Empathy in Action

Diana Lopez

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Empathy in Action

Understand and share feelings of others

Students will learn about empathy through interactive activities and discussions. This lesson is important because it helps students develop social-emotional skills, enhance communication, and build stronger community connections.

Audience

6th-8th Grade Students

Time

45 mins

Approach

Understand and share feelings of others

Materials

Whiteboard and markers, Empathy Discussion Questions, Empathy Scenarios Worksheet, and Reflection Exit Ticket

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Greet the students and provide a brief overview of the lesson.
Explain the importance of empathy in everyday life and how understanding others' feelings can help create a supportive community.

Step 2

Group Discussion on Empathy

10 mins

Divide the students into small groups.
Distribute the Empathy Discussion Questions.
Have each group discuss the questions and share their thoughts with the class.
Summarize key points on the whiteboard.

Step 3

Empathy Scenarios Activity

15 mins

Distribute the Empathy Scenarios Worksheet to each student.
Explain that they will read different scenarios and write down how they think the people involved might be feeling.
Discuss the scenarios as a class, focusing on understanding different perspectives.

Step 4

Class Discussion Wrap-Up

10 mins

Regroup as a whole class.
Highlight key takeaways from the group discussions and scenarios activity.
Encourage students to share any personal experiences or thoughts on empathy.

Step 5

Reflection and Closure

5 mins

Hand out the Reflection Exit Ticket.
Ask students to write down one thing they learned about empathy and one way they can practice empathy in their daily lives.
Collect the exit tickets as students leave the class.

0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Discussion

Empathy Discussion Questions

Guide students to explore the concept of empathy through group discussion.

What does empathy mean to you?

Encourage students to define empathy in their own words and give examples.

Why is it important to understand and share the feelings of others?

Discuss how empathy can improve relationships and build a supportive community.

Can you share a time when someone showed you empathy? How did it make you feel?

Invite students to share personal experiences to make the discussion more relatable.

Worksheet

Empathy Scenarios Worksheet

Students will read different scenarios and write down how they think the people involved might be feeling.

Scenario 1: Your friend looks sad and is sitting alone during recess. How do you think they might be feeling? What could you do to show empathy?

Think about body language, facial expressions, and situational context.

Scenario 2: A new student in your class seems nervous about participating in group activities. How do you think they might be feeling? How can you help them feel more comfortable?

Consider how it feels to be new in an unfamiliar place.

Scenario 3: Someone accidentally drops their lunch tray in the cafeteria. How do you think they might be feeling? What could you do to offer support?

Think about embarrassment and how to provide reassurance.

Quiz

Reflection Exit Ticket

Answer Key

Reflection Exit Ticket Answer Key

Key points students might mention in their reflection exercises.

Write down one thing you learned about empathy today.

Varied responses.
Students might mention understanding others' feelings, the importance of listening, etc.

Write down one way you can practice empathy in your daily life.

Varied responses.
Students might suggest helping others, being a good listener, comforting friends, etc.