Lesson Plan
Empathy Explorers Lesson Plan
Students will identify and name basic emotions in themselves and others and practice caring responses through interactive story, discussion, role-play, and reflection.
Developing empathy supports kindness, strong peer relationships, and social-emotional growth—crucial skills for classroom success and lifelong well-being.
Audience
Kindergarten
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Storytelling, discussion, role-play, and reflection.
Materials
- Emotion Flashcards, - Feeling Faces Storybook, - Role-Play Scenario Cards, - Coloring Reflection Worksheet, and - Crayons
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut out Emotion Flashcards.
- Print and cut Role-Play Scenario Cards.
- Make copies of Coloring Reflection Worksheet for each student.
- Locate and preview Feeling Faces Storybook to ensure familiarity.
Step 1
Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle on the carpet.
- Show one Emotion Flashcard at a time and ask: “What feeling is this?”
- Students name the emotion and make the face together.
Step 2
Read-Aloud & Discussion
8 minutes
- Read Feeling Faces Storybook aloud, pausing at each illustration.
- Ask: “How do you think this character feels? Have you ever felt that way?”
- Encourage 2–3 students to share short personal examples.
Step 3
Role-Play Practice
8 minutes
- In pairs, students pick a Role-Play Scenario Card.
- One student acts out the feeling; the partner practices comforting or helping (e.g., offering a hug, kind words).
- Rotate roles so each child practices both.
Step 4
Coloring Reflection
6 minutes
- Distribute the Coloring Reflection Worksheet.
- Students color scenes showing one character feeling sad and another showing empathy.
- Prompt: “Draw or color how you would help if your friend felt this way.”
Step 5
Cool-Down & Share
3 minutes
- Invite a few volunteers to show their worksheets and describe one caring action.
- Praise efforts and remind students: “When we notice feelings and help, we show empathy!”
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Empathy Explorers
Today we are Empathy Explorers! Let's learn how to notice how friends feel and show we care.
Welcome, Empathy Explorers! Say: “Today we are empathy explorers! Empathy means noticing how someone else feels and caring for them. We’ll read a story, play, and draw how we help friends.”
Warm-Up: Emotion Flashcards
Look at the feeling card. What is this feeling? Make the face together!
Gather students on the carpet. Show each Emotion Flashcard one at a time. Ask: “What feeling is this?” Encourage everyone to name the feeling (happy, sad, angry, surprised) and make the face together.
Storytime & Discussion
Listen to the Feeling Faces story. Think: How do they feel? Have you felt this way?
Hold up the Feeling Faces Storybook. Read aloud, pausing at each illustration. Ask: “How do you think this character feels? Have you ever felt that way?” Invite 2–3 students to share short examples.
Role-Play Practice
In pairs, pick a scenario. One acts a feeling, the other shows caring. Then switch!
Divide students into pairs and give each pair a Role-Play Scenario Card. Model one scenario: act out feeling, then comfort. Remind them to use kind words or a gentle hug. After one turn, have partners switch roles.
Coloring Reflection
Color the sad child and the friend helping. Draw how you would help a friend.
Hand out the Coloring Reflection Worksheet and crayons. Show an example: color the sad child one color, the helper another, then draw how you would help a friend who feels sad.
Share & Celebrate
Show your drawing. Tell us one caring action. Great job showing empathy!
Invite a few volunteers to hold up their worksheets and describe one caring action they drew. Praise each: “I love how you offered a hug!” Remind everyone: “When we notice feelings and help, we show empathy!”
Worksheet
Coloring Reflection Worksheet
Scene 1: Which child is sad? Color the sad child.
Scene 2: Which child is helping? Color the helper.
Your Turn to Draw
Draw a picture of how you would help a friend who feels sad.
Reading
Feeling Faces Storybook
Page 1: Happy Lily
Lily skips into the sunny playground with a big smile on her face. She swings high on the swing set, feeling happy as the warm breeze tickles her cheeks.
