Empathy is Elementary: Stories Lessons and Activities to Help Learn About Empathy

by Rebecca Schmidt, M.Ed., LSW

Grade levels: PK-5

Empathy is Elementary is an all-inclusive program that teaches the important characteristic of being empathetic to elementary students. Teaching empathy to elementary-aged children is difficult because they are inherently self-centered at this age. It is not easy to get children to look outside of themselves and think of others. Therefore, it is important that we start teaching children at a very young age to look around them and try to feel what others are feeling by observing their facial expressions, listening to their words, and watching their body language. It is important to help them learn what they can do to help a friend in need feel better. Older children need to understand the importance of realizing others act certain ways for a reason, and to think of why they may be behaving that way instead of just assuming that person is “weird” or different.

The program includes four colorful, whiteboard/computer compatible PDF stories on the CD that teach these empathy concepts:

• Miss Heart’s Sunshine Center (K & Grade 1)
• Gabby Good’s Glasses (Grades 1 & 2)
• Tammi & Lulu (Grades 2 & 3)
• Empathy Elementary (Grades 4 & 5)

Also included are activities for each grade level to reinforce the stories’ messages:

• Making Sad Feelings Disappear, Heart Wands, and more (PK, K & Grade 1)
• Helping an Upset Friend, Feeling Cards, and more (Grades 1 & 2)
• What is a Hero?, Stand-Up Strategies, and more (Grades 2 & 3)
• In Someone Else’s Shoes, Who Am I?, and more (Grades 4 & 5)
• Plus monthly all-school activities for each grade where children demonstrate empathy in and outside of school

Includes ASCA Standards and CD containing PDF files with color versions of each story, reproducible activity sheets, and eleven 11 x 17 printable posters. Level 1 Whiteboard compatible.