Compassion · Activity

The Importance of Empathy

5th & 6th Grade

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Activity: Students are guided to watch the video about how to see from someone else’s eyes and walk in their shoes. They are asked to define some vocabulary in the video: empathy, perspective, neuroscience, neurons, empathic, observant, categorizing, active listening, reflex, moral universe, emotional state. An optional extension activity is Process Drama (described in the Directions). 

 

Materials needed: the video; a chart for the Process Drama activity labeled: Directions for the person who is showing empathy: 



    \t
  • Slow down


    • \t
  • Ask follow up questions


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  • Imagine, or ask about the person’s feelings; did they have a bad experience in the past similar to this one? 


    • \t
  • Share your own experiences that may be similar to the other person’s to show that you understand and are not judging them




 

Directions: Explain that today’s activity is about empathy. Show the video, define the vocabulary words that are listed under materials, and show the video again. Ask what this quote means: 

“Empathy is a two-way street that is at best built upon mutual understanding.” Use guiding questions to aid in comprehension: (1) what is the purpose of slowing down when you’re trying to relate to someone else’s situation? (2) why are follow up questions helpful? (3) what is the person feeling and why? (4) why is it important to open up about your own feelings and experiences? (5) Do you think we have much more in common than we think? Optional extension activity: refer to the Process Drama activity found in Compassion, Levels 3,4. Brainstorm with students grade-appropriate scenarios that they can act out using the techniques suggested in this video. Guide students to practice empathy by responding to the scenarios, using the chart (in the Materials needed section) as a guide.

 

Wrap it up: Explain: “Today you learned practical steps in practicing empathy. I hope you will try it out and get good results. You can help other people by listening carefully and showing that you can relate to their experience. In the process, you will feel very good about yourself!”
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