Empathy Lens Project Lesson Plan The Empathy Lens Project
Multi-Session Classroom Resource
Audience: 7th Grade
Time: 3-4 Hours
Focus: SEL / Compassion
Why This Lesson?
This project challenges students to actively understand and share the feelings of others. By moving beyond surface-level sympathy to deep empathy, students enhance their emotional intelligence, practice active listening, and develop a stronger sense of connection within their peer groups.
Learning Objective
Students will actively understand and share the feelings of others, promoting a more compassionate classroom and school environment through perspective-taking and creative expression.
Materials
Empathy Lens Slide Deck
Perspective-Taking Activity
Empathy Discussion Guide
Story Swap Project Guide
Art Supplies (paper, markers, etc.)
Teacher Preparation
Review all generated materials in the project sequence.
Prepare the classroom for transition between whole-group discussion and partner interview work.
Gather necessary art supplies for the Story Swap Project (Phase 2).
Instructional Sequence
20 MIN
Introduction: What is Empathy?
Begin with the Empathy Warm-Up (Emotion Charades). Introduce core concepts using the Slide Deck and facilitate a brief discussion on personal experiences.
45 MIN
Perspective-Taking Exploration
Guide students through the Perspective-Taking Activity (Scenario Switch). Discuss responses in small groups to see how different people experience the same event.
45 MIN
Deep Dive: Guided Discussion
Use the Empathy Discussion Guide . Shift from personal definitions to the social impact of empathy and the challenges of seeing other viewpoints.
30 MIN
Story Swap Launch
Introduce the Story Swap Project Guide . Explain the objectives and brainstorm interview questions as a class to ensure safety and depth.
120 MIN
Project Work: Interview & Create
Students pair up to conduct interviews and create visual representations. Focus on capturing the feeling rather than just the facts of the story.
45 MIN
Presentations & Wrap-Up
Students present their partners' stories. Conclude with the Empathy Cool-Down reflection to summarize learning and school-wide impact.
Empathy Lens Project Slide Deck The Empathy Lens Project
Seeing the World Through Another's Eyes
Understand Feelings
Build Community
Teacher Note: Welcome students and introduce empathy.
What is Empathy?
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Putting yourself in someone else's shoes.
Understanding their unique perspective.
Feeling with them, not just for them.
"Empathy is like a bridge that connects your heart to someone else's experience."
Teacher Note: Discuss the difference between empathy and sympathy.
Why Empathy Matters
Stronger Connections
Helps us relate to friends and family on a deeper level.
Resolves Conflict
Understanding the "why" behind actions stops arguments before they start.
Promotes Kindness
When we feel what others feel, we are naturally moved to help.
Better Community
Creates a space where everyone feels valued and safe.
Teacher Note: Discuss examples in school, home, and community.
Perspective Taking
How do we actually practice empathy? We use the "Scenario Switch."
🧠
Imagine
Put yourself in the specific situation.
📜
Consider
Think about their background and history.
❓
Understand
Ask "Why" they might act this way.
Teacher Note: Briefly explain the "Scenario Switch" activity.
The Story Swap
🎤
Interview
Listen deeply to a peer's story.
👂
Listen
Pay attention to their feelings.
🎨
Create
Design a visual of their experience.
🔁
Swap
Present their story to the class.
Teacher Note: Emphasize the goal is deep understanding.
Living with Empathy
How will you use your "Empathy Lens" today?
Listen More
Judge Less
Connect
Be Kind
Teacher Note: Prompt for final reflection questions.
Empathy Warm-Up Activity EMOTION CHARADES
The Empathy Lens Warm-Up
SESSION 1: WARM-UP
Estimated Time: 15-20 Min
Objective
To activate understanding of various emotions and identify non-verbal cues like facial expressions and body language.
Instructions
1 Teacher prepares slips of paper with the emotions listed below.
2 Students take turns acting out an emotion silently for 30 seconds.
3 The class guesses the emotion. Afterward, discuss the visual clues (eyes, hands, posture) and potential causes for that feeling.
Emotion Slips
Cut along the dotted lines to prepare for the activity.
