Perspective Taking Discussion

This discussion is designed to engage you in thinking deeply about the importance of seeing things from another person's perspective. We'll explore personal experiences, share our thoughts, and listen to our classmates as we work together to understand different viewpoints.

Discussion Guidelines

1. Active Listening: When someone is speaking, make sure to listen carefully without interrupting. This will help you understand their point of view.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Respectful Sharing: Offer your thoughts respectfully and be open to different perspectives—even if they are different from your own.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Honesty and Openness: Share genuine experiences and feelings. There is no right or wrong answer in this discussion, only the opportunity to learn from each other.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Ask Questions: If you need clarification on someone's point, ask thoughtful follow-up questions. This will deepen our understanding of the topic.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Discussion Prompts and Questions

1. Personal Experience

• Question: Think about a time when you misunderstood someone because you saw the situation only from your own perspective. What did you learn when you considered how that person might have felt?

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

2. Different Viewpoints

• Question: How do you think our behavior might change if we tried to see things from someone else's shoes? Can you think of an example where this would make a difference?

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

3. Empathy in Action

• Question: Why is it important to practice empathy in our daily interactions, both at school and at home? Share a moment when being empathetic helped resolve a conflict or improve a situation.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

4. Applying What We Learned

• Question: After participating in the role-playing game during the lesson, what was one new insight you gained about perspective taking? How will you apply this insight in the future?

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Possible Follow-Up Points

• Diverse Reactions: Discuss how different people might have very different reactions to the same event, and explore why that might be.

• Testing Perspectives: Consider a scenario from multiple angles. How might each person involved perceive the situation differently?

• Continuous Practice: Ask yourself: What small steps can I take every day to better understand others? How can this help make my school and community a kinder place?

Remember, the goal of this discussion is to practice thinking from multiple perspectives and to build the kind of empathy that helps everyone feel heard and understood.

Review the Slide Deck for more ideas and visual support.

Let's take a step into someone else's shoes together!

Perspective Taking Game Instructions

This interactive game encourages students to step into another person's shoes through role-play. Follow these guidelines to set up and facilitate a successful session:

Game Setup

1. Group Formation: Divide students into small groups of 4-5. Ensure that each group has a mix of different personalities to stimulate varied perspectives.

2. Scenario Cards: Prepare cards with various scenarios that require students to view a situation from different points of view. Examples may include:

   • Scenario 1: A disagreement between friends over a group project.
   • Scenario 2: A decision about sharing a limited resource (e.g., time on a computer, sports equipment).
   • Scenario 3: A misunderstanding during a class activity.

3. Role Assignment: Within each group, assign each student a different role that represents a character in the scenario. For instance, in a disagreement scenario, roles could include the friend who initiated the argument, the friend who felt hurt, and a mediator trying to resolve the conflict.

Game Rules

1. Respect and Openness: Emphasize that all roles and perspectives are important. Students should listen carefully to each other and respect differing views.

2. Time Limit: Allow each role-play scenario to run for about 5 minutes. Use a timer, so all students get an equal opportunity to perform and reflect.

3. Pre-Role Discussion: Before beginning, ask each student to think about what their character might feel, think, and do in the given situation. Provide 1-2 minutes for this brainstorming.

4. Role-Playing: Students should act out their roles, expressing as accurately as possible how their character might react. Encourage them to use expressive language and body language to bring their character to life.

5. Switching Roles (Optional): If time permits, have students switch roles and repeat the activity. This allows them to experience the scenario from a new perspective.

Facilitator Tips

• Monitor Conversations: Circulate among groups to ensure that the discussions stay on track and all voices are heard. Offer prompts or guiding questions if a group seems stuck:

  • What might your character be thinking in this situation?
  • How do you think others in your group feel?
  • What could be a possible solution if a conflict arises?

• Debrief as a Class: After the game, bring everyone together to discuss:

  • What did you learn from playing your role?
  • How did it feel to be in the shoes of someone else?
  • How might this exercise change the way you view real-life conflicts?

• Encourage Reflection: Ask students to jot down a brief reflection on how considering different perspectives could help in future conflicts, both at school and at home.

Remember, the goal of this game is to foster empathy and build an understanding of diverse viewpoints. Enjoy stepping into someone else's shoes and discovering new ways to connect with others!