Empathy Facilitation Guide Empathy: Feel it, Act it!
Teacher Facilitation Guide • 2nd Grade
20 Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will be able to define empathy, distinguish it from sympathy, and create a three-step "Empathy Action Plan" for a common classroom problem.
The "Why"
Understanding and practicing empathy helps students build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts peacefully, and create a more supportive classroom community. It's a crucial life skill for navigating social interactions.
Materials List
Whiteboard or projector
Empathy Slideshow
Selected Empathy Video
Empathy Action Plan Worksheets
Pencils/Pens
Prep (5 Minutes)
Review the Empathy: Feel it, Act it! Slide Deck and the Video Selection Guide . Prepare your chosen video for playback. Print one Empathy Action Plan Worksheet for each small group (3-4 students). Ensure writing materials are ready.
Lesson Instructions
3 Min
1
Warm-Up: Quick Write
Ask students: "Think about a time someone helped you when you were feeling sad, frustrated, or upset. What did they do or say? How did it make you feel?"
Allow 2-3 minutes for journal writing or scratch paper notes.
Invite 2-3 volunteers to share their responses.
Transition: "Today, we're going to learn about a special way to help others feel understood, called empathy."
7 Min
2
Intro to Empathy (Slides & Video)
Display the Slide Deck and work through the initial concept slides.
Concept Check Ask: "What does it mean to 'understand how someone else feels'?" and "How is this different from just feeling 'sorry' for someone?"
Video Analysis Play the short video. Ask: "What did it look like or sound like?" Highlight active listening and offering support.
8 Min
3
Empathy Action Plan Activity
Divide students into groups of 3-4. Distribute the worksheet.
Ask them to imagine a classroom scenario (e.g., being left out, failing a test). Guide them through the three steps:
Identify the Feeling: What is the emotion?
Understand Why: Consider their perspective.
Take Action: What are the specific empathetic actions?
2 Min
4
Wrap-Up & Share
Bring the class back together and have 1-2 groups share their plan.
"Remember, when we take the time to understand how others feel, we can make our classroom, and our world, a kinder place!"
Empathy Slideshow Empathy: Feel it, Act it!
Understanding and Sharing Feelings
How can we be great friends and classmates?
What is Empathy?
Empathy is when you understand and share the feelings of another person.
"It's like putting yourself in their shoes to see how they feel!"
Watch This!
Let's watch a video about empathy in action.
What do you notice?
Empathy in Action
Observation Mode
Video Link Required
Please click the "Edit" button for this slide to insert your specific empathy video URL.
Observe how characters understand and respond to feelings.
Video Discussion
?
What did you notice in the video?
?
How did the characters show empathy?
?
What did it look like or sound like?
Your Empathy
Action Plan
Empathy isn't just feeling; it's about what we do!
Let's make a plan to help others.
The Plan: Step 1
Identify the Feeling
What emotion might the person be experiencing?
Sad? Frustrated? Happy? Scared?
The Plan: Step 2
Understand Why
Why might they be feeling that way?
Did something happen?
Are they going through something difficult?
The Plan: Step 3
Take Action!
What can you SAY?
Use kind words that show you understand.
What can you DO?
Use helpful actions to show you care.
Group Activity:
Plan It Out!
Work in groups to create an "Empathy Action Plan" for a common classroom problem.
Use your worksheet!
Share Your Plans!
Remember: When we use empathy, we make our classroom a kinder, happier place for everyone.
Empathy Action Plan Worksheet Empathy Action Plan
Feel it. Act it. Make it Better!
Name:
Group:
Our Empathy Challenge
Think of a classroom problem (like a friend feeling left out or making a mistake). Write it here:
1
Identify the Feeling
Circle the feelings:
Sad
Frustrated
Angry
Scared
Embarrassed
Lonely
OTHER FEELINGS:
2
Understand Why
Why do they feel this way?
3
Take Action!
What we can SAY:
What we can DO:
Our Plan in Action!
If this problem happened, how would your plan make the situation better?
Empathy Video Selection Guide Video Selection Guide
Empathy: Feel it, Act it!
Objective
To visually demonstrate examples of empathetic interactions and help students observe key characteristics of empathy in a relatable, age-appropriate context.
1
How to Select a Video
Choose a short (2-4 minute), age-appropriate video that clearly illustrates empathy. Look for characters who demonstrate the following:
Noticing someone else's feelings.
Trying to understand WHY they feel that way.
Responding with kindness or comfort.
Offering concrete help or support.
2
Prepare for Viewing
Before playing the video, prime students to look for empathetic cues:
"How do the characters show they understand each other? What does empathy look like in this story?"
3
Facilitate Discussion
After the video, use the discussion prompts in the Empathy Slideshow to help students connect the video's events to the definition of empathy. Focus on the transition from "noticing" to "acting."
Suggested Search Terms
"Empathy for 2nd grade" "Animated short empathy" "Showing kindness video for kids" "Social emotional learning empathy video"