HAPPY
SAD
ANGRY
SURPRISED
CONFUSED
EXCITED
SHY
FRUSTRATED
PROUD
Debrief Questions
Physical Cues:
What specific facial expressions or body language gave away the emotion? (e.g., narrowed eyes, slumped shoulders, fidgeting hands)
Context Clues:
Think of one specific situation where someone might feel this emotion. Why does that situation trigger that feeling?
Scenario Switch Worksheet Scenario Switch
Perspective-Taking Activity
Student Copy
Date: ____________________
Name: _______________________________________
Perspective
The Scenario
"It's the first day of tryouts for the school basketball team. Maria , a star player from last year, accidentally trips and falls during a drill, spraining her ankle. She has to sit out the rest of tryouts.
Meanwhile, Alex , who is new to the school and nervous about making friends, tries out for the team for the very first time. He's not very experienced but tries his best."
1. How might Maria be feeling? Why?
2. How might Alex be feeling? Why?
3. Imagine you are the Coach. How might the coach be feeling about Maria and Alex? What thoughts might be going through their mind?
4. Empathy for Maria
What is one specific thing someone could say or do to show empathy to Maria right now?
5. Empathy for Alex
What is one specific thing someone could say or do to show empathy to Alex right now?
Empathy Unpacked Discussion Guide Empathy Unpacked
A Guided Discussion Reflection
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Discussion Norms
Work in small groups or as a class. Speak thoughtfully, listen actively, and respect all viewpoints.
1. The Definition
In your own words, how would you describe empathy to someone who doesn't know what it means?
2. The Challenge
When is it easy to feel empathy for someone? When is it more challenging? Why?
3. Personal Experience
Think about a time when someone showed empathy towards you. How did it make you feel?
4. Diverse Perspectives
Why do you think it's important to understand perspectives that are different from your own?
5. Empathy in Action
What are some ways we can actively practice empathy in our daily lives, both in school and outside of it?
6. Project Reflection
During the Story Swap Project, what challenges did you face in trying to understand your partner's story? what did you learn?
7. The Big Picture
How can practicing empathy lead to a more compassionate and understanding classroom or school environment?
Story Swap Project Guide The Story Swap
Project Guide & Journal
Mission Overview
"To deeply understand a classmate's perspective, capture their story through art, and share it with the class. By 'swapping' stories, we learn that everyone has a depth we can't always see on the surface."
Phase 1: The Empathy Interview
Listening Mode
Interview Guidelines
• Active Listening: Focus entirely on them. No interruptions.
• Open Questions: Avoid yes/no. Ask "How did that feel?"
• Respect Privacy: Only share what they are comfortable with.
• Feelings First: Capture emotions, not just dates and facts.
Sample Questions
• Tell me about a time you felt really proud.
• What is a challenge you overcame?
• What are you most passionate about and why?
• What do you wish others understood about you?
Interview Notes (Your Partner: ______________________)
THE STORY ARC (WHAT HAPPENED?)
THE HEART (WHAT EMOTIONS DID THEY FEEL?)
KEY QUOTE (SOMETHING POWERFUL THEY SAID)
"____________________________________________________________________"
Phase 2: Creative Vision
Creation Mode
The Visual Representation
Review your notes. How can you capture the feeling of their experience? You can use drawings, paintings, or collage.
Title
Create a creative title for their story.
Symbols
Use colors and shapes to show mood.
Accuracy
Represent their truth, not yours.
Phase 3: The Swap
Sharing Mode
Presentation Checklist
Introduction
"This is [Name]'s story, titled [Title]..."
The Story & Art
Explain the visual symbols you used to represent their feelings.
Empathy Reflection
Share what you learned about their perspective during this process.
The Hand-Back
Give the artwork to your partner as a gift of their story honored.
"Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another."
Empathy Project Exit Ticket The Final View
Empathy Exit Ticket
Reflecting on Our Journey
Name
_________________________________________________
Date
____________________
1 New Understanding
What is one new thing you learned about empathy during this project?
2 Empathy in Action
Describe one specific way you can show empathy to someone in your life this week (friend, family, or classmate).
3 The School Impact
How do you think practicing empathy can change our classroom or school culture?
