Lesson Overview

Developmental Learning Target

Students will be able to recognize expressions of empathy in society and communities.

Lesson Topic(s)

• How to express empathy to others
• THINK before you speak
• PAUSE before you act

Relevance of Lesson

Students have examined what empathy is and how their behavior impacts others. This is the presentation of strategies or tools they can use to best act with empathy and express themselves empathetically. 

Learning Intention

I am learning how to be able to use THINK and PAUSE in social situations to show empathy.

Success Criteria

I will know that I am successful when I can use THINK and PAUSE strategies in social situations.

UT Portrait of a Graduate Purpose Competency

• Respect
• Collaboration and Working Together

CSD Strategic Initiative Tie-In

CSD will implement tiered systems to support the social, emotional, and mental well-being of students, and that foster honesty, integrity, responsibility, hard work, resilience, lifelong learning, personal growth, service and respect.

Essential Vocabulary

Empathy - Being able to understand and care about how someone else is feeling.

Materials

Powerpoint Slides 21-25

Teaching Notes

Lesson

Greeting

1-3 minutes

Snowball Fight-

Have each student write their name on a piece of paper. On the same piece of paper, have each student then draw something they LOVE on the paper (school appropriate).

Have students wad up the paper and when instructed, they will throw their “snowball” at a target in the front of the room (podium, teacher chair, etc).

Every student then goes to pick up a snowball - can’t pick themselves.

The student’s name they unravel is the student they go and greet.
“Good morning (name)!”

I think you love __________based on your drawing.

Tell me more about your picture.

Sharing

3-8 minutes

Teacher asks the students, “Who is someone that you admire? Why do you admire them?” Have students then share their answers with their elbow partner. Once students have shared with their elbow partner, ask for volunteers to share with the class.

Learning Activity

8-14 minutes

Say to the students, “When we think about those we admire, we often connect them to words like our core values we identified in the previous lessons. Kind, helpful, intelligent, etc. Maybe those we admire are good listeners or are honest, maybe they are trustworthy.

Often, these people have skills they practice that make them admirable.”

For today’s lesson, we will discuss two skills that will help us with empathy.

1. THINK before you speak
2. PAUSE before you act

Pull up the slideshow and show on slides. Ask for volunteers to read aloud what it means to THINK and then what it means to PAUSE.

Explain to students that they are now going to use the process of THINK and PAUSE to evaluate different scenarios they may come across.

Have students work in groups of 3-4 on the different scenarios from the slide show. Have students spend 5 minutes on each slide and write down on a piece of lined paper how their group would THINK or PAUSE in each scenario.

Some guiding questions for the groups:

How did THINK and PAUSE help to respond in these scenarios?

How can you personally use THINK and PAUSE daily?

Once the groups have completed reviewing the scenarios for THINK and PAUSE, ask for one volunteer from each group to share with the class what they came up with for 2-3 of the scenarios.

Message

1-3 minutes

Class,

Today, as you go out into the school, consider how you can THINK and PAUSE before speaking or acting.  Consider the impact your actions have on others. Be the student others remember for their positive impact. I believe in you!

Love,

Daily Connection

Practice & Reinforce

In my friendships, how can THINK and PAUSE help us better get along?

Application

Journal or share with the class: How can I THINK and PAUSE during my interactions this week?

Reflection

How can I become more like someone I admire?