Walking In Their Shoes Plan Walking In Their Shoes
Lesson Plan • Tier 3 Intervention
30 Minutes
7th Grade • 1-on-1
Objective
Guide a 7th grader to recognize and share others’ feelings through structured discussion and role-play, building empathy skills for stronger peer connections.
Why This Matters
Empathy practice supports social-emotional growth, reduces conflicts, and helps students form positive relationships by understanding and responding to peers’ feelings.
Materials Checklist
Emotion Cards (Cut out)
Scenario Cards (Cut out)
Empathy Reflection Worksheet
Timer or Stopwatch
Fidget Tool (for regulation)
Prep (10 minutes)
Print and cut out the Emotion Cards and Scenario Cards .
Review scenarios to ensure they match student's current social context.
Prepare the Reflection Worksheet .
Gather a timer and self-regulation tools (fidgets).
Step-by-Step Delivery
5 min
Warm-Up Discussion
Goal: Practicing empathy to better understand friends’ feelings.
Ask: “Can you think of a time when you noticed a classmate feeling upset or happy? What did you notice?”
Use follow-up prompts: “What clues told you how they felt?” and “How did you respond?”
Validate their awareness of emotions.
7 min
Emotion Identification
Action: Using Emotion Cards face-up.
Ask student to pick 3 cards showing emotions they’ve seen in peers recently.
For each card, ask: “When have you seen someone feel this way?” and “What do you think they needed in that moment?”
Encourage naming both the emotion and a possible supportive action.
10 min
Role-Play Scenarios
Action: Practicing empathetic responses.
Student chooses one Scenario Card and reads it aloud.
Assign roles: Student plays observer first, then peer in need.
Practice prompts: “I noticed you look sad. Do you want to talk about it?”
Switch roles and repeat (2–3 minutes per role).
8 min
Reflection and Closure
Action: Empathy Reflection Worksheet.
Student completes worksheet sections on noticing feelings and responding.
Discuss reflections openly.
End with positive reinforcement: “You did great noticing cues and offering support.”
Walking In Their Shoes Slides Walking In Their Shoes
Building Empathy in 30 Minutes
Teacher Notes: Greet the student and explain that today you’ll practice stepping into others’ shoes.
Today's Toolkit
Emotion & Scenario Cards
Reflection Worksheet
Timer or Stopwatch
Fidget Tool
Teacher Notes: Review the materials. Invite the student to ask questions.
The Goal
Objective
Guide you to recognize and share others’ feelings through discussion and role-play.
Why?
Empathy practice helps you understand friends better, reduces conflict, and builds positive relationships.
Teacher Notes: Emphasize how noticing feelings strengthens friendships.
Warm-Up Discussion
5 Minutes
1
Think of a time you noticed a classmate’s emotion.
2
What clues told you how they felt?
3
How did you respond?
Teacher Notes:
Use open body language. Ask: "What did you notice?" and "How did they react afterward?"
Emotion Discovery
7 Minutes
The Challenge:
Pick 3 cards showing emotions you’ve seen in peers.
Tell me about a time you saw someone feel this way.
Teacher Notes: Spread out Emotion Cards face-up. Invite the student to pick and hold them up.
Identifying Needs
What helped when someone felt this way?
How could you show you care?
What words or actions help?
Teacher Notes: Encourage naming both the feeling and a supportive action. Provide examples if stuck.
Role-Play Mission
10 Minutes
1
Choose a Scenario Card
2
Assign Roles: Observer or Peer
3
Set Timer: 2-3 Minutes
Switch Roles!
Make sure to try being both people in the story.
What do I say?
Observer
"I noticed you look sad. Do you want to talk about it?"
Peer
Practice saying how you feel and what you might need.
Teacher Notes: Prompt the student during role-play if they hesitate. Ask how it felt to switch roles.
Final Reflection
8 Minutes
Emotion Cards Activity Emotion Cards
Print, cut, and laminate for the "Emotion Identification" activity.
😊
Happy
Feeling pleased, joyful, or content.
😢
Sad
Feeling unhappy, down, or disappointed.
😠
Angry
Feeling mad, irritated, or frustrated.
😲
Surprised
Feeling startled or amazed by something unexpected.
😨
Scared
Feeling frightened, nervous, or worried.
😳
Embarrassed
Feeling self-conscious, shy, or awkward.
😤
Frustrated
Feeling annoyed because something isn’t going right.
😃
Excited
Feeling eager, enthusiastic, or thrilled.
Teacher Note:
During the lesson, spread these cards out face-up. Ask the student to identify emotions they have observed in others recently. Use these as jumping-off points for identifying what a person might need when feeling each way.
Scenario Cards Activity Scenario Cards
Print and cut. Student chooses one for role-playing empathy.
Scenario 1
Left Out at Lunch
Your friend Jamie sits alone at lunch while the rest of the group is talking nearby. Jamie looks down at their tray and isn’t eating.
Scenario 2
Forgotten Homework
Your partner in class forgot to do their homework and looks worried when the teacher calls on them.
Scenario 3
New Kid on the Block
A new student, Sam, is standing by themselves at recess and seems shy, glancing at others but not joining in.
Scenario 4
Hurt Feelings After a Game
During gym class, Taylor missed the winning shot and looks upset, wiping away tears behind their back.
Scenario 5
Teased by Peers
You overhear your friend Morgan being teased about their clothes in the hallway. Morgan’s shoulders slump and they look down.
Scenario 6
Nervous About a Test
Before a big math test, Riley is pacing in the classroom and saying, “I’m going to fail,” over and over.
Scenario 7
Sad About a Pet
At snack time, Alex is staring at a picture of their dog who recently passed away and their eyes look watery.
Scenario 8
Family Argument
Your friend Jordan arrives at school looking tired and whispering that they were up late helping with a fight at home.
Empathy Reflection Worksheet Empathy Reflection
Stepping into someone else's shoes.
Name:
Date:
Instructions: Think about the role-play activity and our discussion today. Be honest and thoughtful as you answer the questions below.
1 What did I learn about noticing how others feel?
2 How did I feel when I responded with empathy?
3 What will I try to remember next time I see someone upset or happy?
4 Draw or describe a real-life situation where you can use empathy this week.
Great job reflecting!
Keep practicing these skills every day.
