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The Empathy Project

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Lesson Plan

The Empathy Project

Develop empathy through storytelling

In this lesson, students will explore the concept of empathy through engaging storytelling and role-playing activities. By understanding different perspectives, they will develop stronger social-emotional skills, which are crucial for personal and academic success. This lesson is important as it helps students build empathy, a key component in fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom environment.

Audience

5th Grade Students

Time

1 hour

Approach

Develop empathy through storytelling

Materials

Storytelling Scenarios, Role-Playing Cards, Discussion Questions, and Worksheet: Empathy Reflection

Step 1

Introduction to Empathy

10 mins

  • Begin with a brief discussion on what empathy means.
  • Ask students to share examples of when they felt empathy for someone else.
  • Explain the importance of understanding others' feelings and perspectives.

Step 2

Storytelling Activity

15 mins

  • Distribute storytelling scenarios to small groups.
  • Each group reads their scenario and discusses the characters' feelings and perspectives.
  • Groups share their stories and insights with the class.

Step 3

Role-Playing Exercise

20 mins

  • Provide role-playing cards to pairs of students.
  • Students act out their roles, focusing on expressing and understanding emotions.
  • After each role-play, discuss as a class what emotions were observed and how empathy was shown.

Step 4

Empathy Reflection

10 mins

  • Hand out the 'Empathy Reflection' worksheet.
  • Students individually reflect on what they learned about empathy today.
  • Encourage them to think about how they can apply empathy in their daily lives.

Step 5

Closure and Discussion

5 mins

  • Conclude with a class discussion on the importance of empathy.
  • Ask students to share one new thing they learned about empathy.
  • Reinforce the idea that empathy helps build a caring and supportive community.
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Worksheet

Storytelling Scenarios

Printable cards with different storytelling scenarios for students to explore empathy through character perspectives.




Scenario 1: A new student joins the class and feels nervous.







Scenario 2: A friend loses their favorite toy and feels sad.







Scenario 3: Someone is being teased at recess and feels upset.







Scenario 4: A classmate is struggling with a math problem and feels frustrated.




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Worksheet

Role-Playing Cards

Printable cards for role-playing exercises to help students practice empathy by acting out different emotions and situations.




Role 1: You are the new student trying to make friends.







Role 2: You are the friend who lost their toy.







Role 3: You are the student being teased.







Role 4: You are the classmate struggling with math.




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Discussion

Discussion Questions

Guided questions to facilitate a class discussion on empathy and its importance.

What does empathy mean to you?

Encourage students to think about empathy as understanding and sharing the feelings of others.







Can you think of a time when you showed empathy?

Guide students to share personal experiences where they empathized with someone.







Why is it important to have empathy in our classroom?

Discuss how empathy can create a supportive and inclusive environment.







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Worksheet

Empathy Reflection Worksheet

A worksheet for students to reflect on their understanding of empathy and how they can apply it in their lives.

What is one thing you learned about empathy today?








How can you show empathy to your classmates?








Why do you think empathy is important?








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The Empathy Project • Lenny Learning