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What It's Like in Their Shoes

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Lesson Plan

What It's Like in Their Shoes

Students will be able to accurately describe a situation from another person's perspective, identifying their potential feelings.

Understanding different perspectives is crucial for effective communication, resolving conflicts, and building a more compassionate community. This lesson helps students develop empathy, a vital social-emotional skill.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through scenario analysis and group discussion.

Materials

Slide Deck: Walk a Mile, and Perspective-Taking Scenario Cards

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Connect & Engage: Empathy Brainstorm

5 minutes

  • Display the first slide of Slide Deck: Walk a Mile.
    - Ask students: "What does it mean to 'walk a mile in someone else's shoes'?" Allow for a brief class discussion.
    - Introduce the term 'empathy' and explain it as understanding and sharing the feelings of another. Discuss why empathy is important in school and in life.

Step 2

Teach & Model: Understanding Perspectives

10 minutes

  • Advance the Slide Deck: Walk a Mile to review key concepts: Empathy, Perspective-Taking, Social Awareness, Compassion.
    - Present a simple scenario (e.g.,

Step 3

Practice & Apply: Scenario Exploration

10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group).
    - Distribute one set of Perspective-Taking Scenario Cards to each group.
    - Instruct each group to choose 2-3 cards. For each chosen scenario, students should discuss:
    - What is happening in this situation?
    - How might the main person/people in the scenario feel?
    - Why might they feel that way?
    - If you were in their shoes, what would you do or say, and why?
    - Circulate among groups, listening to discussions and offering guidance or prompting deeper thinking.

Step 4

Reflect & Close: Share and Synthesize

5 minutes

  • Bring the class back together.
    - Ask each group to share one scenario they discussed and summarize the different perspectives and feelings they identified.
    - Facilitate a brief discussion:
    - Was it easy or challenging to imagine another person's perspective? Why?
    - How can practicing empathy help us in our daily lives?
    - Conclude by reiterating the importance of empathy and perspective-taking for building positive relationships and a supportive community.
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Slide Deck

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

Understanding Others' Perspectives

Greet students. Display the title slide. Ask: "What does it mean to 'walk a mile in someone else's shoes'?" Encourage initial thoughts and discussions.

What is Empathy?

  • Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
  • It's about putting yourself in someone else's situation and imagining what it's like for them.
  • Why is this important?

Introduce the definition of empathy. Emphasize it's not just feeling sorry, but understanding why someone feels a certain way. Give simple, relatable examples.

Key Concepts

  • Perspective-Taking: Seeing a situation from another person's point of view.
  • Social Awareness: Understanding social cues and how others feel.
  • Compassion: A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is suffering, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Briefly explain perspective-taking as a skill. Highlight social awareness and compassion as related concepts that grow from empathy.

Scenario Example

Imagine your friend didn't get invited to a party that everyone else in your group is going to. How might your friend feel? Why?

Present a simple, neutral scenario. Ask students to consider: "How might this person feel? Why?" Guide them to think beyond their own initial reaction.

Time to Practice!

  1. Get into small groups.
  2. Pick 2-3 Perspective-Taking Scenario Cards.
  3. For each card, discuss:
    • What's happening?
    • How might the people feel and why?
    • What would you do or say in their shoes?

Explain the activity instructions clearly. Emphasize respectful listening within groups and focusing on understanding, not judging. Circulate while they work.

Reflect and Share

  • What did you learn from discussing the scenarios?
  • Was it challenging to imagine other perspectives?
  • How can we use empathy every day?

Facilitate sharing. Encourage diverse responses and highlight how different people might interpret the same situation differently. Reinforce the main objective.

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Activity

Perspective-Taking Scenario Cards

Instructions: In your groups, choose 2-3 cards. For each scenario, discuss the questions below. Try to really imagine what it would be like to be in that person's shoes.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is happening in this situation?
  2. How might the main person/people in the scenario feel? Why might they feel that way?
  3. If you were in their shoes, what would you do or say, and why?

Scenario 1

Your classmate, who usually loves to talk and joke, has been very quiet and withdrawn for the past week. They avoid eye contact and seem easily frustrated. You've heard a rumor that their family might be moving.













Scenario 2

A new student joins your class mid-year. They speak a different language at home and seem shy during group activities. You notice some students making jokes about their accent.













Scenario 3

You are trying out for the school play, which you've dreamed of being in for years. After auditions, the cast list is posted, and your best friend gets the lead role, but you don't get any part at all.













Scenario 4

During a group project, one of your teammates isn't contributing much. They often seem distracted, don't offer ideas, and turn in incomplete work. Your grade depends on this project.













Scenario 5

Your teacher gives back a test, and you got a really low score. You studied hard, but you just didn't understand some of the questions. When you look at your friend's paper, they got an 'A'.













Scenario 6

Someone accidentally bumps into you in the hallway, causing all your books to fall out of your arms. You are already running late for your next class. The person quickly says

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