Empathy and Shared Values
Through Poetry
and Art
BETTY NORDENGREN
Essential Question:
How can empathy and �shared values be used to �build common ground?
Content
Credit: National Gallery of Art
Definitions
Perspectives are the different ways people see and think about things based on their own experiences and feelings.
Empathy is when you understand and share the feelings of someone else, like feeling sad when your friend is sad.
Values are the things that are really important to you and help you decide what’s right and wrong, like being kind or honest.
Shared values are the things that people agree are important and believe in together, like being kind to others or telling the truth.
Common ground is finding things that you and your friends or others can agree on, even if you have some differences. It’s the stuff you all like or believe in together.
Perspectives
Things look different when we see them �from different angles and viewpoints.
What do you think this is?
Perspectives
Seeing things from different angles can �help us understand them better.
These are cotton swabs!
Let’s try another.
Perspectives
Things look different when we see them �from different angles and viewpoints.
What do you think this is?
Perspectives
Exploring different perspectives helps us to see ourselves more clearly.
This is skin!
Let’s try one more.
Perspectives
Things look different when we see them �from different angles and viewpoints.
What do you think this is?
Perspectives
Sometimes our guesses are partially correct, but we need more information to understand all sides of the story.
This is an ostrich’s mouth!
Perspectives: Turn and Talk
Perspectives
We see things differently because of our past experiences and how we view the world.
Which of these people is making the correct assumption?
Perspectives
Just because we think differently does not mean that some of us are correct and others are wrong.
We can learn from others if we listen and keep an open mind.
Perspectives: Turn and Talk (3 minutes)
Talk about a time when you disagreed with someone and you tried to understand the other person’s feelings and ideas.
Empathy
Empathy means understanding how someone else feels and sharing those feelings, like feeling sad when your friend is sad. It’s like trying to walk in their shoes and see the world from their perspective.
Credit: National Gallery of Art
Empathy
Empathy (noun)
Empathy is when you can understand and share the feelings or emotions of someone else. It’s when you put yourself in someone else’s situation and imagine how they might be feeling.
Example: Your friend is crying because they fell and hurt their leg. If you feel sad with them and try to comfort them, that’s showing empathy.
Empathy: Turn and Talk (3 minutes)
Tell your partner about a time you were empathetic with someone. What did you do that was caring?
Be sure to listen in a caring way and offer a kind comment about your partner’s words. Take turns sharing and encouraging.
Whole-Class Discussion (5 minutes)
What happens when we only see one side of a problem?
Why is it important to be able to consider problems from different perspectives and to be empathetic to what others say?
What Are Your Values?
Values are the things that are really important to you and help you decide what’s right and wrong, like being kind or honest.
Turn and talk:
Some Common Values
FAIRNESS
FINDING JOY
PERSEVERANCE
Discuss: What Values Do We Share?
Adventure
Achievement
Authenticity
Authority
Balance
Beauty
Boldness
Challenge
Citizenship
Community
Compassion
Competency
Contribution
Inner harmony
Justice
Kindness
Knowledge
Leadership
Learning
Love
Loyalty
Openness
Optimism
Peace
Pleasure
Popularity
Creativity
Curiosity
Determination
Fairness
Faith
Fame
Friendships
Fun
Growth
Happiness
Honesty
Humor
Influence
Recognition
Religion
Reputation
Respect
Responsibility
Security
Self-respect
Service
Spirituality
Stability
Status
Success
Trustworthiness
Wealth
Wisdom
Poetry Slam and�Art Gallery
Poetry Slam and Art Gallery
We’re getting ready for a poetry slam and art show! Here’s what we’ll do: Each of you will create a poem and a self-portrait. Your poem should be about your life experiences and values. You can make your portrait in any style you like. We’ll perform our poems during the Poetry Slam, and after that, we’ll display our poems and self-portraits on the walls for everyone to see.
During the Poetry Slam
We'll make a list of our class’s shared values using our poetry, and we’ll hang it up as a reminder that even when we think differently, we can find common ground by remembering our shared values and empathizing with one another.
Remember: Empathy and shared values build common ground.
The Star of the Show is YOU!
Your work will be proudly displayed and graded.
“I Am” Poem Template
I am ________________________
I wonder ____________________
I hear ______________________
I see _______________________
I want ______________________
I am _______________________
I pretend ___________________
I feel _______________________
I worry _____________________
I cry when __________________
I am _______________________
I understand ________________
I say _______________________
I dream _____________________
I try ________________________
I hope ______________________
I am _______________________
We will write�“I am” or “I am from” poems.
You can choose which template you would like to use.
How do we write a poem that shows our values?
Step 1. Fill in the template of your choice. Use your best vocabulary words and imagery.
Step 2. Write and revise your poem.
Step 3. Type your poem and be sure it is your best work.
Look back at your poem and think about what values are shown in your writing.
If you cannot find them in your poem, revise it until your values can be inferred by the reader.
“I Am” Poem Example
I am still here.
I wonder if I will be healthy again.
I hear the clock ticking.
I see a blurry text from Mom.
I want to leave this hospital.
I am still here.
I pretend I’m not sad, so others won’t be.
