Walk a Mile Lesson Plan Walk a Mile in Their Shoes
Lesson Plan: Empathy Engineering
Duration
35 min
Objective
Students will be able to identify and understand different emotions and demonstrate empathy by considering others' perspectives in various scenarios.
Audience
3rd Grade Class
Prep & Materials
• Heart-to-Heart Connections Slide Deck
• Feeling Faces Match Activity
• What Would You Do Discussion Guide
Review materials for 10 minutes prior to instruction. Ensure digital displays are ready.
Instructional Approach
Interactive activities and guided discussions to explore emotions and practice empathetic responses.
5 min
Introduction: What is Empathy?
Ask students what they think "empathy" means.
Use the first few slides of the Slide Deck to introduce the concept: understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
10 min
Feeling Faces Match Activity
Distribute the Match Activity worksheets.
Instruct students to match expressions to emotion words.
Discuss answers as a class, emphasizing visual cues.
15 min
Scenario Discussion: What Would You Do?
Use the Discussion Guide to present scenarios.
Ask students to consider feelings and empathetic responses.
Facilitate a respectful class sharing session.
5 min
Conclusion: Empathy Engineers
Recap the importance of empathy in daily life.
Challenge students to be "Empathy Engineers" .
Share one way they can show empathy this week.
Why this matters
Developing empathy helps students build stronger social connections, reduce conflicts, and create a more compassionate classroom and community. It teaches them to value and respect the feelings of others.
Heart to Heart Connections Slides Welcome,
Empathy Engineers!
Today, we're going to learn about a superpower called Empathy ! 🤝
What do you think 'empathy' means?
Teacher Note: Ask students what they already know or think about empathy.
What is Empathy?
Empathy is when you understand how someone else is feeling, even if you're not feeling the same way.
Understanding
Knowing what emotions someone is experiencing.
Sharing
Feeling a little bit of what they're feeling, or showing you care.
👟
PUT YOURSELF
Teacher Note: Explain what empathy is. Provide simple examples.
Why is Empathy Important?
🤗
Make friends and be a good friend
😢
Help others when they are sad or hurt
🤔
Understand different points of view
❤️
Build a kind and caring classroom!
Teacher Note: Discuss why empathy is important for friendship and helping others.
Reading Faces
One way we show empathy is by noticing how others look and act.
Our faces often tell a story about how we feel!
Time for the Feeling Faces Match Activity !
😊
😢
😠
😨
😲
?
Teacher Note: Introduce the Feeling Faces Match Activity. Recognizing expressions is key.
Empathy in Action
Now that we know what empathy is, let's practice putting it into action!
I'll give you some situations, and we'll think about how others might feel and how we can show empathy.
What Would You Do?
Teacher Note: Transition to the discussion guide. Prepare students to think about scenarios.
You are Empathy Engineers!
👀
Look and Listen
🧠
Imagine Feelings
✨
Choose Kindness
How will you show empathy this week?
End of Lesson
Feeling Faces Match Activity Feeling Faces Match
Empathy Engineers Task #1
Name:
Date:
Directions:
Look at each face in the "Blueprint" column. Draw a line from the face to the correct feeling word on the right!
😊
😢
😠
😨
😲
Sad
Surprised
Happy
Angry
Scared
BONUS CHALLENGE
On the back of this paper, draw a face showing a different emotion that is not on this page. Then, label it!
Think about feelings like: bored, excited, confused, or proud.
Empathy Discussion Guide What Would You Do?
Empathy Discussion Guide
Teacher Resource
How to use this guide:
Read each scenario aloud. Encourage students to "engineer" a response by first identifying the feeling and then proposing an empathetic action. Use the prompts below to facilitate a rich, respectful class discussion.
1
The Broken Toy
"During recess, your classmate Maya accidentally tripped and broke her favorite toy. She looks very upset and is about to cry."
Identify the Feeling
How do you think Maya is feeling? (e.g., Sad, embarrassed, frustrated)
Empathetic Response
What could you say or do to show Maya you care?
2
The New Student
"A new student, Sam, joined your class today. It's lunchtime, and Sam is sitting alone at a table, looking down at his food."
Identify the Feeling
How do you think Sam might be feeling? (e.g., Lonely, nervous, shy)
Empathetic Response
What could you do to help him feel more welcome?
3
Missing a Game
"Your friend Leo was really excited to play in the school soccer game, but he woke up sick and can't go. He sounds really disappointed on the phone."
Identify the Feeling
How do you think Leo is feeling? (e.g., Disappointed, left out)
Empathetic Response
What could you say to Leo to show you understand?
4
The Art Project Mishap
"Your classmate David worked really hard on an art project, but right before it was due, someone accidentally spilled paint on it."
Identify the Feeling
How do you think David is feeling? (e.g., Angry, sad, hopeless)
Empathetic Response
What could you do to help him with his project?
