In Their Shoes
Your friend lost their pet dog yesterday. Doing this helps you understand why they feel so sad today.
What is putting yourself in their shoes? (or imagining how they feel)
Someone's shoulders are slouched, their head is down, and they aren't speaking much. They are most likely feeling this way.
What is sad (or down / upset)?
Instead of saying "That's easy!" when someone struggles with math, this is an empathetic thing to say instead.
What is "Can I help you?" or "It's tricky, but you can do it!"
This word means understanding and sharing the feelings of another person.
What is empathy?
Your friend says "I'm fine," but their head is down and their voice is quiet. Using perspective-taking, you realize they probably feel this way.
What is not fine / sad / upset?
If a classmate drops their lunch tray and everyone laughs, this is how you can put yourself in their shoes to decide what to do.
What is thinking about how embarrassed you would feel if you dropped your tray?
Someone's eyes are wide, their hands are clenched into fists, and their mouth is in a straight line. They are most likely feeling this way.
What is angry (or mad / frustrated)?
When a friend is sharing a story about a tough day, doing this shows you are giving them your full attention.
What is active listening? (or listening without interrupting / making eye contact)
True or False: Having empathy means you have to agree with everything the other person says.
What is False? (You can understand someone's feelings without agreeing with them)
You want to play tag, but your friend wants to swing. An empathetic compromise looks like this.
What is doing one activity first and the other second (or taking turns)?
This term means looking at a situation through another person’s eyes instead of just your own.
What is perspective-taking?
When you notice someone feeling left out at recess, doing this shows you care about their feelings.
What is asking them to play with you?
If you win a board game, showing empathy means you do this instead of bragging.
What is saying "Good game!" or validating how well the other person played?
This type of listening means keeping your mouth quiet, keeping your eyes on the speaker, and trying to understand their feelings.
What is active listening?
When you disagree with a teammate, using "I feel..." statements instead of "You always..." statements helps prevent this.
What is an argument (or hurt feelings)?
Two people look at the number 6 written on the floor from opposite sides. One sees a 6, but the other sees this number.
What is a 9?
Someone is quiet, crossing their arms, and looking around the room before trying a new activity. They are likely feeling this way.
What is nervous (or shy / anxious)?
If a new student joins your class and doesn't know where to sit at lunch, this empathetic action helps them feel welcome.
What is inviting them to sit with you?
his phrase describes what you do when you try to understand why someone acted the way they did before getting mad at them.
What is seeing things from their point of view?
our classmate drops their project and gets mad at you, even though you didn't touch it. Using empathy, you realize they are reacting because of this feeling.
What is frustration or disappointment about their project?
You think a movie is super funny, but your friend thinks it is scary. This explains why both of you are right.
What is having different perspectives?
These two visual clues on a person's body help you guess how they are feeling without them saying a word.
What are facial expressions and body language?
You accidentally step on a classmate's paper and tear it. Even though it was an accident, an empathetic response includes this.
What is apologizing and helping them fix or rewrite it?
Empathy is different from sympathy because sympathy is feeling sorry for someone, while empathy is feeling this with them.
What is feeling with them (or understanding what they are going through)?
Taking a step back to ask yourself "What might be going on in their day that I don't know about?" is an example of this skill.
What is benefit of the doubt (or compassionate perspective-taking)?