Storybook Reading: ‘Seeing Through Their Eyes’

Welcome to our storybook! Today, we will read about a little character named Sammy and his friend Mia as they learn the magic of understanding each other’s feelings. This story shows us that every person sees the world in a different way, and that’s what makes our world so special.

Sammy’s Day

Sammy woke up feeling a little confused. When he looked out the window, he saw bright sunshine and heard birds singing, but he also felt a small cloud in his heart. Sammy wondered, "Why do I feel sad even when everything looks happy?"

That morning, Sammy met his friend Mia at the school door. Mia was smiling and laughing, but she noticed that Sammy wasn't joining in the fun. She gently asked, "Sammy, are you okay? Do you feel like sharing how you feel?"

Sammy looked up and said, "I’m not sure. I see the sunshine, but I feel like there’s a tiny rain inside me."

Mia’s Understanding

Mia remembered a time when she felt scared during a big thunderstorm at home. She knew that sometimes our feelings can be different inside, even when things seem bright outside. "That tiny rain is okay," Mia said kindly. "We all feel different feelings sometimes. My heart sometimes feels cloudy, but then I learn that I can talk about it, and it feels a bit better."

Sammy listened carefully. Mia continued, "When you share your feelings, you let someone help you see all the colors in your day—even the cloudy ones make way for brighter ones later."

A New Way of Seeing

Together, they decided to play a game of imagining what it would be like to see the world through each other’s eyes. Sammy closed his eyes while Mia described her happy memory of playing at the park, filling Sammy’s mind with images of laughing and swinging high. Then, Sammy shared a quiet moment from his morning, and Mia imagined the gentle raindrops that sometimes fall inside a heart.

By the end of the day, they learned an important lesson: understanding each other’s feelings helps everyone feel safe and cared for. Sammy discovered that even if he feels a tiny rain inside, talking with a friend can help him appreciate both the clouds and the sunshine.

Questions to Think About

• How do you think Sammy felt when he saw the bright sunshine but felt a little rain inside?
  
• Why do you think Mia listened to Sammy and shared her own feelings?
  
• Can you remember a time when someone understood how you felt? How did that make you feel?

Enjoy the story, and remember: every feeling is important, and sharing them can make our hearts feel lighter!

Empathy Activity Cards

These cards are designed to help you understand and talk about different feelings. Each card shows a simple scenario with a picture that represents an emotion. We will look at the cards one by one and talk about what feelings the picture shows and why someone in that situation might feel that way.

How to Use the Cards

1. Look: Pick one card and look at the picture carefully.
   
2. Discuss: Think about what the picture shows. Ask yourself: "How might this person be feeling?"
   
3. Share: Share your ideas. You might say, "I think this person feels sad because they lost their toy."

Questions to Think About

• What do you see in the picture? What clues can help you understand the emotion?
  
• How do you think the person is feeling? Why do you think so?
  
• Have you ever felt that way? What helped you feel better?

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. This activity is all about practicing understanding different feelings and learning how to be kind and caring towards ourselves and others.

Perspective-Taking Game

This game invites everyone to step into someone else's shoes and explore different feelings and situations. In a circle, each student will have a turn to either act out an emotion or a short scenario, while the others guess what they are experiencing or feeling.

How to Play

1. Set-Up: Arrange the students in a circle or seated area where everyone can see each other. Make sure the environment feels safe and friendly.
   
   
   

2. Instructions: Explain that each student will have a chance to role-play a feeling or a short scenario. Encourage them to be creative but gentle in their expressions.
   
   
   

3. Taking Turns: Ask for a volunteer, or pass a small object to indicate whose turn it is. The student will then pick a card (or be given a prompt) that describes a simple scenario or emotion (for example, feeling excited about a birthday, or a little sad when a friend is upset).
   
   
   

4. Acting it Out: The student acts out the emotion or scenario without using words. The teacher can model first if needed to show how it works.
   
   
   

5. Guessing: The other students try to guess what emotion or situation is being portrayed. The teacher should encourage words like "happy," "sad," "excited," or even simple explanations like "You look like you’re enjoying your day!"
   
   
   

6. Discussion: After the guess, have a brief discussion. Ask questions such as:

• How did you know which feeling was being acted out?
  
• What clues helped you guess the emotion?
  
• Can you think of a time when you felt this way?
  
  
  

7. Repeat: Continue until each student has had a chance to act or contribute a guess.

Important Tips for Teachers

• Encourage supportive and kind feedback from classmates.
  
• Offer gentle guidance if a student feels unsure about an emotion or role-playing.
• Validate every student’s participation by praising efforts and creativity.
  
• Use clear, simple language and visual cues if necessary to assist comprehension.
  
  
  

This interactive game will not only help recognize and understand different perspectives but also build empathy and communication skills in a fun and supportive way!