Empathy
Empathy is the ability to recognise another person’s feelings, and to respond accordingly and respectfully. This lesson explores the concept of empathy and assists students to understand another’s emotions in relation to your own. Empathy is important because it helps the student be resilient through developing strong and supportive relationships.
Year level
7-10
Duration
60 minutes
Type
In class activity
SEL Competencies
Self-awareness
Self-management
Social awareness
Relationship skills
Learning intention
Students learn that empathy is the ability to recognise another person's feelings, and to respond accordingly and respectfully.
Key outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will understand that::
empathy requires acceptance that their emotions can differ from someone else’s emotions
empathy is a skill that can be practised
empathy is different from sympathy.
Materials needed
Paper
Pens
Mapped to
Australian Curriculum Health and Physical Education
Analyse factors that shape identities and evaluate how individuals influence the identities of others (AC9HP10P01)
Evaluate the influence of respect, empathy, power and coercion on establishing and maintaining respectful relationships (AC9HP10P04)
Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities
Personal and Social Capability:
Social awareness
Social management
Self-awareness
Self-management
NSW PDHPE Syllabus
Examines and evaluates strategies to manage current and future challenges (PD4-1)
Demonstrates self-management skills to effectively manage complex situations (PD4-9)
Assesses their own and others’ capacity to reflect on and respond positively to challenges (PD5-1)
Assesses and applies self-management skills to effectively manage complex situations (PD5-9)
Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Investigate how empathy and ethical decision making contribute to respectful relationships (VCHPEP146))
Evaluate situations and propose appropriate emotional responses and then reflect on possible outcomes of different responses to health and wellbeing (VCHPEP147)
Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others’ health and wellbeing (VCHPEP127)
Analyse factors that influence emotions, and develop strategies to demonstrate empathy and sensitivity (VCHPEP128)
Activity 1
Charades: Kind of emotions
15 minutes
In groups of three, students choose one emotion to act out in front of the class.
Students guess what emotion is being acted out.
Write a list of the emotions on the board. (This may be done before, during or after this activity.)
Activity 2
Discussion: Why is empathy important?
15 minutes
Read students the definition of empathy:
Empathy is commonly understood as the ability to detect other people’s emotions and understand their point of view. Trust is built when others feel accepted and validated. Examples of when you might use empathy include when you comfort someone who is disappointed, defuse tension in a conflict situation and when you listen to someone who is upset. In these situations, you are using self-awareness to understand how to respond and self-regulating your emotions to support a friend. 2. Ask students to reflect on a time when they have used empathy or had someone be empathetic towards them. 3. Students record:
A time when they comforted (or were comforted) when disappointed
A time when they defused (or someone defused) tension in a conflict situation.
Students write a brief sentence explaining why using empathy in situations is important.
Activity 3
Activity: In their shoes
15 minutes
Choose one of the listed scenarios below.
Your teacher is away and you have a substitute.
A friend is being bullied at school.
Your lift is late picking you up.
A friend’s grandmother passes away.
A friend fails an exam.
Draw two figures. On figure A, label the emotions that person would be experiencing.
On Figure B, list how you could display empathy with that person. What would it look like, sound like, feel like?
Invite students to create their own scenario. Repeat the process.
Activity 4
Mind map: Barriers
15 minutes
What barriers may prevent us from identifying and acknowledging the feelings of others?
How can we check in with ourselves to ensure we are considering others’ feelings?
