Definition:

The ability to feel what others are feeling and the action of trying to help them with their troubles. 

In short: 

Feel what others feel.

Summary:
Should the boy squish the ant or let it be? This is the question at the beginning and end of this clever narrative poem.  What’s in the middle is a conversation between the ant, defending his freedom, and the boy, debating why he should or shouldn’t carry out his plan. The ant gives a reasonable defense, but does the boy consider the insect’s feelings or not? 

Lesson Objectives: 

1. The author encourages students to step in the ant’s “shoes” and consider its feelings, a life skill students need to practice. This story invites them to pause and take time to try to see from another’s point of view, instead of acting on impulse. 
2. This story can lead into a science unit on insects. Ants are very interesting and fascinating, also easy to observe. See an ant activity under “Compassion Activities” on the website. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. What stops the boy from squishing the ant? 
2. The ant says to the boy, “you are very much like me.” The boy doesn’t think so, but the ant explains why. How are the boy and ant alike? 
3. The boy’s friends play a “squish the ant” game and they encourage him to squish the ant. Do you think these friends are giving good advice to the boy or not? Why?  
4. Look at the picture of the small boy and big ant - does the big ant look scary to you? What if ants really were that big?!!
5. The ant asks the boy to consider: “If you were me and I were you what would you want me to do?” How would you answer that? 
6. At the very end of the story, how would you answer the question, “What do you think that kid should do?” 
7. Ants are very interesting insects. Think of three questions to ask about ants and ask someone to help you find the answers. 
8. Have you ever heard the phrase “stand in someone else’s shoes”? It means, try to imagine you are that “someone else” and think about how you’d want to be treated. Share about how the ant helped the boy to think about that. 
9. Do you think you can tell how another person is feeling? Can you figure out if they are sad, mad, worried, scared, lonely? What about them helps you figure that out? 
10. Insects are busy just like we are. They have jobs to do that help nature and us. Can you name any helpful insects?  If not, ask someone who can.