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Walk In Their Shoes

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jsaunders

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Walk In Their Shoes

Students will actively practice identifying and understanding different perspectives in various social situations, fostering empathy and improving interpersonal communication skills.

Developing perspective-taking skills is essential for navigating complex social interactions, resolving conflicts peacefully, and building stronger, more empathetic relationships with peers and others. It helps students understand that people can have different feelings and thoughts about the same event.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Scenario-based discussion and role-playing.

Materials

Small whiteboards or paper for groups, Markers or pens, Social Scenarios Slide Deck, and Teacher Script for Perspective Taking

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Review the Social Scenarios Slide Deck and Teacher Script for Perspective Taking. Gather small whiteboards or paper and markers for each group of 3-4 students. Ensure the classroom is set up for small group work if possible.

Step 1

Introduction & Hook

2 minutes

Begin by asking students what 'perspective' means. Explain that understanding others' perspectives helps us get along better. Use the first few slides of the Social Scenarios Slide Deck and the Teacher Script for Perspective Taking to introduce the concept.

Step 2

Scenario Activity: Group Work

8 minutes

Divide students into small groups (3-4 students). Present a social scenario from the Social Scenarios Slide Deck. Each group will discuss the scenario and write down:
* What happened?
* How might Person A feel?
* How might Person B feel?
* What could Person A do or say?
* What could Person B do or say?

Encourage groups to think about different interpretations and feelings based on the limited information provided in the scenario. Circulate among groups, facilitating discussion and prompting deeper thinking with questions from the Teacher Script for Perspective Taking.

Step 3

Share & Discuss

3 minutes

Bring the class back together. Have a few groups share their insights on one or two scenarios. Emphasize that there are often multiple valid perspectives and ways to respond. Use the Teacher Script for Perspective Taking to guide the discussion.

Step 4

Wrap-up & Reflection

2 minutes

Distribute the Cool Down: Different Shoes, Different Views activity. Ask students to quickly reflect on what they learned about perspective-taking and how it can help them in their own lives. Collect responses as an exit ticket.

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Slide Deck

Walk In Their Shoes: Understanding Perspectives

How does seeing things from another's point of view help us?

Welcome students and introduce the day's topic: understanding different perspectives. Ask them to think about what 'perspective' means to them.

What is Perspective Taking?

It's imagining how someone else might think or feel in a situation. It helps us:

  • Understand others better
  • Communicate more effectively
  • Solve problems together

Define perspective taking. Emphasize that it's about imagining what someone else might be thinking or feeling, even if we don't agree. Explain why it's a valuable skill.

Activity: Social Scenarios!

  1. Work in small groups.
  2. Read each scenario carefully.
  3. Discuss: What happened? How do different people feel? What could they say or do?
  4. Be ready to share your group's ideas!

Explain the activity: students will work in small groups to analyze scenarios. Emphasize open-mindedness and respectful discussion. Set expectations for group work.

Scenario 1: The Group Project

Maya worked hard on the group project, but when they presented, Liam did most of the talking and took all the credit. Maya feels frustrated and unheard.

Present the first scenario. Give groups a few minutes to discuss. Encourage them to consider emotions and potential motivations.

Scenario 2: The Lost Item

During recess, Alex accidentally kicked Sam's backpack, and Sam's favorite pen fell out and broke. Sam is very upset. Alex didn't mean for it to happen.

Present the second scenario. Ask groups to switch roles mentally and consider each person's internal experience.

Scenario 3: The Lunch Table

Sarah always sits with her best friend, Chloe, at lunch. Today, Chloe sat with a new student, and Sarah felt left out and a little jealous.

If time allows, present a third scenario. Otherwise, transition to whole-class discussion.

Let's Share Our Views!

What did your group discuss?

  • How did different people feel?
  • What could they do or say to understand each other better?

Facilitate a brief whole-class discussion. Ask groups to share their insights, focusing on the different perspectives identified and potential solutions or empathetic responses.

Why Does This Matter?

Understanding others' perspectives helps us:

  • Solve problems
  • Make friends
  • Be kinder and more empathetic

Conclude by reinforcing the importance of perspective taking for social harmony and personal growth. Connect it to real-life situations.

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Script

Teacher Script for Perspective Taking

Introduction & Hook (2 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today we're going to talk about something really important for how we get along with each other: perspective-taking. Has anyone heard that term before? What do you think it means?"


"That's right! Perspective-taking is basically imagining how someone else might see or feel about a situation. Think about it like literally trying to walk in someone else's shoes for a moment. Why do you think that might be a useful skill to have?"


"Exactly! It helps us understand each other better, communicate more effectively, and even solve problems. When we understand why someone might be acting a certain way or feeling a certain way, it changes how we react. Today, we're going to practice this skill with some social scenarios."

Scenario Activity: Group Work (8 minutes)

"Okay, I'm going to put you into small groups of about 3-4 students. Each group will get a whiteboard or a piece of paper and markers. I'm going to put a social scenario on the screen using our Social Scenarios Slide Deck."

"Your job in your group is to discuss the scenario and write down these things:
* What happened in the scenario?
* How might Person A feel?
* How might Person B feel?
* What could Person A do or say to show understanding?
* What could Person B do or say to show understanding?"

"Remember, there's no single 'right' answer, but I want you to really dig deep and think about how different people might interpret the same event. I'll be walking around to listen in and help facilitate your discussions."

(Project Social Scenarios Slide Deck - Slide: Activity: Social Scenarios!)

"Let's start with Scenario 1: The Group Project."

(Project Social Scenarios Slide Deck - Slide: Scenario 1: The Group Project)

*(Circulate among groups. Listen to discussions. Prompt with questions like:)

  • "Why do you think Maya feels frustrated?"
  • "What might Liam have been thinking when he spoke so much?"
  • "If you were Maya, what would you want Liam to understand?"
  • "If you were Liam, how would you want Maya to approach you?"
  • "Are there other ways to see this situation?"

"Okay, let's look at Scenario 2: The Lost Item."

(Project Social Scenarios Slide Deck - Slide: Scenario 2: The Lost Item)

(Continue circulating and prompting. If time permits, move to Scenario 3.)

Share & Discuss (3 minutes)

"Alright, everyone, let's bring it back together. Can I get a group or two to share their thoughts on Scenario 1: The Group Project? What different perspectives did you identify for Maya and Liam?"


"Excellent points! What about Scenario 2: The Lost Item? How did Sam and Alex see things differently? What could they do?"


"Thank you for sharing your thoughtful ideas. What we've learned today is that people often have very different feelings or ideas about the same event, and that's okay. The important thing is to try and understand where they're coming from. It doesn't mean you have to agree, but it does mean you're trying to empathize."

Wrap-up & Reflection (2 minutes)

"To wrap up, I have a quick 'Cool Down' activity for you. I'm going to hand out the Cool Down: Different Shoes, Different Views worksheet. Please take a moment to reflect on what you learned today about perspective-taking and how it can help you in your own life. This will be your exit ticket for today."

(Distribute Cool Down: Different Shoes, Different Views and collect responses.)

"Great job today, everyone! Keep practicing walking in those different shoes!"

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Cool Down

Cool Down: Different Shoes, Different Views

Name: _________________________ Date: ____________________

Reflect and Share:

  1. In your own words, what does "perspective-taking" mean?



  2. Think about one social situation from today (or one you've experienced). How might understanding another person's perspective change how you react or respond?





  3. Why is it important to try and see things from someone else's point of view?



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