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How Do Others See It?

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Jackson Goscha

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Seeing Through New Eyes

Students will be able to identify and describe different perspectives in everyday situations and explain how understanding diverse viewpoints fosters empathy.

Understanding how others see things is vital for building strong friendships, resolving conflicts, and becoming a more compassionate person. This lesson helps students develop empathy and positive social interactions.

Audience

4th Grade Class

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, visual analysis, and group activities to explore varied perspectives.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Perspective Power-Up Slide Deck, Picture This: Different Views Activity, Role Play: What Would You Do? Activity, Walk a Mile: Conversation Starters Discussion, and Markers or pens

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

  • Review the Perspective Power-Up Slide Deck for content and transitions.
    - Print copies of the Picture This: Different Views Activity (one per small group).
    - Print copies of the Role Play: What Would You Do? Activity (one per small group).
    - Review the Walk a Mile: Conversation Starters Discussion prompts.
    - Ensure whiteboard or projector is ready.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Do You See?

5 minutes

  • Display a simple image that can be interpreted in two different ways (e.g., an optical illusion or a drawing that looks like two different things depending on how you look at it).
    - Ask students: "What do you see?"
    - Encourage various responses and acknowledge that different people can see different things.

Step 2

Introduction to Perspective-Taking

10 minutes

  • Use the Perspective Power-Up Slide Deck to introduce the concept of 'perspective.'
    - Explain that perspective is how someone sees or understands something.
    - Discuss why understanding different perspectives is important (empathy, solving problems, being fair).

Step 3

Activity: Picture This, Different Views

10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups.
    - Distribute the Picture This: Different Views Activity worksheet to each group.
    - Instruct groups to analyze the provided scenarios/images and discuss how different characters might feel or think.
    - Circulate to facilitate discussions and offer support.

Step 4

Activity: Role Play, What Would You Do?

10 minutes

  • In their same small groups, distribute the Role Play: What Would You Do? Activity to each group.
    - Instruct groups to read and act out the scenarios, focusing on understanding and responding to different perspectives.
    - Circulate to observe role-plays and prompt deeper thinking about character feelings and motivations.

Step 5

Group Share and Discussion: Walk a Mile

10 minutes

  • Bring the class back together.
    - Facilitate a whole-class discussion using the Walk a Mile: Conversation Starters Discussion prompts.
    - Encourage students to share their group's insights from both activities and reflect on personal experiences.
    - Emphasize that there isn't always one 'right' way to see things.

Step 6

Cool-Down: One New Idea

5 minutes

  • Ask students to silently reflect on one new idea they learned about perspective-taking.
    - Have them share their idea with a partner or write it down on an exit ticket. (Teacher can decide if they want a formal exit ticket or just verbal sharing.)
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Slide Deck

How Do Others See It?

Ever wonder why people sometimes disagree even when looking at the same thing?
Today, we're going to become 'Perspective Power-Uppers'!

What is Perspective? It's how someone sees or understands something.

Like looking through different colored glasses! 🕶️

Understanding other people's 'glasses' helps us be better friends and problem-solvers.

Welcome students and introduce the day's topic: understanding different perspectives. Use a simple, engaging optical illusion or picture with multiple interpretations to kick off the discussion.

What is Perspective?

Perspective is how someone sees or understands something.

It's like:

  • Looking at the same painting but noticing different details.
  • Hearing the same story but focusing on different parts.
  • Reacting differently to a situation because of how you feel.

Explain what perspective means with a simple definition and relatable examples. Emphasize that it's about seeing the situation from someone else's point of view, not just their physical view.

Why Does it Matter?

Why is it important to understand other people's perspectives?

  • Empathy: It helps us understand how others feel.
  • Solving Problems: We can find solutions that work for everyone.
  • Being Fair: We learn not to jump to conclusions.
  • Making Friends: It helps us connect with others better.

Discuss why developing this skill is important. Connect it to real-life situations like disagreements, making friends, and understanding feelings.

Activity: Picture This!

Now it's your turn to put on your 'perspective glasses'!

In your groups, you will get some pictures and scenarios.

Your task: Discuss how different characters in the pictures might see the situation. What might they be thinking or feeling?

Think about: Who, What, When, Where, Why.

Introduce the activity where students will analyze scenarios and think about different viewpoints. Explain the instructions clearly and encourage thoughtful discussion within their groups.

Sharing Our Views

Let's share what we discovered!

