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Friendship Skills

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Lesson Plan

Empathy Builder Blueprint

Guide 6th graders through interactive empathy-building and cooperative role-play activities to strengthen peer relationships and practice perspective-taking and supportiveness.

Developing empathy and cooperation helps students build positive relationships, manage conflicts, and create a more supportive classroom culture—key CASEL relationship skills at Tier 2.

Audience

6th Grade Small Group

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions, paired and group role-play, guided reflection.

Materials

Prep

Review and Setup

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

5 minutes

  • Gather students and display slide 1–2 from Cooperation in Action
  • Ask: “What clues tell you how another person is feeling?”
  • Invite 3–4 students to share observations
  • Check for understanding: confirm each student names at least one emotional cue

Step 2

Perspective-Taking Exercise

10 minutes

  • Pair students and hand each pair one card from Role-Play Scenarios
  • Student A reads their character’s situation; Student B listens and then paraphrases A’s feelings
  • Switch roles after 3 minutes
  • Ask pairs to share one new insight about how perspective-taking felt
  • Check: each pair contributes at least one perspective insight

Step 3

Cooperative Role-Play Challenge

8 minutes

  • Form groups of three; display a teamwork prompt on slide 5 of Cooperation in Action
  • Groups plan a short scene showing empathy and cooperation in that scenario
  • Groups perform their role-play for the workshop
  • Check for understanding: observe and note each group’s use of empathy strategies

Step 4

Reflection & Gratitude Circle

7 minutes

  • Distribute Empathy Reflection Prompts
  • Students write a quick response: “Describe a time you made someone feel understood.”
  • Reconvene in a circle; use Group Gratitude Circle
  • Each student names one thing they appreciate about a peer’s empathy
  • Check: ensure every student shares one gratitude note
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Slide Deck

Cooperation in Action

Building Empathy & Teamwork

• CASEL Relationship Skills: Empathy & Cooperation
• 30-Minute Tier 2 Small-Group Session

Welcome everyone! Introduce the workshop’s purpose: strengthening friendships through empathy and cooperation. Review the agenda: spotting empathy cues, perspective-taking tips, teamwork challenge, and reflection.

Spotting Empathy Cues

What tells you how someone feels?

• Facial expressions (smiles, frowns)
• Tone of voice (soft, loud, shaky)
• Body language (arms crossed, slumped shoulders)
• Words chosen ("I’m upset," "This is fun!")

Explain that understanding feelings starts with noticing clues. Display an example image or ask students to imagine a friend looking sad or excited.

Perspective-Taking Tips

• Put yourself in their shoes: “How would I feel?”
• Ask open questions: “What happened?” “How are you doing?”
• Listen actively: nod, repeat back what you hear
• Validate feelings: “I hear you feel…,” avoid judgment

Introduce perspective-taking: imagining how another person sees a situation. Ask students to volunteer examples and connect to empathy cues.

Teamwork Challenge

In groups of 3, create a short role-play showing empathy & cooperation:

Scenario: Planning a surprise welcome party for a new student.

• Assign roles
• Plan how you’ll support each other
• Show one moment of empathy in your scene

Explain the teamwork prompt. Divide students into groups of three. Encourage planning a short scene that shows both empathy and cooperation.

Reflection & Gratitude

  1. Write: “Describe a time you made someone feel understood.”

  2. Circle share: Name one thing you appreciate about a peer’s empathy.

Distribute journals or paper. Give students 2–3 minutes to write, then reconvene in a circle for sharing.

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Activity

Role-Play Scenarios

Use these cards in pairs for the Perspective-Taking Exercise. Each student takes one card, reads aloud their character’s situation and feelings, and the partner paraphrases.

Scenario 1: Forgotten Birthday












You are Jordan. Today was your birthday, but your best friend forgot and spent lunch with someone else. You feel hurt and left out.

Scenario 2: Teasing on the Playground












You are Casey. A group of classmates are making jokes about your lunch. You feel embarrassed and angry.

Scenario 3: Group Project Disagreement












You are Riley. You did most of the work on the science project, but your partner wants to present your ideas as their own. You feel frustrated and unappreciated.

Scenario 4: New Student












You are Sam. It’s your first week at this school and you haven’t been invited to join any games at recess. You feel nervous and excluded.

Scenario 5: Lost Item Blame












You are Taylor. Your math workbook was lost, and your friend got in trouble because the teacher thought they borrowed it. You feel guilty and anxious.

Scenario 6: Interrupted Presentation












You are Avery. While presenting your book report, someone in the audience kept whispering and giggling. You feel distracted and upset.

Partner instructions:

  1. Listen without interrupting.
    2. Paraphrase: “It sounds like you feel ___ because ___.”
    3. Ask one clarifying question: “Can you tell me more about…?”

Use these cards to practice noticing feelings and showing you care!

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Journal

Empathy Reflection Prompts

  1. Describe a time when you noticed someone was upset or having a hard day. What did you do to show empathy? How did they respond?









  2. Think of an upcoming situation (e.g., group work, recess game, team activity). How will you show empathy in that moment? List at least two specific actions you will take and explain why you chose them.







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Cool Down

Group Gratitude Circle

Purpose: Wrap up the workshop by sharing specific appreciation for peers’ empathy and cooperation.

Instructions:

  1. Form a circle so everyone can see each other.

  2. Explain: “We’ll each take a turn naming one thing we noticed a peer do today that showed empathy or cooperation.”

  3. Model an example: “I appreciated how Jordan listened without interrupting when Casey shared their feelings.”

  4. Go around the circle clockwise. When it’s your turn, say:

    • Your name
      - The classmate’s name
      - The empathetic or cooperative action you noticed

    Example: “I’m Alex. I noticed Riley helped Sam include others when planning the surprise party.”

  5. If someone is shy, the group can offer a quick encouragement: “You’ve got this!”

  6. After everyone shares, close with a group cheer or a quiet moment of applause.

Check for Understanding: Ensure every student has a turn and names a specific action by a peer.

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