LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Define empathy; identify empathetic responses to different scenarios; distinguish facts from myths about empathy; evaluate your own ability to empathize with others.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 4 : Use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health.

CASEL COMPETENCY: Social awareness

KEY VOCAB

empathetic

perspective

preserve

oblivious

Lesson Plan: Superpower: Empathy

The ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes may be the most powerful relationship tool you have. Here’s how to make the most of it.

PREPARING TO READ

Before you read the article “Superpower: Empathy,” ask your students the following pre-reading questions:

What is empathy, and how can it improve your relationships?

READING AND DISCUSSION

  • Have your students read the article “Superpower: Empathy”; read the article out loud to them; or have students partner-read the article out loud.
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading questions. Have their answers changed?

BUILDING COMPREHENSION AND VOCAB

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Comprehension Quiz
  • Vocab Builder

EXPANDING SEL OPPORTUNITIES

Continue the learning journey with the following writing prompt:

In MY EMPATHY ROLE MODELS, have students write a personal essay about friends or trusted adults in their own life who are empathetic. They should write a brief introduction explaining how they know each person. Have them develop their ideas by describing specific situations in which each person has shown empathy. Remind students to use the article for inspiration if necessary. Have them close by saying what they have learned about empathy from each of their role models.

Print the Lesson Plan

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