Teach Your Students to Be Empathetic

‘Empathy”’ and ‘empathetic’ are big words for little learners, but they represent an important social skill. While it may be challenging for students to grasp this concept, understanding what empathy truly means will help you explain it to your students!

Understanding how someone else is feeling is a powerful skill that comes from the heart and mind. Empathy allows us to put ourselves in their shoes and experience their emotions as if they were our own. It’s a gift that helps us connect with others on a deeper level and build stronger relationships. Being empathetic is important when it comes to being a good friend. It allows you to demonstrate kindness and provide encouragement, especially during difficult moments. 

Social Stories To Encourage Classroom Discussions

This teacher-created resource provides scenario-based questions and situations to help learners recognize empathetic behaviours. These scenarios are great for classroom discussions and morning meetings. The interactive activity presents a scenario to students and asks if it exhibits empathy. If they answer correctly, they move on to the next scenario. If not, they are redirected to try again after discussing the scenario further.

Download Your Interactive Activity

If you are ready for your students to sharpen their understanding of empathy, head on over to the green download button to choose from the PowerPoint or interactive Google Slides activity. To complete this activity, please direct your students to open the slideshow in present mode and click the correct answers. Each of the answers are linked to the appropriate page.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Looking for More SEL Activities for Your Lesson Plans?

If you are looking to spruce up the activities in your classroom, or perhaps you are new to teaching a particular year level, check out some of our suggested empathy-related resources below! 

teaching resource

Responding With Empathy Matching Activity

Guide your students to identify emotions in others and select appropriate ways to respond with empathy with this matching activity.

teaching resource

Characteristics of Emotions - Posters

Help students learn the facial expressions and body cues that accompany the most common emotional states with this set of classroom display posters.

teaching resource

Caring for Others – Printable Empathy Book

Unlock the magic of empathy by giving your students a mini-book about how to connect, understand and make a difference through the simple act of caring.