Warm-Up: Different Shoes

Instructions: Read the following scenario and quickly jot down your initial thoughts in the space provided. There are no right or wrong answers!

Scenario: You see a classmate sitting alone at lunch for the third day in a row. They usually sit with a group of friends, but today they are by themselves, looking down at their food.

What are two possible reasons this classmate might be sitting alone?

How might this classmate be feeling right now?

What is one thing you might do in this situation, and why?

Walk a Mile? Script

Warm-Up: Different Shoes (5 minutes)

"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to dive into a really important skill called perspective-taking. It's all about trying to understand things from someone else's point of view. To get us started, I want you to imagine yourself in a situation. Please take a look at the Warm-Up: Different Shoes handout I'm giving you."

(Distribute Warm-Up: Different Shoes handouts or display on screen.)

"On your handout, you'll see a scenario about a classmate sitting alone at lunch. I want you to take about two minutes to quietly jot down your initial thoughts on the questions provided. Don't overthink it, just write what comes to mind. There are no right or wrong answers here."

(Allow 2 minutes for students to write.)

"Alright, let's hear some of your thoughts. For the first question, 'What are two possible reasons this classmate might be sitting alone?', can a few people share what they wrote?"

(Call on 2-3 students. Acknowledge diverse answers.)

"Now, 'How might this classmate be feeling right now?' Any volunteers to share?"

(Call on 2-3 students. Highlight different emotions.)

"Excellent. As you can see, even in a simple situation like this, there can be many reasons why someone is acting a certain way, and many ways they might be feeling. This is exactly what perspective-taking helps us understand."

Introduction to Perspective-Taking (5 minutes)

(Display Slide 1: Walk a Mile in Their Shoes)

"So, as our warm-up showed us, stepping into someone else's shoes, even just for a moment, can change how we see things. Today, we're focusing on perspective-taking."

(Display Slide 2: What is Perspective-Taking?)

"Perspective-taking is simply the ability to understand a situation or concept from another person's point of view, not just your own. Think about it like a camera lens – you can choose to see things through your lens, or you can try to see it through someone else's."

"Why do you think this skill is so important? Why bother trying to see things from another side?"

(Listen for student responses: empathy, avoiding misunderstandings, being a good friend, solving problems. Reinforce answers that align with the slide points: builds empathy, improves communication, helps resolve conflicts, strengthens relationships.)

"Exactly! It helps us build empathy, which is understanding and sharing the feelings of another. It improves how we communicate because we can anticipate what someone else might need or how they might react. And it's huge for resolving conflicts and making our relationships stronger, whether that's with friends, family, or even classmates you don't know well."

Scenario Analysis Activity (10 minutes)

(Display Slide 3: See It From Every Side)

"Now, let's put this into practice. I'm going to divide you into small groups of 3-4 students. Each group will receive a Scenario Card."

(Divide students into groups and distribute Scenario Cards. Ensure each group has one.)

"Here's what I want your group to do: First, read your scenario carefully. Then, identify all the different people involved in that situation. Next, discuss what each person might be thinking, what they might be feeling, and why they might be acting that way. Try to really step into their shoes. Finally, consider how understanding these different perspectives changes your overall view of the situation. Can you brainstorm any empathetic responses or solutions?"

"You'll have about 7-8 minutes for this discussion. I'll be walking around to listen in and answer any questions. Go ahead and get started!"

(Circulate among groups, prompting discussion, asking questions like: "What if this person had a really bad morning?", "How would you feel if you were in their shoes?")

Class Share & Reflect (8 minutes)

(Bring the class back together.)

"Alright, let's bring our attention back to the whole class. I heard some really insightful discussions happening. Who would like to share their group's scenario and some of the different perspectives you identified?"

(Call on 2-3 groups to briefly share their scenario and findings. For each group, ask follow-up questions from Slide 3 or similar: "How did considering these different perspectives change your understanding of the situation?", "Was it harder or easier than you expected to see things from another's point of view?", "How can this skill help you in your daily lives, especially here at school or with your friends and family?")

"It's clear that taking the time to understand others' perspectives can truly open our eyes and help us navigate challenging situations with more understanding and less judgment."

Wrap-Up & Challenge (2 minutes)

(Display Slide 4: Your Perspective Power-Up!)

"To wrap up today, remember what we learned: perspective-taking is about seeing the world through someone else's eyes. It's a superpower for building empathy, improving communication, and making our relationships stronger."

"Here's your challenge for the week: Try to practice perspective-taking at least once every day. When you're in a conversation, or you see a situation unfolding, pause and ask yourself, 'What might the other person be thinking or feeling right now? Why might they be acting this way?' Notice how it changes your interactions and your understanding of the world around you."

"Thank you, everyone! I look forward to hearing about your experiences next time."

Scenario Cards

Instructions for Teachers: Cut out these scenarios and give one to each small group of students for the "Scenario Analysis Activity."

Scenario Card 1: Group Project Gone Wrong

It's the night before a big group project is due. You and one other group member have done most of the work. The third member, Alex, has barely contributed, and now they've just messaged the group chat saying, "I'm really sick and probably won't be able to help with the final touches or presentation tomorrow."

Perspectives to consider:

• Your perspective (as someone who did most of the work)
• The other hardworking group member's perspective
• Alex's perspective (who is