Walk a Mile Lesson Plan Walk a Mile
Lesson Plan: Empathy Foundations
7th Grade
30 Minutes
Objective
Students will be able to define empathy and identify situations where empathy is important, developing an initial understanding of perspective-taking.
Materials
Walk a Mile Slide Deck
Whiteboard or Projector
Empathy Scenarios Warm-Up
Perspective Puzzle Activity
Empathy Reflection Cool-Down
Teacher Script
Why This Matters
Empathy is a crucial social-emotional skill that helps students build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts peacefully, and create a more inclusive community.
Preparation
Review Slide Deck and Teacher Script to familiarize yourself with the flow.
Prepare whiteboard/projector for display.
Print copies of the Warm-Up, Activity, and Cool-Down materials.
Instructions
5'
Warm-Up: Empathy Scenarios
Display or distribute the Empathy Scenarios Warm-Up . Ask students to consider one scenario and how they might feel/react. Briefly discuss responses to activate prior knowledge about feelings.
5'
Introduction to Empathy
Use Slide Deck (Slides 1-3) to define empathy as "walking in someone else's shoes." Guide students through initial questions about feelings using the Teacher Script .
10'
Activity: Perspective Puzzle
Divide students into groups of 2-3. Assign a scenario from the Perspective Puzzle Activity . Instruct them to brainstorm: "How might they feel?", "Why?", and "What could you do/say?". Circulate and encourage diverse perspectives.
5'
Discussion & Wrap-Up
Facilitate class discussion using Slide 5 . Have students share what they learned and why it matters for a supportive classroom community.
5'
Cool-Down: Empathy Reflection
Distribute the Empathy Reflection Cool-Down . Students write one thing they will try to do to show empathy this week as an exit ticket.
Walk a Mile Slide Deck Walk a Mile
Understanding and Practicing Empathy
7th Grade Social-Emotional Learning
What is Empathy?
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.
"It's about trying to see the world from their point of view."
Think about it...
How is empathy different from sympathy?
Feeling What Others Feel
The Hallway
Someone trips in a crowded hallway.
The New Kid
A new student joins your class today.
The Test
Someone gets a perfect grade on a tough test.
How might different people feel in these situations? Why?
The Perspective Puzzle
Small Group Activity
1
Read
Look at your scenario or picture.
2
Discuss
How might the person feel?
3
Explore
Why might they feel that way?
4
Decide
What could you do or say to show empathy?
Piece together their point of view!
Why Does Empathy Matter?
Empathy helps us:
Understand others better
Build stronger friendships
Solve problems more kindly
Create a supportive community
Your Mission:
How can you practice empathy this week?
Empathy Scenarios Warm-Up Walk a Mile
Empathy Scenarios Warm-Up
Name
Date
Choose one of the scenarios below. Imagine you are observing this situation. In the space provided, describe how that person might be feeling and why.
1
Scenario 1
Your friend usually loves to talk and laugh, but today they are quiet and looking at the floor.
How might they feel?
What might be a reason?
2
Scenario 2
A classmate just found out they got the lead role in the school play, something they've wanted for a long time.
How might they feel?
What might be a reason?
3
Scenario 3
Someone accidentally bumps into you in the crowded hallway and doesn't say anything.
How might they feel?
What might be a reason?
Perspective Puzzle Activity Perspective Puzzle
Small Group Exploration Activity
Group Members
Date
Instructions
In your small groups, you will receive a scenario or a picture. Discuss the following questions to "piece together" the other person's perspective. Be as specific as possible!
1
How might the person in this scenario feel?
Describe their possible emotions (think about more than just "sad" or "happy").
2
Why might they feel that way?
What could be some reasons behind their emotions? Try to see it through their eyes.
3
What could you do or say to show empathy?
How could you respond in a way that shows you understand and care about their feelings?
Scenario Reference Ideas
• A student forgot their lunch at home.
• Someone is struggling to carry a stack of books.
• A friend is left out of a game at recess.
• A person is celebrating a small victory.
• A new student looks lost in the hallway.
Empathy Reflection Cool-Down Empathy Reflection
Cool-Down Exit Ticket
Name
Date
Take a few minutes to think about what we discussed today and how you can apply it in your life.
1 One thing I learned about empathy today is:
2 One way I will try to show empathy to someone this week is:
Think of a specific person or situation where you can practice "walking a mile" in their shoes.
Teacher Script Teacher Script
Walk a Mile: Empathy Training
30 MIN TOTAL
1. Warm-Up: Empathy Scenarios
5 MINUTES
Action: Distribute the Empathy Scenarios Warm-Up or display it on the projector.
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! To get us started today, I want you to take a look at the Empathy Scenarios Warm-Up that's either on the board or on your desks."
"Choose one scenario and think quietly for a minute about how the person in that situation might be feeling, and why they might be feeling that way."
Pause for 1 minute of quiet reflection.
"Alright, who would like to share their thoughts on one of the scenarios? Remember, there are no wrong answers here; we're just exploring different possibilities."
Facilitation Tip: Encourage students to think beyond basic emotions (happy/sad). Ask follow-up questions like: "What else might they be feeling?" or "Could someone else in that same situation feel differently?"
2. Introduction to Empathy
5 MINUTES
ACTION: Display Slide 1 (Walk a Mile Title)
"Great job! What you just did—trying to imagine how someone else feels—is actually a big part of what we're going to talk about today: empathy ."
"You've probably heard the saying, 'Try to walk a mile in someone else's shoes.' What do you think that really means?"
Wait for a few student responses.
ACTION: Display Slide 2 (What is Empathy?)
"Exactly! It's about trying to understand someone's experience from their point of view. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person."
"It’s different from sympathy. Sympathy is feeling for someone, like 'I feel bad for them.' Empathy is more about feeling with them, like 'I understand how you feel.'"
ACTION: Display Slide 3 (Feeling What Others Feel)
"Look at these situations on the slide. How might different people feel in these situations? Why? Talk with a partner for a moment."
3. Activity: Perspective Puzzle
10 MINUTES
ACTION: Display Slide 4 (Perspective Puzzle)
"Excellent thinking! Now we're going to put our empathy skills to the test with an activity called the Perspective Puzzle ."
"I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will get a scenario or a picture. Your job is to discuss: how they feel, why they feel that way, and what you could do or say to show empathy."
