Walk in Their Shoes Teacher GuideWalk in Their Shoes Tier 3 Social-Emotional Learning Lesson Plan 15 MIN Objective Students will be able to identify and describe different perspectives in social scenarios and explain how understanding these perspectives can help resolve conflicts or improve interactions. Audience 3rd Grade Individual Student (Individualized Support) Why it Matters Understanding different perspectives is crucial for developing empathy, building strong relationships, and navigating social situations effectively. This lesson helps students develop these essential social-emotional skills. Preparation Review the lesson plan and all generated materials. Print the Perspective Scenarios Activity and Answer Key. Prepare a whiteboard or chart paper for discussion. Materials Needed: Whiteboard Markers Activity Sheet Answer Key Instructional Delivery 1 Introduction: What's Your View? 3 Minutes Begin by asking the student: "Have you ever heard the phrase 'walk in someone else's shoes'? What do you think that means?" Discuss how it means trying to see things from another person's point of view. Explain that two people can experience the exact same event but feel very different emotions. Show the Slide Deck to visually introduce the concept of multiple perspectives. 2 Guided Practice: Story Time 10 Minutes Hand out the Perspective Scenarios Activity worksheet. Read Scenario 1 (The Broken Crayon) together. Ask: "How is Maya feeling? How is Liam feeling? Are they feeling the same thing?" Guide the student through the remaining scenarios. Focus on identifying specific emotions (disappointed, guilty, lonely, curious). Encourage the student to explain the "why" behind their answers. 3 Reflection: Empathy in Action 2 Minutes Ask the student: "Why is it helpful to stop and think about how someone else is feeling? How can that help us be better friends or solve problems?" Wrap up by praising the student's thoughtful reflection and empathy. Differentiation Tip For students who struggle to name emotions, provide an "Emotions Word Bank" with pictures of faces. If handwriting is a barrier, allow the student to dictate their answers while you scribe. Success Criteria The student can identify at least two different emotions for characters in the same scenario and suggest one way to improve a social interaction through empathy.
Perspective Taking Introduction SlidesSEL Series Walk in Their Shoes Understanding Different Perspectives What do you see? Two people can see the exact same thing but feel or think something totally different. "Perspective is the way you see the world." It's like a lens! How we communicate Story Time! We're going to explore some stories and think about how different characters feel in each one. Get your Activity Sheet ready!
Perspective Scenarios WorksheetWalk in Their Shoes Perspective Scenarios Activity Student Name Date Read each story. Think about how the different people in the story might feel or what they might be thinking. There are no right or wrong answers! Scenario 1: The Broken Crayon Story 1 Maya is coloring a beautiful rainbow when her friend, Liam, accidentally bumps the table. Maya’s favorite red crayon rolls off the table and breaks in half. 1. How might Maya feel? Why? 2. How might Liam feel? Why? 3. What could Liam do to help Maya feel better? Scenario 2: The New Game Story 2 It's indoor recess, and a group of friends is playing a new board game they just learned. Another student, Chloe, is sitting alone at a different table, watching them play. 1. How might Chloe feel watching the game? Why? 2. How might the friends playing the game feel? Why? 3. What could one of the friends do to include Chloe? Scenario 3: The Loud Noise Story 3 During story time, a loud bang comes from outside the classroom. Some students jump and look scared, while others just giggle. 1. How might the students who jumped and looked scared feel? Why? 2. How might the students who giggled feel? Why? 3. Why do you think different students reacted differently to the same noise?
Perspective Scenarios Answer KeyPerspective Scenarios Answer Key & Discussion Guide TEACHER REFERENCE Note to Teacher: These are suggested answers. Encourage and validate any thoughtful responses from the student that demonstrate an understanding of different perspectives and empathy. 1 Scenario 1: The Broken Crayon How might Maya feel? Why? Sad, angry, or frustrated. Her favorite crayon broke, and she can no longer use it to color her rainbow. She might also feel like Liam ruined her artwork. How might Liam feel? Why? Bad, guilty, or embarrassed. He accidentally broke Maya's crayon. He probably didn't mean to do it and might be worried Maya is mad at him. What could Liam do to help? Apologize. Offer another crayon or try to tape the broken one. Help her finish coloring or simply sit with her to show he cares. 2 Scenario 2: The New Game How might Chloe feel? Why? Lonely, left out, or sad. She wants to play with her friends but isn't included. She might also feel shy about asking to join. How might the friends feel? Why? Excited, happy, or focused. They might not even notice Chloe watching because they are so engrossed in learning the new game. What could they do to include her? Invite her. Look over, smile, and ask if she wants to join or watch. Explain the rules and invite her to play the next round. 3 Scenario 3: The Loud Noise Scared students: Startled, nervous, or scared. The noise was unexpected and sounded dangerous to them. Giggling students: Surprised or amused. They might think the noise was funny or use laughter to cover their own surprise. Why different reactions? Different experiences. Everyone has different feelings and sensitivity to noise. What sounds like a joke to one person might sound like danger to another.
