Empathy Step Lesson PlanLesson Plan Walking in Someone Else's Shoes 3rd Grade • SEL Duration: 30 Minutes Objective Students will generate at least one empathetic response to a peer's situation in a given scenario with 80% accuracy. Key Concepts Empathy & Compassion Active Listening Supportive Language Perspective Taking Materials Empathy in Action Slides Scenario Worksheet Response Stems Chart Essential Question "How can I show my friends that I understand how they feel?" Instructional Arc 1 Welcome & Warm-up (5 mins) Display the "Shoes Question" slide. Ask students: "If you could wear any pair of shoes today—real or imaginary—what would they be and where would they take you?" Teacher Note: This sets the stage for the 'shoes' metaphor. 2 Define Empathy (5 mins) Use the slides to define empathy as "feeling with" someone. Use the shoe metaphor: "Looking at someone's situation as if you were wearing their shoes." "Empathy isn't just saying 'I'm sorry.' It's saying 'I can see why you feel that way.'" 3 "Walk in Their Shoes" Activity (10 mins) Distribute the Scenario Worksheet. Read the first scenario aloud. Model the "Perspective Check": What happened? (The Facts) How might they feel? (The Feelings) What do they need right now? (The Support) 4 Brainstorm Responses (5 mins) Introduce the "Response Stems Chart." Have students choose a stem to write their empathetic response on their worksheet. Criteria for Success: The response must acknowledge the feeling and offer support/validation. 5 Cool-Down & Wrap-Up (5 mins) Exit Ticket: "One kind thing I can say to a friend who is feeling sad is..." Collect worksheets for assessment.
Empathy in Action Slides3rd Grade SEL Walking in Someone Else's Shoes Learning how to understand and care for our friends' feelings. Warm Up "If you could wear any pair of shoes today—real or imaginary—what would they be and where would they take you?" Turn and talk to your neighbor! What is Empathy? Feeling WITH Someone Instead of just saying "I'm sorry," you try to feel what they feel. Seeing Through Their Eyes Looking at a situation the way your friend sees it. "It's like putting on their favorite shoes and walking a mile to see how they feel." The 3 Empathy Steps 1 Look What is happening? Check their face and body language. 2 Feel If this happened to me, how would I feel in my heart? 3 Say Use kind words to show you understand and care. Let's Practice! Scenario "Leo dropped his lunch tray in the cafeteria. Everyone looked at him, and his sandwich fell on the floor." How does Leo feel? What can we say to help? Time to Work! Open your "Walk in Their Shoes" worksheet and let's try some scenarios together. Name & Date First! Use Your Stems Chart!
Walk in Their Shoes WorksheetWalk in Their Shoes Scenario Practice Worksheet Name: Date: Instructions: Read each situation below. Think about how the person might be feeling, then write one kind thing you could say to show you understand. Scenario 1 "Maya studied really hard for her spelling test, but when she got it back, she saw a big red 'C' at the top. She put her head down on her desk." 1. How is Maya feeling? 2. An Empathetic Response: Scenario 2 "Sam tried out for the soccer team. At recess, he found out he didn't make the list. He is sitting alone by the swings." 1. How is Sam feeling? 2. An Empathetic Response: Your Turn! Think of a time a friend was sad or frustrated. Write what happened and how you could respond with empathy. What happened? (The Situation) Feelings Check: Your Kind Response:
Empathetic Response Stems ChartKindness Toolbox Empathetic Response Stems Use these "Sentence Starters" to help you show your friends that you understand how they feel. Validating 👉 "It sounds like you're feeling..." 👉 "I can see why that's hard." 👉 "I understand why you feel..." Supporting 👉 "I'm here for you." 👉 "That happened to me too once." 👉 "Would you like to talk about it?" Encouraging 👉 "You are doing your best." 👉 "It's okay to feel that way." Helping 👉 "How can I help you right now?" 👉 "Do you want to play together?" Pro Tip: Sometimes just listening is the best way to show empathy!
