Empathy Walk Lesson Plan Empathy Walk
Lesson Plan • Grade 4
45 Minutes
Objective
Students will define empathy, identify different perspectives, and practice imagining themselves in others' situations to foster a more compassionate classroom community.
Why It Matters
Understanding empathy helps students build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts peacefully, and create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued.
Materials
Smartboard or Projector
Stepping Into Others' Stories Slides
Perspective Puzzles Activity Sheet
Shoe Swap Discussion Guide
Preparation Steps (15 mins)
• Review the Stepping Into Others' Stories slide deck to ensure smooth navigation.
• Print and cut out the scenarios for the Perspective Puzzles activity for group distribution.
• Prepare the classroom for group work and discussion circles.
• Review the Shoe Swap Share-Out prompts for facilitation tips.
Instructional Sequence
5m
Warm-Up
What Do You See?
1. Display a simple image with multiple interpretations (e.g., optical illusion or ambiguous drawing) on the board.
2. Ask students: "What do you see?" Allow a few students to share their observations.
3. Prompt: "Did anyone see something different? How can two people look at the same thing and see something else?" (Connect this to the idea of perspective).
10m
Intro
Introduction to Empathy
1. Use the Stepping Into Others' Stories slide deck to introduce the core concept of empathy.
2. Discuss the literal and figurative meaning of the phrase "walking a mile in someone else's shoes." Ask students if they've ever worn someone else's shoes by accident—how did it feel? (Tight? Loose? Awkward?)
15m
Activity
Perspective Puzzles
1. Divide students into small groups (3–4 students per group).
2. Distribute the Perspective Puzzles activity scenarios.
3. Each group reads a scenario and discusses how different people involved might feel or think.
4. Teacher Tip: Circulate through groups and encourage them to move beyond "happy/sad" to more nuanced feelings like "frustrated," "left out," or "guilty."
10m
Discuss
Shoe Swap Share-Out
1. Bring the class back together for a whole-group discussion circle.
2. Use the Shoe Swap Share-Out Discussion Prompts to facilitate sharing insights from the group activity.
3. Emphasize that understanding different perspectives doesn't mean you always have to agree, but it helps us respond with kindness.
5m
Wrap-Up
Empathy Challenge
1. Ask students: "How can you practice empathy today or this week?"
2. Encourage them to look for opportunities to consider others' feelings and perspectives during lunch or recess.
3. End with a positive message about building a kind and understanding classroom community.
Stepping Into Others Stories Slides Walking in Their Shoes
Understanding different feelings and perspectives
The Power of EMPATHY
Teacher Notes: Greet students and start with the warm-up activity.
What is Perspective?
Your perspective is how you see and understand the world.
Just like looking at a picture, different people might see different things based on where they stand!
"Why is it important to understand other perspectives?"
It helps us to be kind and fair to everyone.
(Optical Illusion Image Here)
Teacher Notes: Use the warm-up discussion as a springboard. Everyone sees things differently.
What is Empathy?
Empathy is being able to understand and share the feelings of another person.
It's putting yourself in their situation and imagining how they might feel.
When someone is sad , you try to understand why.
When someone is happy , you share in their joy.
Empathy helps us CONNECT!
Teacher Notes: Define clearly. Give examples of what it looks like (listening, helping).
Why is Empathy Important?
Builds Friendships
When you understand your friends, you can support them better.
Solves Problems
Seeing things from another's side helps find fair solutions.
Kind Community
Everyone feels safe, seen, and heard by those around them.
Teacher Notes: Explain importance in classroom/life. Connect to supportive community.
Activity: Perspective Puzzles
Your Mission:
READ the story carefully.
DISCUSS how each character might be feeling.
IMAGINE what it's like to be them.
SHARE your thoughts respectfully.
Teacher Notes: Introduce the activity. Encourage active listening and thoughtful responses.
Share-Out
What did you discover in your groups?
• What was challenging about the activity?
• Was it easy to understand everyone's perspective?
• How did imagining yourself in their shoes change your understanding?
Teacher Notes: Transition to discussion phase. Remind students to listen to each other.
Empathy is a Superpower! 💪
This week, take the Empathy Challenge :
LISTEN
Carefully when someone talks.
Perspective Puzzles Worksheet Perspective Puzzles
Walking in Their Shoes Activity
Name:
Date:
Instructions: Read each scenario with your group. Discuss how each person in the story might be feeling and why. Try to imagine you are each person in the story!
Scenario 1
The Broken Toy
Sarah accidentally knocked over Leo's carefully built LEGO castle, and it shattered into many pieces. Leo had spent all morning building it.
How might Leo be feeling? Why?
How might Sarah be feeling? Why?
What could Sarah do to show empathy?
Scenario 2
The New Kid
A new student named Maria joined your class today. She sits quietly at her desk during lunch and doesn't talk much during group activities.
How might Maria be feeling? Why?
How might some of the other students in class be feeling?
What could you do to show empathy to Maria?
Scenario 3
Missing Practice
David loves playing soccer, but he missed a big practice before the championship game because he had to stay home to help his younger sister who was sick. His teammates seemed frustrated with him.
How might David be feeling? Why?
How might David's teammates be feeling?
What could David's teammates do to show empathy?
Shoe Swap Share Out Discussion Guide Shoe Swap Share-Out
Facilitator's Discussion Guide
Facilitation Tips
Gather in a circle if space allows.
Use a "talking stick" or soft ball for turns.
Validate all feeling words shared.
Keep the focus on kindness and support.
1
The Broken Toy
How did Leo feel? How did Sarah feel? Why did they feel that way?
Look for: Disappointment, frustration (Leo); Guilt, embarrassment, worry (Sarah).
What did your group think Sarah could do to show empathy to Leo?
Look for: Apologizing, offering to help rebuild, acknowledging how hard he worked.
2
The New Kid
How do you think Maria felt on her first day? Why?
Look for: Nervous, lonely, overwhelmed, shy.
What are some ways we can show empathy to new students in our class?
Look for: Inviting them to sit at lunch, asking them to join a game, showing them where things are.
3
Missing Practice
How do you think David felt about missing practice? How about his teammates?
Look for: Responsible, torn, sad (David); Frustrated, impatient, worried about the game (Teammates).
How could David's teammates show understanding and empathy towards him?
Look for: Asking how his sister is, telling him they missed him, catching him up on the play calls.
Reflection
Overall, what did you learn about empathy from these scenarios?
Why is it important for us to try and understand how others are feeling?
