Lesson Plan

Empathy Lesson Plan

Students will practice empathy through role-playing scenarios to enhance their ability to understand and share others’ feelings by the end of the session.

Empathy is crucial for strong peer relationships and social–emotional growth. This lesson encourages students to recognize and respond to classmates’ emotions, fostering compassion and cooperation.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

5 minutes

Step 2

Teacher Demonstration

5 minutes

Step 3

Student Role-Playing

20 minutes

Step 4

Individual Reflection

10 minutes

Step 5

Closing and Assessment

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Empathy In Action

Welcome students! Introduce the lesson: today we’ll learn how to understand and share others’ feelings—an important skill for making friends and helping each other.

What Is Empathy?

Ask students: “What does empathy mean?” Note their ideas on chart paper. Use examples from your own experience to illustrate.

Demo Scenario

Use this scenario during the teacher demonstration. Invite a volunteer to play Person A and Person B.

Role-Play Roles

Explain each role. Observers will watch for empathetic words and actions.

Group Role-Playing Activity

Give clear instructions and set the timer. Circulate to support groups.

Reflection Prompts

Distribute the reflection worksheet now. Encourage students to write thoughtfully.

Key Takeaways

Invite a few volunteers to share insights. Emphasize the key steps and encourage daily practice.

Lesson Plan

Empathy Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

Step 2

Teacher Demonstration

Step 3

Student Role-Playing

Step 4

Individual Reflection

Step 5

Closing and Assessment

Slide Deck

Empathy In Action

What Is Empathy?

Demo Scenario

Role-Play Roles

Group Role-Playing Activity

Reflection Prompts

Key Takeaways

Activity

Worksheet

Empathy In Action

Kathleen Lantiegne