Outline Drawing: Two children. One child is handing a toy to a sad friend who is sitting on the ground. The smiling child crouches down with an outstretched hand. Simple line art with room for coloring.)
Color the scene!
Now it’s your turn! Draw a picture of you doing something kind for a friend.