Illustration: Lily swinging with a bright sun and blue sky.
Page 2: Sad Leo
Leo sits on a bench, tears in his eyes. He can’t find his favorite teddy bear. His shoulders slump, and he whispers, “I miss Teddy.”
Illustration: Leo looking under the slide, a small rain cloud above him.
Page 3: Angry Maya
Maya stomps her feet next to a spilled cup of paint. She brushes her red hair out of her face and frowns. “Oh no! My painting is ruined!” she shouts.
Illustration: Maya standing by art supplies, paint splattered on the floor.
Page 4: Surprised Sam
Sam opens a bright red gift box and gasps. His eyes grow wide as he sees a shiny new puzzle inside. “Wow!” he exclaims, dropping his tomato slice.
Illustration: Sam at the picnic table, hands over his mouth, eyes wide.
Page 5: Shy Jordan
Jordan hides behind a tall sunflower, peeking at a new friend. His cheeks turn pink. He wants to say hello, but feels too shy.
Illustration: Jordan peeking, new friend waving.
Page 6: Notice & Care
Lily notices Leo’s tears and gives him a tissue. Maya takes deep breaths with Sam to feel calm. Jordan’s new friend says, “Hi, I’m Alex,” and smiles.
Together, they all learn that when we notice how someone feels, we can show we care.
Illustration: All friends sitting in a circle, smiling and talking.
Activity Question:
What feeling did you see on each friend’s face? How could you help someone who feels that way?
Activity
Emotion Flashcards
Print and cut along the lines to create individual cards. Show one card at a time and ask: “What feeling is this?”
Happy
🙂 (Smiling mouth, eyes curved up)
Sad
☹️ (Downturned mouth, small tear on cheek)
Angry
😠 (Furrowed brows, frown)
Surprised
😮 (Wide eyes, open mouth)
Shy
😊 (Small smile, blushing cheeks, eyes looking down)
Activity
Role-Play Scenario Cards
Print and cut along the lines to create individual scenario cards. In pairs, one child acts out the feeling and the other practices a caring response. Then switch roles!
Card 1: Lost Teddy
Scenario: Your friend is sad and has tears because they lost their favorite teddy bear.
- Actor: Show how you feel when you lose something special.
- Helper: Offer a tissue and say kind words like, “I’m here to help you look.”
Card 2: Spilled Milk
Scenario: Your friend accidentally knocks over their glass of milk and looks upset.
- Actor: Show how you feel when something spills.
- Helper: Offer to help clean up and say, “It’s OK—let’s get another drink.”
Card 3: Broken Crayon
Scenario: Your friend’s crayon snaps in two and they frown.
- Actor: Show how you feel when your crayon breaks.
- Helper: Offer a new crayon and say, “Let’s pick a color together.”
Card 4: Shy Hello
Scenario: Your friend is near a new classmate but feels too shy to say hi.
- Actor: Show how you feel when meeting someone new.
- Helper: Smile, say “Hi, I’m your friend,” and invite them to play.
Card 5: Scared by Loud Noise
Scenario: A sudden loud noise (like thunder) makes your friend jump and put hands over ears.
- Actor: Show how you feel when you get scared by a noise.
- Helper: Put a hand on their shoulder and say, “It’s okay, I’m here with you.”
Card 6: Left Out at Game Time
Scenario: Your friend watches others play tag but isn’t invited and looks lonely.
- Actor: Show how you feel when you’re not included.
- Helper: Say, “Come play with us!” and hold out your hand.
Teacher Tip: Model one card first. Emphasize kind words, gentle gestures, and taking turns acting and helping.
Cool Down
Empathy Share & Celebrate
Share Your Caring Action
- Volunteers, hold up your Coloring Reflection Worksheet and tell us one caring action you drew.
Draw Your Next Empathy Plan
Draw a picture of how you will show empathy to a friend today.