Empathy in Action

Shaniquia Bethany

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Empathy in Action

Empathy

This lesson introduces students to the concept of empathy through a quick activity, reading, and discussion. Empathy is a crucial social-emotional skill that helps students understand and connect with others' feelings, fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom environment. The addition of a role-playing exercise makes the lesson more interactive and engaging, allowing students to practice empathy in real-time scenarios.

Audience

4th & 5th Graders

Time

10 minutes

Approach

Active Learning, Inquiry-Based Learning, Game-Based Learning

Materials

Empathy Scenario Cards, Empathy Reading Handout, and Empathy Discussion Questions

Step 1

Introduction

1 minute

Briefly introduce the concept of empathy: understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
Explain the importance of empathy in building friendships and resolving conflicts.

Step 2

Activity: Empathy Scenarios

3 minutes

Distribute Empathy Scenario Cards to pairs of students.
Ask each pair to read their scenario and discuss how they would feel and respond if they were in that situation.
Encourage students to think about how the other person in the scenario might feel.

Step 3

Role-Playing Exercise

3 minutes

Select a few pairs to act out their empathy scenarios in front of the class.
Encourage the audience to observe and provide feedback on how empathy was demonstrated.
Discuss different ways to show empathy in each scenario.

Step 4

Reading: Empathy Handout

1 minute

Hand out the Empathy Reading Handout.
Ask students to quickly read the short passage about empathy and its importance.

Step 5

Discussion

2 minutes

Use the Empathy Discussion Questions to facilitate a brief class discussion.
Encourage students to share their thoughts on the scenarios and reading.
Highlight key points about how empathy can positively impact their interactions with others.

Step 6

Closure

1 minute

Summarize the key takeaways about empathy.
Encourage students to practice empathy in their daily interactions.

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Worksheet

Empathy Scenario Cards

Cards with different scenarios to help students practice empathy.

Your friend is upset because they lost their favorite toy.

A classmate is nervous about speaking in front of the class.

Someone in your group is feeling left out during a game.

Reading

Empathy Reading Handout

A short reading passage explaining empathy and its importance.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It helps us connect with others and show kindness. When we practice empathy, we can make our friends feel supported and valued. Think about how you would feel in someone else's shoes and how you can help them feel better.

Discussion

Empathy Discussion Questions

Questions to guide a discussion on empathy after the activity and reading.

What does empathy mean to you?

Encourage students to share their understanding of empathy in their own words.

How can showing empathy help in making friends?

Discuss how empathy can create stronger bonds and trust among peers.

Can you think of a time when someone showed empathy towards you? How did it make you feel?

Allow students to share personal experiences to make the concept more relatable.