Empathy Skills for Learning
Definition: This helps you understand what others are feeling or going through.
Empathy
You are hanging out with your friend and you start arguing. Her face is getting red and her eyes are narrowing. What emotion is she probably feeling?
Anger
What would you do to make a new student more comfortable?
Examples include: Introduce yourself, offer to help them out if they are confused, invite them to join you in activities.
True or False: You should always communicate how you feel, even when it disagrees with someone else.
True! It is important to let people know how a situation is making you feel. This is a good way for people to better understand you and your needs/boundaries.
True or False: The opposite sides of dice always add up to 7.
True
Why is it important to show empathy to others?
To better understand people, and maintain good relationships.
One of your classmates gets called upon by the teacher, but he doesn't know the answer. What emotion is he probably feeling?
Embarrassed, shy
True or False: It is okay to talk badly about one of your friends if you are talking to another one of their friends.
False! It is never okay to talk badly about someone.
True or False: Using harsh words to make sure the other person knows exactly how you feel is a helpful way to communicate.
You should use kind words and think about how to respectfully share your feelings.
What is the longest river in the world?
The Nile
What are some ways that you can show someone that you are actively listening to what they are saying?
Some examples are: Maintain eye contact, do not interrupt them, ask questions, and repeat what they are saying to let them know you understand what they are telling you.
How would you feel if your friend made fun of you on social media?
You could feel a mixture of anger, sadness, and maybe even confusion.
Your friend Sarah is absent from school because of her broken ankle. Your classmates start saying mean things about her. You join in with them because you don't want to feel left out. Are you being a good friend?
No! You should tell the other students to stop talking badly about your friend. You can get a teacher involved too.
True or False: To be a good communicator, you must also listen to what the other person is saying.
True! It is always important to actively listen to another person's thoughts and feelings when trying to express yours. It's a two-way street!
Who lives in a trashcan on Sesame Street?
Oscar the Grouch
What are some ways to disagree with someone, while still being respectful?
Actively listen to what they have to say, calmly tell them your perspective without getting upset at them. It's okay to disagree, but we need to respond appropriately to the people around us.
The students in the classroom won't stop talking, even though they've been asked to stop many times. How is the teacher probably feeling?
Annoyed, frustrated
Your friend is really stressed today, and is acting like she is mad at you. What should you do if you know that she is stressed?
Realizing that she is just grumpy from being stressed out, you should offer to help her with her tasks, or help her use coping skills to calm down. You should NOT get mad at her because that will just cause more stress!
When someone does something that bothers you, what should you do?
You should talk to them about it as soon as you can, and why it upset you. They'll never know that it bothers you unless you tell them!
Are worker bees male or female?
Predicting feelings: Why is it important to try and predict how your words will affect someone?
You don't want to hurt other people"s feelings, so you should think about what you say to them first. If you say what first comes to your mind, it could be based on high emotions and could come out as hurtful. We want to avoid making this mistake.
Your mom gets home from work looking disheveled, and she says that dinner is going to be takeout instead of your favorite home cooked meal. You might be upset, but what emotions do you think your mom is feeling right now, and what should you do about it?
Most likely tired and/or stressed. She had a long day at work and is too tired to cook, so you should be respectful of her feelings and ask if she needs help with anything.
True or False: A good friend will always agree with you.
False! If they always agreed with you, they probably aren't being completely truthful with you about how they really feel. Also, disagreements help you grow in a relationship, so we should welcome them.
True or False: When talking about how you feel with someone, you should only be focused on why you're upset and not thinking about what to do next.
False: Try to come up with a solution with this person, or a compromise.
How many noses does a slug have?
Four!