I feel scared the treatment won’t work.
I worry that my baby brother forgot me.
I cry sometimes at night.
I am still here.
I understand more than they know.
I say “I’m fine, “ when everyone asks.
I dream of hanging out with my friends.
I try to distract myself by playing games.
I hope I am better soon.
I am still here.
How do we know what this poet values?
We can make inferences from clues in the poem.
If the poet wants to leave the confines of the hospital, they may value freedom.
The poet values spending time with friends.
If the poet wants to be remembered by their family, they may value family connection.
The poet values being healthy.
“I Am From” Poem Template
I am from _________ (specific item)
From _________ (product name) and _________
I am from the _________ (specific house description) with the _________ (detail)
I am from the _________ (description of things outside your home) and the _________
I am from the _________ (family tradition) and _________ (family trait)
From _________, _________, and _________ (names of family or friends)
I am from _________ (something you did with your family) and _________ (beliefs)
From _________ and _________ (things you were told as a child)
I am from _________ and _________ (family values)
I am from _________ (where you live now) and _________ (where your family comes from), _________ and _________ (two foods you grew up with)
From the _________ (specific story that happened in your family with details)
I am from _________, _________, and _________ (specific awards, pictures, or items you are proud of from your childhood)
The “I Am From” poem asks you to mention two values. The values can be directly or indirectly written.
“I Am From” Poem Example
I am from grocery lists.
I am from Little Debbie snack cakes and Skippy Peanut Butter.
I am from the small green house with the big garden out back.
I am from pink rose bushes and the cement birdbath.
I am from pancakes on Sunday and togetherness.
From Ann and Gerald and Kathy.
I am from hard work and perseverance.
From “Gotcha nose” and “Run between the raindrops.”
I am from letters to my English relatives and plum pudding at Christmas.
I am from Illinois and England, Sweden, Ireland, and Poland, Mom’s scrambled eggs and meatloaf.
From the time I locked my pinky finger in the car door, and Mom yelled “Stop crying” on the way to the emergency room.
I am from Air Force medallions, newspaper articles, and master’s degrees.
Line 5 directly mentions the value of “togetherness”
The last line indirectly shows the family values patriotism and education
In this example, the values can be written directly or indirectly.
From line 9, we can infer that this family values staying in touch and maintaining family traditions
How Will I Make My Self-Portrait?
You can use any style to create your self-portrait. You may want to try drawing yourself realistically or as a cartoon. Maybe you want to make your face look abstract, or like an anime character. The choice is up to you. The only requirement is that you use your best effort, with careful linework and color. The portrait should be your best work, since it will be displayed in our gallery. With a simple online search, you can find drawing tutorials for each style with step-by-step instructions on how to make your self-portrait.
Portraits In Your Style
How Will I Be Graded?
Criteria | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point |
Effort | Self-portrait is carefully done to the best of the artist’s ability | Self-portrait is mostly carefully done to the best of the artist’s ability | Self-portrait is somewhat carefully done to the best of the artist’s ability | Little or no effort was given to this assignment |
Quality | Artist’s work is original and done with care to make every detail the best it can be | Artist’s work is original, and some care was taken to make every detail the best it can be | Artist’s work is original, and a little care was taken to add quality details | Artist gave little or no care to create an original self-portrait with quality details |
Design | Elements in the portrait show a sense of personal style | Elements in the portrait hint at a sense of personal style and are clearly seen | Elements in the portrait hint at a sense of personal style, but it is hard to see in the finished work | Little or no sense of personal style can be seen in the finished self-portrait |
Total Points: __/12
How Will I Be Graded?
This project is worth 50 points.
Speaking performance | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point |
Speed | Just right speed | A little too fast or slow | Somewhat too fast or too slow | Very fast or very slow |
Volume | Loud enough to hear | A little too quiet | Somewhat quiet | Very difficult to hear the speaker |
Tone | Performed with appropriate expression and varied tone | Performed with mostly appropriate expression and mostly varied tone | Performed with somewhat appropriate expression and somewhat varied tone | Performed with flat expression in a monotone way |
Word choice | Poet chose mostly strong words to help the audience visualize and experience their meaning | Poet chose some strong words to help the audience visualize and experience the poet's meaning. | Poet chose few basic words to help the audience visualize and experience the poet's meaning | Poet chose very few strong words to help the audience visualize and experience the poet's meaning |
Addressing the audience | Excellent eye contact, performed with expression in an entertaining way | Mostly good eye contact, performed with fairly good expression in an entertaining way | Somewhat good eye contact, performed with a little bit of expression in an attempt to entertain the audience | Performer did not look at the audience and did not try to read the poem in an entertaining way |
Audience behaviour | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point |
Active listener | Actively listened to every performer | Actively listened to almost every performer | Actively listened to a few performers | Did not actively listen to the class performers |
Encouragement and respect | Encouraged and respected many performers | Encouraged and respected some of the performers | Encouraged and respected a few of the performers | Did not encourage or show respect to any of the performers |
Contribute to discussion | Contributed frequently to the discussion | Contributed to the discussion some of the time | Contributed to the discussion a few times | Did not contribute to the discussion |
Do your best!�Have fun!