Are You an Empathetic Listener?

I have a new and exciting activity to help your students learn about kindness and understanding for others. First, a free questionnaire for the class to fill out which will help them to get in touch with  their empathy.

Just a little bit of prep for you:

   1.  If you have 24 students, you’ll need 2 sets of cards numbered 1-12. Cut out the cards and put them all into a bag or box. 

   2. Copy the character traits supplied here, and/or write your own on index cards.

The Lesson:

Ask students if they know what is meant by standing in someone else’s shoes. For example:

   *Tell them that one way they can understand this is by asking 
     themselves how they would feel in the same situation.

    *Ask what behaviors show that you are an empathetic listener.

     They should be able to tell you that an empathetic listener

     makes eye contact, they don’t fidget or interrupt, and they

     ask great follow-up questions, or make 
     appropriate comments.

Freebie Questionnaire

It's time to introduce the questionnaire. Go over the instructions and have them  write their responses. Then let them know that they are empathetic if they answered yes to the majority of the questions. Talk about what they discovered about themselves.

Next:

1.  Each child will pick a number
     card without looking.

     2.  Once everyone has chosen, they must find
          their partner. If you have 25 in your class, 
          one group will consist of 3 
          members. Make sure you’ve prepared for that.

Now the fun begins…

 1. Let them know that they are going to be given 
     a character card and they will become 
     that person have them think about the way
    their character is feeling.

2. Pass out the character cards. Each partner should have a 
    different one.

3. Partner A acts like the character whose role he/she has read, while Partner B listens.

4.  Switch roles
5.  When the role play is finished, partner A tells partner B how

     they did or didn’t show empathy towards them. Use “I” statements, like, ”I could really tell you were listening because you were looking at me the entire time," or "I could tell you cared by the expression on your face."
6. Partner B tells partner A how they felt.

Drum Roll Please...The Culminating Activity

 1. Everyone should return to their desk and remain standing until they've shared something they've learned. Once they've shared, they may sit down.

 2.  For a homework assignment they will write about what they learned. This can also be written as a journal entry.

Here are some role play ideas that you can use, just copy them onto index cards.

*Jose is the star forward on the soccer team. During one of the final  games of the season, he suffered a severe concussion and was told he couldn’t play for the rest of the season.

*Ever since she was a little girl, Maria wanted to be a cheerleader.. During tryouts she fell flat on her face and was so embarrassed. Kids started laughing and worst of all, she didn’t make the cut.

*Mica found out that an old friend of hers spread a nasty rumor about her.

*Shondra was so excited to be part of the school talent show, but tripped during her routine. One of her peers was using her cell to tape the show and posted Shondra’s fall on the Internet that night.

*Lee’s bff told her about a surprise party she was planning to throw for her boyfriend. Lee let the secret out by mistake and now her bff won’t talk to her.

*During a field trip, LeBron was sick to his stomach and threw up all over himself and Juan who was sitting next to him.  Everyone was grossed out.

*Nathan found out that his bff cheated by copying his paper during a math test. 
*Ali, a muslim, moved into your neighborhood and no one wants to hang out with him.

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This post is part of our monthly 3E blogging cooperative where we share ideas

for making Equity, Empathy, and Empowerment a part of your classroom routine. Don't forget to pick up your freebies.

An InLinkz Link-up