Lesson Plan
Empathy Without Borders: A Global Journey
Students will be able to describe how empathy can help them understand the experiences of people from different cultures and circumstances around the world.
Understanding global empathy helps students become more compassionate global citizens, recognizing shared humanity and the impact of systemic issues worldwide.
Audience
8th Grade Students
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Through reading and discussion, students will connect with diverse global experiences.
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
- Print copies of the Global Youth Profile Readings (one profile per student, or one set per small group).
- Print copies of the Comparative Chart Worksheet (one per student).
- Ensure projector/display is set up for the Slide Deck.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Global Headlines
5 minutes
- Display the 'Global Headlines' slide from the Slide Deck.
- Ask students: 'What global news stories have you heard recently? How do these stories make you feel?'
- Facilitate a brief class discussion, encouraging students to share their initial thoughts and feelings.
Step 2
Introduction to Global Empathy
5 minutes
- Introduce the concept of global empathy using the Slide Deck.
- Explain that global empathy is about understanding and sharing the feelings of people from different cultures and circumstances around the world.
- Discuss key concepts: Global Citizenship, Social Justice, Systemic Issues, and Shared Humanity.
Step 3
"Day in the Life" Profile Study
5 minutes
- Distribute the Global Youth Profile Readings and the Comparative Chart Worksheet.
- Instruct students to read one profile and complete the first section of the worksheet based on their chosen profile.
- Circulate to provide support and answer questions.
Step 4
Group Discussion on Shared Humanity
5 minutes
- Divide students into small groups to discuss their profiles and findings on the Comparative Chart Worksheet.
- Prompt discussion with questions like: 'What similarities did you find among the youth profiles, despite their different cultures?', 'How does empathy help us understand their experiences?', and 'How can we act with global empathy in our own lives?'
- Conclude with a brief whole-class share-out on key takeaways.
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Slide Deck
Welcome to Empathy Without Borders!
Get ready to explore the world and connect with others!
Welcome students and prepare them for the lesson. Briefly explain that today's lesson is about understanding people from different parts of the world.
Global Headlines: What's Happening Out There?
What global news stories have you heard recently?
How do these stories make you feel?
Display this slide to kick off the warm-up. Ask students to share any recent global news stories they've heard. Prompt them to consider how these stories make them feel, encouraging initial emotional responses. Facilitate a brief, open discussion.
What is Global Empathy?
It's understanding and sharing the feelings of people from different cultures and circumstances around the world.
Why is this important for YOU?
Introduce the core concept of global empathy. Explain that it's about stepping into someone else's shoes, even if they live far away or have very different experiences. Emphasize that it's about understanding, not necessarily agreeing with everything.
Key Concepts to Guide Us
- Global Citizenship: Being a responsible member of the world community.
- Social Justice: Fairness and equality for all people.
- Systemic Issues: Big problems that affect many people, often due to how societies are set up.
- Shared Humanity: Recognizing the things that make us all human, no matter where we live.
Briefly define each key concept. For Global Citizenship, highlight responsibility. For Social Justice, focus on fairness. For Systemic Issues, explain that some problems are bigger than individuals. For Shared Humanity, stress our common experiences and feelings.
"A Day in the Life" Profile Study
You're about to meet young people from around the world.
Read their stories and imagine yourself in their shoes.
Use your Comparative Chart Worksheet to take notes!
Explain that students will now read profiles of real or fictional young people from different global contexts. Introduce the idea of a 'Day in the Life' to help them visualize the experiences. Mention the Comparative Chart Worksheet they'll be using.
Group Discussion: Connecting Our Stories
Share your profile and discuss with your group:
- What similarities did you find?
- How does empathy help us understand these experiences?
- How can we act with global empathy in our lives?
Transition to the group discussion. Explain that they will share what they learned and discussed. Encourage active listening and respectful dialogue. Remind them to think about how empathy helps them connect with these stories.
Empathy: Your Passport to Understanding the World
By understanding others, we build a more compassionate and just world.
Conclude the lesson by reiterating the main takeaway: empathy helps us bridge divides and understand our shared humanity. Encourage students to continue practicing global empathy.
Reading
Global Youth Profile Readings
Profile 1: Aisha from Nigeria
Aisha is a 13-year-old girl living in a rural village in Nigeria. Her day starts before sunrise, helping her mother prepare the morning meal, typically millet porridge. After a quick breakfast, she walks nearly two miles to fetch water from the community well, balancing a heavy jerrycan on her head. School is her favorite part of the day, even though her classroom often has over 50 students and very few textbooks. She dreams of becoming a doctor to help her community, which lacks proper medical facilities. After school, she helps with farming the family's small plot of land, tending to crops like cassava and yams. Evenings are spent doing homework by the light of a kerosene lamp, surrounded by her younger siblings.
Profile 2: Mateo from Colombia
Mateo is a 14-year-old boy who lives in a bustling city in Colombia. His parents work long hours in a factory, so Mateo often takes care of his younger sister after school. He attends a large public school where he enjoys art class the most. His neighborhood can be challenging, and he often sees signs of economic hardship. To help his family, Mateo sometimes sells small snacks like empanadas on the street after school, before it gets dark. He loves playing soccer with his friends in the evenings, using a worn-out ball in a dusty lot. Mateo hopes to become a graphic designer and create beautiful art that can inspire people in his community.
Profile 3: Yuki from Japan
Yuki is a 13-year-old girl living in a modern city in Japan. Her mornings are carefully scheduled, starting with a healthy breakfast prepared by her mother. She takes the train to her junior high school, which is known for its high academic standards. After school, Yuki attends a juku (cram school) for several hours, preparing for entrance exams to a good high school. Her evenings are dedicated to homework and studying, often late into the night. On weekends, she sometimes meets friends at a cafe or goes shopping, but her studies are always her top priority. Yuki feels a lot of pressure to succeed academically but dreams of traveling the world and learning about different cultures.
Worksheet
Comparative Chart Worksheet: A Day in Their Lives
Instructions: After reading your assigned Global Youth Profile, complete the first section of this chart for your chosen profile. Then, during your group discussion, work with your classmates to fill in the other sections based on the profiles they read.
| Category | Your Chosen Profile: (Name of Youth) | Group Member 1 Profile: (Name of Youth) | Group Member 2 Profile: (Name of Youth) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | |||
| Age | |||
| Daily Routine (Morning) | |||
| Daily Routine (Afternoon/Evening) | |||
| Major Challenges | |||
| Hopes/Dreams | |||
| How is their life similar to yours? | |||
| How is their life different from yours? |
Reflection Questions (Answer after group discussion):
-
What surprised you the most about the lives of these young people from around the world?
-
How did understanding their daily lives and challenges help you feel more empathy for them?
-
In what ways do you think people worldwide share similar feelings or experiences, despite their different circumstances?
-
Based on what you learned, what is one action you could take in your own life to show greater global empathy or support social justice?