Compassion · Activity

You, Me and Empathy

1st & 2nd Grade

Activity: “Stand in another’s shoes” is the name of this community building activity. Student pairs take turns tracing the other’s foot and then respond to prompts that help them to get to know each other better. They are guided in a discussion about the meaning of the phrases “stand in another’s shoes” and “to have someone’s back.”    Prompts for “Stand in another’s shoes”: 
  1. favorite color
  2. birthday month
  3. favorite activity
  4. favorite subject 
  5. least favorite subject
  6. favorite food
  Materials needed: 8” x 11”paper with prompts typed on one side, blank on the other side (one per student); writing materials    Directions: Hand out the papers with the prompts. Put students in pairs. Introduce the activity: “‘Stand in another’s shoes’” is the name of this activity. Have you ever heard that expression? [pause for responses]. Today we will do an exercise that will help you understand that phrase better. Notice that one side of your paper is blank, the other has a list of prompts that you will be using. After each prompt is a space to write a word or two. Begin by tracing your partner’s foot on the blank side of their paper. Using the paper with the tracings, student #1 writes on student #2’s paper and vice versa. I’ll read the prompt, then you take turns responding and writing the answers on your partner’s paper. When we’re all finished, we’ll take turns reading what we wrote to the whole class. This way, you will all get to know one another better!” Guide students to read what they wrote.    Wrap it up: Ask, “what was it like to learn even a few things about someone else? [pause for responses] When you get to know another person, even a little bit, you will be more likely able to understand them better. To really stand in someone else’s shoes means that you “have their back” - you are prepared to try to understand their emotions and be supportive and helpful. Let’s all try to have each other’s backs, to be understanding and supportive at all times. Becoming a caring person is a lot of work, but it’s worth it. You’ll find that the more you care for others, the more likely they are to care for you.”   
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