Understanding Perspectives Through Role-Play

Constance Quinn

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Understanding Perspectives Through Role-Play

Empathy and perspective-taking

In this lesson, students will engage in role-playing exercises to explore different perspectives in bullying scenarios. This activity is designed to foster empathy and understanding among students by allowing them to step into the shoes of others. Following the role-play, students will write a reflective journal entry to consolidate their learnings and personal insights.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

90 mins

Approach

Empathy and perspective-taking

Materials

Role-Playing Scenario Cards, Journal Entry Worksheet, and Discussion Questions

Step 1

Introduction

10 mins

Begin with a brief discussion on what bullying is and its impact on individuals.
Explain the purpose of the lesson: to understand different perspectives in bullying situations through role-play.

Step 2

Role-Playing Activity

40 mins

Divide students into small groups and distribute the Role-Playing Scenario Cards.
Each group selects a scenario and assigns roles (e.g., bully, victim, bystander).
Allow groups 10 minutes to prepare and then perform their role-play for the class.
Encourage students to focus on expressing emotions and reactions authentically.

Step 3

Class Discussion

15 mins

Use the Discussion Questions to facilitate a conversation about the role-plays.
Discuss how it felt to be in each role and what insights were gained.
Highlight the importance of empathy and understanding in preventing bullying.

Step 4

Reflective Journal Entry

20 mins

Distribute the Journal Entry Worksheet.
Ask students to write about their experience in the role-play, focusing on what they learned about different perspectives.
Encourage them to reflect on how they can apply these insights in real-life situations.

Step 5

Closure

5 mins

Summarize the key takeaways from the lesson.
Encourage students to continue thinking about empathy and perspective-taking in their daily interactions.

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Worksheet

Role-Playing Scenario Cards

These cards contain different bullying scenarios for students to role-play, helping them understand various perspectives.

Scenario 1: A student is being excluded from a group activity.

Scenario 2: A student is being teased about their appearance.

Scenario 3: A student witnesses another student being bullied and must decide whether to intervene.

Scenario 4: A student spreads a rumor about another student.

Scenario 5: A student is cyberbullied through social media.

Worksheet

Journal Entry Worksheet

This worksheet guides students in reflecting on their role-playing experience and the perspectives they explored.

Describe the role you played in the scenario. How did it feel to be in that role?

What did you learn about the perspective of the person you portrayed?

How can understanding different perspectives help prevent bullying?

Reflect on a time when you witnessed or experienced bullying. How might you approach it differently now?

Discussion

Discussion Questions

These questions are designed to facilitate a class discussion on the role-playing activity and the insights gained.

What emotions did you experience during the role-play?

Encourage students to share their feelings and relate them to real-life situations.

How did your perspective change after playing your role?

Discuss how stepping into someone else's shoes can alter perceptions.

What actions can we take to support someone who is being bullied?

Focus on practical steps and the importance of empathy and intervention.