Walk in Their Shoes Lesson Plan Walk in Their Shoes
Kindergarten Social-Emotional Learning
Time 15 min
Why This Lesson?
Understanding empathy helps students build stronger friendships, resolve conflicts peacefully, and create a more compassionate classroom community.
Objective
Students will be able to define empathy and identify emotions in themselves and others.
Approach
Interactive discussion, storytelling, and a short role-play activity.
Preparation
• Review Empathy Slides and Empathy Script .
• Prepare to display Feeling Faces Warm-Up examples.
• Have scenario prompts ready from Empathy Scenarios Activity .
• Set out paper and drawing tools for the Empathy Star Cool-Down .
Lesson Flow
1
Warm-Up: Feeling Faces
3 min
Show different emotion faces (happy, sad, angry, surprised) and ask students to identify the emotion and make the face. Ask: "What makes you feel this way?"
2
Introduction to Empathy
4 min
Display Empathy Slides and use the Script to define empathy as understanding how someone else feels. Use simple "walking in shoes" language.
3
Empathy Scenarios
6 min
Present simple scenarios (e.g., dropped toy, left out). Ask: "How do you think they feel? What could you do or say to help?" Encourage sharing of diverse perspectives.
4
Cool-Down: Empathy Star
2 min
Students draw a star and write/draw one way they can show empathy today. Briefly review the core lesson.
Materials Included
Empathy Slides
Empathy Script
Feeling Faces Warm-Up
Empathy Scenarios Activity
Empathy Star Cool-Down
Draw Your Feelings Worksheet
Empathy Slides What is Empathy?
Understanding how others feel!
It's like putting yourself in their shoes.
It helps us be kind friends!
Teacher Notes: Welcome students and introduce empathy. Ask what they think the word means.
Feeling Faces!
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😡
Angry
😲
Surprised
Can you make these faces? What makes you feel this way?
Empathy in Action
🍦
Uh oh!
Your friend dropped their ice cream. How do they feel?
What could you say or do to help?
Be an Empathy Star!
Listen to your friends
Help someone who is sad
Share your toys
Use kind words
How can YOU show empathy today?
Empathy Script Empathy Lesson Script
A Step-by-Step Guide for Teachers
15 Minutes Kindergarten
1
Warm-Up: Feeling Faces (3 MIN)
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important called empathy . But first, let's warm up our 'feeling faces'!"
"I'm going to show you some pictures of faces, and I want you to tell me what emotion you see. Then, can you make that face with your own?"
Action: Show Happy Face
Action: Show Sad Face
"What feeling is this? Yes, happy! Can everyone make a happy face? What makes you feel happy?" ... "How about this one? Sad. Can you make a sad face? What might make someone feel sad?"
"Great job! It's so important to know how we feel, and how others feel too."
2
Defining Empathy (4 MIN)
Show Empathy Slides - Slide 1
"Now, let's talk about that big word: empathy . Can anyone say 'empathy'?" (Pause) "Great!"
"Empathy means understanding how someone else feels, even if you don't feel exactly the same way. It's like you're trying to imagine what it's like to 'walk in their shoes.' "
"When we show empathy, we try to understand why someone might be feeling a certain way. Maybe they lost their favorite toy, or they're having a tricky day. When we understand, we can be better friends and helpers!"
3
Empathy Scenarios (6 MIN)
"Let's practice our empathy muscles! I'm going to tell you a story, and I want you to think about two things: 1. How does the person feel? 2. What could you do or say?"
Scenario 1: Block Tower Trouble
"Imagine your friend is building a tall tower with blocks, and suddenly, it crashes down! How do you think your friend feels?"
(Allow time for responses. Guide with prompts like: "Would they be frustrated? Sad?")
"Now, what could you do or say to help your friend? Maybe help them rebuild? Or say 'It's okay'?"
Scenario 2: New Friend
"You see a new student in our class standing by themselves during playtime. They look a little shy. How do you think they feel?"
4
Cool-Down: Empathy Star (2 MIN)
"You all did such an amazing job today! Remember, being empathetic means trying to understand how others feel."
"For our cool-down, I want everyone to draw a big star. Inside your star, draw one way you can show empathy today. It could be listening, helping, or sharing!"
Feeling Faces Warm-Up Feeling Faces Warm-Up
Teacher Display Cards
Teacher Instructions
Show one face at a time.
Ask: "What feeling is this?"
Ask: "Can you make this face?"
Ask: "What makes you feel this way?"
😊
Happy!
I feel joyful and good.
😢
Sad...
I feel like I might cry.
😡
Angry!
I feel mad and frustrated.
😲
Surprised!
Wow! I didn't expect that.
"When we look at faces, we can start to understand how others feel."
Empathy Scenarios Activity Empathy Scenarios
What Would You Do?
Instructions for Teacher
Read each scenario aloud to the class. Encourage students to look at the visual icon and imagine they are there. For each one, ask:
🏗️
1. Block Tower Trouble
"Your friend was building a really, really tall block tower. They worked so hard on it! But then... CRASH! The whole tower fell down. Your friend looks down at the blocks."
How do they feel?
How can you help?
👋
2. New Friend in Class
"There's a new student in your class today. During playtime, you see them standing all by themselves, watching everyone else play. They look a little shy."
How do they feel?
How can you help?
🧸
3. Lost Toy Tears
"Your classmate brought their favorite toy from home, but now they can't find it anywhere! They are looking under tables, and their eyes are starting to get watery."
How do they feel?
How can you help?
Empathy Star Cool-Down My Empathy Star
I can be a kind friend!
Name:
Date:
Draw a way YOU can show empathy today!
Listening Helping Kind Words
Draw Your Picture Here
Draw Your Feelings Worksheet Draw Your Feelings!
Identifying & Expressing Emotions
Name:
Date:
1. Happy!
Draw your happy face:
What makes you happy?
2. Sad...
Draw your sad face:
What makes you sad?
3. Kind Heart
Draw a kind heart. Inside, draw one way you can show empathy today!
