Empathy Basics
What's the issue?
Problem Solving
How might we....
Compassion in action
100

What does empathy mean?

Understanding how someone else feels

100

What is an "issue"

A problem people care about and want to fix

100

What’s the first step in solving a problem?

Identify the problem, ASK, or define the problem

100

What is the first step to defining a problem?

Ask a question, identify/choose a problem

100

What does it mean to be compassionate?

Caring about others and wanting to help

200

True or False: Empathy means feeling sorry for someone

False - it means you feel with them or understand how they are feeling

200

Is “too much trash at school” a school, local, or global issue?

School

200

What does a “solution” mean?

A way to fix or help a problem

200

Turn this problem into a question: “Kids feel left out at lunch.”

How might we help everyone feel included at lunch?

200

What’s one kind thing you can do for a classmate today?

Open

300

What is one way to show empathy to a classmate?

Listening, including them, helping, etc.

300

Is “pollution in the ocean” local, school, or global?

Global

300

What can happen if we try to solve a problem without understanding it first?

It might not work or could make it worse

300

Why do we write “How might we” questions instead of just saying the problem?

So we can start thinking about solutions

300

True or False: Compassion is just about feelings.

False — it's also about actions

400

How is empathy different from sympathy?

Empathy = feeling with someone; Sympathy = feeling sorry for them

400

What’s one issue you’ve noticed at school?

Open-ended - must relate to Brookland Middle School

400

True or False: All problems have one perfect solution.

False

400

“Some kids don’t have supplies.” → Write a problem statement.

How might we help all students get supplies?

400

What is one way a whole school can show compassion?

Fundraiser, kindness challenge, help new students, etc.

500

What might happen if people in a school don’t show empathy?

Bullying, conflict, people feel alone, etc.

500

Why is it important to notice and talk about issues?

So we can find ways to solve or improve them

500

What’s a problem you would like to help solve, and how might you do it?

Open response - points for identifying the problem and a creative solution

500

Create your own “How might we…” question about a real problem

Open response - points for starting correctly

500

Think of a big issue. How could compassion help fix it?

Open