Discussion Questions: Exploring Empathy

A set of questions to guide a discussion on identifying and responding to feelings with 5th-grade students.

What does it truly mean to put yourself in someone else's shoes, especially when their experiences are very different from your own? Can you recall a time when you had to really stretch your understanding to empathize with someone?

Encourage students to share personal anecdotes, discuss the concept of perspective-taking in depth, and consider how different backgrounds can influence feelings.

Imagine a friend is deeply disappointed because they didn't get picked for a special school project, even though they felt they were the most qualified. How might they be feeling, and what are some truly empathetic and constructive things you could say or do to support them?

Discuss active listening, offering support that acknowledges their hard work and feelings, and helping them find ways to cope or look for other opportunities, rather than just cheering them up.

Why is it crucial to understand that people can have vastly different feelings about the same event, and that all feelings are valid? How can we show deep empathy when someone's reaction or feelings are completely opposite to ours?

Highlight the importance of respecting diverse emotional responses, understanding the roots of those differences, and finding common ground through genuine curiosity, kindness, and understanding without judgment.

Empathy Scenario Cards Activity

An activity where 5th-grade students analyze scenarios and discuss empathetic responses in small groups.

In small groups, read each scenario card and discuss:

• How might the person in the scenario be feeling? Consider all the complex emotions they might be experiencing.
• Why might they be feeling that way? Think about their perspective and any underlying reasons.
• What could you say or do to show them genuine empathy and offer meaningful support? Brainstorm concrete actions and helpful words.

Scenario Card 1: Exclusion at Lunch

Maya notices a new student, Leo, sitting alone at a lunch table every day. Other kids whisper and point, and Leo looks down at his food, not making eye contact with anyone. Maya feels a pang of sadness for him.

Scenario Card 2: Project Presentation Nerves

Your classmate, Noah, is usually very confident, but today he has to present his big science project. You see him pacing backstage, biting his nails, and his face looks a little pale. He keeps muttering to himself, "What if I mess up?"

Scenario Card 3: Online Misunderstanding

Your friend, Chloe, is upset because a comment she posted in a class online discussion was completely misunderstood by several classmates. They are now posting replies that are critical and a bit unkind, and Chloe feels unfairly targeted and hurt.

Scenario Card 4: Struggling with a Challenging Subject

Your friend, Ben, is really struggling in math, even though he studies constantly and asks for help. He just got his test back with a low score, and you see him crumple it up and put his head down on his desk, looking defeated and frustrated.

After discussing each scenario, share your group's ideas with the class. How did your group's empathetic approaches compare to others? Did you consider different perspectives?

Reading: Wonder (excerpt)

An excerpt from "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio, for 5th-grade students, to explore themes of empathy, kindness, and perspective-taking.

Title: Wonder (Excerpt)

"My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse."

This is how August Pullman, a ten-year-old boy, often felt about himself. He was born with a severe facial difference, and because of countless surgeries, he had never gone to a mainstream school. But this year, August was starting fifth grade at Beecher Prep.

His mom tried to prepare him. "You're going to be fine, Auggie. Everyone will be nice." But August knew better. He knew how people stared, how they sometimes gasped or quickly looked away. It hurt, even when he tried not to let it show.

On his first day, August met Summer. She was one of the first kids to be truly kind to him. She didn't stare. She just sat down next to him at lunch. "Hey," she said, "Can I sit here? Everywhere else is full." It wasn't full. August knew it, and Summer knew it, but she sat anyway.

Summer listened to him, laughed at his jokes, and treated him like any other kid. She didn't ask about his face. She just talked about homework, movies, and school gossip. Later, August would learn that many kids at school were part of a