Module Introduction
Empathy is the quality of being in tune with the emotions of others. Sometimes the term empathy refers to the ability to imagine and understand how other people might be thinking or feeling (what researchers call cognitive empathy or perspective-taking); other times it indicates the capacity to sense others’ emotions and experience feelings that mirror theirs (referred to as emotional or affective empathy).
Empathy is what enables us to extend beyond our own point of view and truly care for each other. Though empathy alone does not guarantee positive behavior—in fact, if other social-emotional skills are lacking, empathy can be overwhelming and counterproductive. At the same time, it is often considered a vital foundation of morality and prosocial (kind and helpful) action.
Empathy is more than just a virtue; it’s a crucial skill for students in today’s world. It helps them navigate diverse social landscapes with understanding, forge deeper connections with others, and ultimately become compassionate leaders who can positively impact their communities and the future of our world.
And classrooms can serve as the fertile ground from which empathy can be nurtured and flourish.
Spark Interest
Read this article: In a Divided World, We Need to Choose Empathy.
Reflection
- Do you agree that we might need more empathy now that we did years ago?
- The article brings up some factors that contribute to “infertile soil for empathy” such as our urban, isolated, and anonymous ways of living and connecting. Can you think of any other things that get in the way of human empathy in our modern worlds?
- Now, let’s flip it. What are humans doing well? Where are the opportunities – the things about our modern world we could harness to better let empathy flourish?
Learning Objectives
In this module we will:
- Understand the definition and components of empathy and how it differs from sympathy and compassion
- Explore the development of empathy in young people and the factors that contribute to it
- Recognize the impact of empathy on student learning, well-being, and academic performance
- Explore practical strategies and techniques for cultivating empathy in the classroom
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices organized by developmental level, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional learning opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topics of "Empathy for Adults" and “Empathy for Students.”
Individual Exploration
In an era marked by an increasingly interconnected yet, also at times polarized, world, the need for nurturing empathy in our young people has never been more critical. Empathy can help foster a sense of community, bridge differences, enhance compassionate communication, and build a foundation for mutual respect and understanding among students.
What is Empathy?
In this first video, learn how empathy is defined by researchers and how it develops over time—while considering some of the barriers to empathy.[18:01]
Reflection
- Can you think back to a time in your own childhood when a classmate or teacher showed empathy towards you? How did it impact your experience at school?
- Can you identify 1-2 places or moments in your own teaching where you feel you could pause and cultivate more empathy?
- Can you identify 1-2 opportunities where you might be able to work on empathy with your students?
Why is Empathy Important for Students?
By fostering an understanding of others’ perspectives, needs, and intentions, empathy provides a variety of benefits to young people – both in their school and personal lives.
In this next video, learn what researchers have discovered about how empathy can benefit students. [2:52]
Reflection
- Thinking about your own classroom of students now, can you think about a time you witnessed an example of empathy from one student to another? What emotions were present? Did you notice any changes in the student receiving the empathy?
How to Bring Empathy to the Classroom
In this final video, learn how educators can encourage empathy in their students. [9:24]
Reflection
- What are the benefits and limitations of perspective-taking as a form of empathy? Why might “perspective-receiving” be crucial to empathy building?
- In your experience, what strategies and approaches work best for encouraging student empathy in classrooms and schools?
Links from video
Empathy Practices
What’s the Tint of Your Glasses? (Upper Elementary-High School) Students learn how different perspectives result from different backgrounds, building acceptance and valuing differences. (less than 1 hour)
Through the Looking Glass (High School) Students demonstrate courage by voluntarily sharing their responses to this prompt: “Most people see me as ____, but I really am _____. Then, all students participate by reading each other’s anonymous answers aloud and listening to each other’s experiences with empathy and compassion. (multiple sessions)
Courageous Connections that Challenge Your Biases (Adult) Honestly assess your personal biases and their impact, and create a plan to face the anxieties you experience about people you dislike or avoid. Next, practice courage and openness while interacting with those individuals, and reflect on what you learned. (less than 30 minutes)
Listening with Compassion (Middle-High School) Students practice five listening skills and reflect on their experience. (multiple sessions)
Superstar (PreK-Middle School) To build trust and inclusion, students play a game in which they learn more about each other and celebrate what they have in common. (less than 15 minutes)
From Sympathy to Action (High School-College) Students reflect on readings and engage in discussions about the responsibilities they have to address suffering and injustice in larger society. (less than one hour)
Fostering Empathy Through Literature (PreK-Upper Elementary) Teachers choose from a list of discussion questions that prompt students to consider a character’s emotions, motivations, and behaviors, helping them to cultivate empathy. (less than 30 minutes)
Fostering Empathy Through Literature (Middle-High School) Teachers choose from a list of discussion questions that prompt students to consider a character’s emotions, motivations, and behaviors, helping them to cultivate empathy. (less than 30 minutes)
Feelings Circle An SEL Kernels Practice for First Grade In a group meeting, students share their feelings while also building their feelings vocabulary and emotion knowledge. (less than 15 minutes)
Feelings Circle An SEL Kernels Practice for Sixth Grade In a group meeting, students share their feelings while also building their feelings vocabulary and emotion knowledge. (less than 15 minutes)
Flow and Tell (PreK-High School) After checking in with their breath, body sensations, emotions, and thoughts, students take turns listening and sharing what they observe in the present moment. (less than 15 minutes)
Building Collaborative Classroom Norms (Middle-High School) Students co-create norms that foster a welcoming class environment and ensure safe discussions among peers, and develop a personal goal to help implement the norms. (less than 1 hour)
Norm Co-creation (Upper Elementary-College) Students collaborate on the development of classroom norms while exploring the role of norms from multiple perspectives (less than 1 hour).
Prosocial Teaching Strategies Prosocial teaching strategies are methods and techniques that can be used in a variety of classes, age groups, and circumstances to promote social-emotional development and prosocial goals.
8.7 Take It Deeper: Times When Empathy is Valuable (fillable PDF)
Small groups discuss a scenario where empathy is helpful—and share why empathy is important in that context.
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices organized by developmental level, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional learning opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topics of "Empathy for Adults" and “Empathy for Students”.
Small groups discuss a scenario where empathy is helpful—and share why empathy is important in that context.
Group Facilitation
Before facilitating groups, spend time in individual exploration in order to experience and embody the learning. And if you haven’t yet explored our introduction to SEL in California, make sure you explore those resources.
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional learning opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topics of "Empathy for Adults" and “Empathy for Students.”
A revisable, turnkey powerpoint slide deck to use for professional learning sessions on the topic of "Empathy for Students."
A powerpoint slide deck with welcoming and closing activities to include in professional learning sessions.
Small groups discuss a scenario where empathy is helpful—and share why empathy is important in that context.
“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another.”
Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? Enroll in one of our online courses for educators!
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