  • What were some different perspectives you found in the activity?
  • Was it easy or hard to see from another point of view?
  • When might you need to use your 'perspective glasses' in real life?

Facilitate a class discussion. Encourage students to share their insights from the activity and reflect on how they can apply perspective-taking in their own lives. Guide them to see that there often isn't just one 'right' way.

Perspective Power-Up: You Did It!

You've powered up your perspective-taking skills today!

Remember, everyone has their own 'glasses' through which they see the world. Trying to understand those different views makes our world a more empathetic and understanding place.

Keep practicing your perspective power!

Conclude the lesson by reinforcing the main takeaway. Encourage students to practice perspective-taking daily and acknowledge their growth in this social awareness skill.

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Activity

Picture This: Different Views

Instructions: Work with your group to look at each picture and read the scenario. Discuss how each person in the scenario might be feeling and why they might feel that way. Write down your ideas in the space provided.

Scenario 1: The Broken Toy

Picture: Two children, Maya and Leo, are playing with a toy truck. The truck accidentally breaks. Maya looks sad, and Leo looks surprised.

Questions:

  1. How might Maya be feeling? Why do you think she feels that way?






  2. How might Leo be feeling? Why do you think he feels that way?






  3. What could Maya say to Leo to show she understands his perspective?






Scenario 2: The Lost Game

Picture: A group of friends just finished a soccer game. One child, Sam, is celebrating because their team won. Another child, Alex, is sitting on the ground looking disappointed because their team lost.

Questions:

  1. How might Sam be feeling? Why do you think they feel that way?






  2. How might Alex be feeling? Why do you think they feel that way?






  3. If you were Sam, what could you do or say to Alex to show empathy, even though you won?






Scenario 3: The New Kid

Picture: A new student, Sofia, is standing alone during recess, looking a little shy. A group of other students are playing a game of tag nearby.

Questions:

  1. How might Sofia be feeling? Why do you think she feels that way?






  2. How might the group of playing students be feeling? (Consider they might not have even noticed Sofia yet.)






  3. What could one of the playing students do or say to Sofia to help her feel welcome?






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Activity

Role Play: What Would You Do?

Instructions: Work with your partner or small group to act out the following scenarios. Take turns playing each role and discuss how each character might feel and think. Try to respond in a way that shows you understand the other person's perspective.

Scenario 1: Sharing Supplies

Situation: You and your partner are working on an art project. There is only one glue stick left. You both reach for it at the same time.

Roles:

  • Student A: Really needs the glue stick to finish their project on time.
  • Student B: Wants to use the glue stick to add a final touch to their project.

Discussion Prompts:

  1. How does Student A feel? How does Student B feel?
  2. What could each student say to the other to show they understand their need for the glue stick?
  3. How can you solve this problem fairly?






Scenario 2: The Loud Laughter

Situation: You are trying to read a book in the library corner. A group of students nearby are laughing very loudly at a funny story they are sharing.

Roles:

  • Student C: Wants to concentrate on reading their book in peace.
  • Student D: Is having a great time laughing with friends and doesn't realize they are being loud.

Discussion Prompts:

  1. How does Student C feel? How does Student D feel (or might feel if they noticed Student C)?
  2. What could Student C do or say to the group?
  3. What could the group do to be more considerate?






Scenario 3: Lost and Found

Situation: A student finds a really cool drawing on the playground. Another student is upset because they think it's their lost drawing.

Roles:

  • Student E: Found the drawing and is excited about it.
  • Student F: Lost their drawing and is sad, thinking the one Student E found is theirs.

Discussion Prompts:

  1. How does Student E feel? How does Student F feel?
  2. What questions could Student E ask Student F to understand their perspective?
  3. How can they figure out who the drawing belongs to and resolve the situation fairly?






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Discussion

Walk a Mile: Conversation Starters

Instructions: As a class, we will discuss these questions. Remember to listen respectfully to everyone's ideas and share your own thoughts clearly. There are no right or wrong answers, just different perspectives!

Discussion Prompts:

  1. Think about a time someone misunderstood you. How did it feel? What do you wish they had understood about your side of the story?






  2. Have you ever thought someone was feeling one way, but then you learned they were actually feeling something different? What happened? How did you figure it out?






  3. Why do you think it's important to try and understand how your friends, family, or classmates are feeling, even if you don't agree with them?






  4. Imagine you and a friend both want to play different games during recess. How can using your 'perspective glasses' help you find a solution that makes both of you happy?






  5. What's one thing you can do this week to practice seeing things from someone else's point of view?

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