Lesson Plan
Scenario Game Plan
Students will practice perspective-taking by role-playing diverse scenarios, identifying emotions, and reflecting on others’ experiences to build empathy and group counseling skills.
Developing empathy helps 8th graders improve active listening, emotional awareness, and supportive peer interactions—key to a positive classroom community.
Audience
8th Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive role-plays and reflection prompts.
Prep
Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Role-Play Scenarios Slide Deck and select 5–6 scenario slides.
- Print or prepare digital cards for the Empathy Hat Draw Game.
- Familiarize yourself with the rules and flow of each activity.
- Arrange seating in small discussion clusters for group work.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Welcome students and state the objective: to practice empathy by stepping into others’ shoes.
- Briefly define empathy and its importance in building trust and understanding.
- Conduct a quick ice-breaker: ask one volunteer to share a recent situation where they felt misunderstood.
Step 2
Game Setup
5 minutes
- Divide the class into groups of 4–5.
- Explain the rules of the Empathy Hat Draw Game: each student draws an emotion hat and role-plays a character responding to a scenario.
- Assign roles: speaker, facilitator, and observers in each group.
Step 3
Main Activity – The Empathy Game
25 minutes
- Display the first scenario from the Role-Play Scenarios Slide Deck.
- In each group:
- One student reads the scenario aloud.
- Students draw an empathy hat from the Empathy Hat Draw Game deck to determine the perspective/emotion they must portray.
- The speaker role-plays the scenario wearing their hat; others observe.
- After 2–3 minutes, observers share what emotions and thoughts they noticed.
- Rotate so each student gets a turn at role-play. Cover 3–4 scenarios based on time.
Step 4
Feelings Roundup Cool-Down
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Use the Feelings Roundup Cool-Down to guide a collective reflection:
- Ask: “Which emotion hat was most challenging and why?”
- Invite students to name one insight they gained about another person’s perspective.
Step 5
Assessment & Reflection
5 minutes
- Distribute index cards or ask for verbal responses:
- One new thing you learned about empathy today.
- One way you’ll apply this skill in real life.
- Collect cards or listen to responses to gauge understanding and inform future lessons.
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Slide Deck
Role-Play Scenarios
Step into someone else’s shoes! Choose a scenario, draw an emotion hat, and explore how it feels to walk in another person’s world.
Introduce the purpose of this deck: to provide real-life scenarios for role-play and empathy-building. Explain to students that each group will pick a scenario slide, draw an emotion hat from the Empathy Hat Draw Game, and act it out while peers observe.
How to Use These Scenarios
- In your group, decide who will read the scenario aloud.
- Each role-player draws an emotion hat from the Empathy Hat Draw Game.
- The role-player acts out the scenario using that emotion/perspective.
- Observers note the role-player’s feelings and thoughts.
- After 2–3 minutes, discuss observations before moving to the next student.
Ensure students understand the flow. Emphasize observing body language and tone, not just words. Remind observers to take notes on emotions and thought patterns.
Scenario 1: The New Kid at Lunch
Jordan is new to school and sits alone at lunch. They look nervous and unsure how to join a table.
Role-play: Approach Jordan and start a conversation, showing warmth and curiosity.
Scenario 1 focuses on loneliness and inclusion. Observers should note whether the role-player uses open body language and inviting words.
Scenario 2: The Forgotten Homework
Alex realizes they left their homework on the kitchen table. The teacher is about to collect assignments and looks disappointed.
Role-play: Explain the situation to the teacher, showing your emotional state and asking for understanding.
Scenario 2 highlights stress and self-pressure. Observers: listen for tone changes and facial expressions of anxiety or relief.
Scenario 3: The Lost Pet
Maria’s dog ran away last night, and she just found out. She’s upset and crying in the hallway.
Role-play: Comfort Maria, acknowledging her feelings and offering help.
Scenario 3 deals with grief and support. Observers: watch for how the role-player expresses sorrow and seeks comfort.
Scenario 4: The Failed Tryout
Chris tried out for the basketball team but didn’t make it. The coach just announced rosters, and Chris looks devastated.
Role-play: Respond to Chris—validate their feelings and encourage them to keep practicing.
Scenario 4 explores disappointment and resilience. Observers: note shifts between excitement, shock, and coping strategies.
Game
Empathy Hat Draw Game
Objective: Encourage students to adopt and portray varied emotional perspectives during role-play scenarios, deepening their understanding of others’ feelings.
Materials Needed:
- A deck of "Emotion Hat" cards (20–30 cards total).
- Each card features one emotion and a brief prompt (see below).
- Small cloth or paper hats (optional) to represent drawing a hat.
Game Setup (5 minutes):
- Shuffle the Emotion Hat card deck and place face down in a central spot.
- Optionally, place hats near the deck to “wear” when drawing a card.
- Explain that each card guides the emotion/perspective students must portray in the role-play.
How to Play (During Main Activity – 25 minutes):
- In each group, the designated speaker draws one Emotion Hat card at random.
- The speaker “puts on” the hat and reads aloud the emotion and prompt on the card.
- The speaker role-plays the current scenario from the Role-Play Scenarios Slide Deck, embodying the drawn emotion.
- Observers watch for body language, tone, and language cues that reflect the emotion.
- After 2–3 minutes, observers share:
- How the emotion hat influenced the scenario.
- Specific behaviors or words that conveyed the feeling.
- Rotate roles so each student draws a hat and role-plays at least once (cover 3–4 scenarios).
Emotion Hat Card Examples:
- Happy & Encouraging: Offer support with an upbeat tone.
- Anxious & Hesitant: Speak softly, use fidgety movements.
- Angry & Frustrated: Show clenched fists, raised voice.
- Sad & Withdrawn: Use slow movements, downcast eyes.
- Proud & Confident: Stand tall, speak firmly.
- Embarrassed & Awkward: Use hesitation, avoid eye contact.
- Excited & Eager: Use big gestures, rapid speech.
- Nervous & Apologetic: Stammer slightly, use apologetic phrases.
- Lonely & Yearning: Look around, reach out physically.
- Hopeful & Optimistic: Smile, use uplifting words.
- Frustrated & Impatient: Foot tapping, sighing.
- Calm & Reassuring: Soft tone, gentle gestures.
Facilitator Tips:
- Remind students to stay respectful and safe when expressing intense emotions.
- Encourage observers to focus on how the emotion changed the interaction.
- Use prompts like, “What did you notice in the speaker’s posture?” or “How did their tone shift?”
Debrief Connection:
- Link back to the Feelings Roundup Cool-Down to discuss which hats felt challenging and why.
- Highlight how understanding different emotional states can strengthen empathy in real-life interactions.
Cool Down
Feelings Roundup Cool-Down
Objective: Consolidate insights from The Empathy Game and deepen understanding of how different emotions shape interactions.
Reflection Prompts:
- Which emotion hat was most challenging to portray and why?
- What new insight did you gain about a peer’s feelings during the role-plays?
- How might you apply the empathy skills you practiced today in a real-life situation this week?
Closing Thoughts:
- Thank you for sharing so openly.
- Remember: practicing empathy helps us build stronger, more supportive communities every day.