Lesson Plan

Empathy in Action Lesson Plan

Students will develop empathy, active listening, and cooperative skills by analyzing real-life scenarios, collaborating on a group poster, and reflecting on their experiences.

Cultivating empathy helps students understand peers’ perspectives, strengthens communication, and creates a supportive classroom community where all feel heard and valued.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Scenario Cards and Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up and Introduction

5 minutes

Step 2

Scenario Exploration

10 minutes

Step 3

Group Poster Creation

10 minutes

Step 4

Reflection and Wrap-Up

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Empathy in Action

Welcome students! Today we’re going to explore empathy and teamwork. Introduce yourself, briefly explain the lesson’s purpose, and build excitement for the activities ahead.

Lesson Objectives & Group Norms

Review the lesson objective and set norms: remind students to listen with respect, speak one at a time, and offer kind feedback. Use a calm, positive tone.

Scenario Exploration

Hand out one [Empathy Scenario Card](#empathy-scenario-cards) per student. Guide each student to read aloud and ask classmates to share how the person might feel and what supportive responses they could offer.

Group Poster Creation

Divide the class into two teams. Encourage each team to pick the scenario they found most challenging and to brainstorm empathetic responses. Circulate to prompt ideas and ensure collaboration.

Reflection & Wrap-Up

Distribute the [Empathy Reflection Worksheet](#empathy-reflection-worksheet). Allow a few minutes for quiet writing, then invite volunteers to share. Conclude by reinforcing norms and praising everyone’s effort.

Lesson Plan

Empathy in Action Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Scenario Cards and Materials

Step 1

Warm-Up and Introduction

Step 2

Scenario Exploration

Step 3

Group Poster Creation

Step 4

Reflection and Wrap-Up

Slide Deck

Empathy in Action

Lesson Objectives & Group Norms

Scenario Exploration

Group Poster Creation

Reflection & Wrap-Up

Activity

Worksheet

Empathy in Action

Kylie Taniguchi