General: Perspective taking
What does it mean to take a different perspective?
To look at something in more than one way.
You walk up to a group of classmates who are laughing and talking about a game they played.
What might they be thinking when you stand silently next to them?
Possible thoughts:
You want to use the same materials as your teammate, but they won’t share. What do you do?
Angry, disappointed
How do you feel when someone doesn’t listen to your ideas?
sad or embarrassed
Your team has only one pair of scissors, but everyone needs to cut something. How can you work together so everyone gets a turn?
allow everyone to get a chance to use
How can you tell what someone is thinking or feeling?
What their body is doing, what their face looks like, what they say
You start talking about your favorite show while someone else is telling a story. What might they be thinking when you interrupt?
Possible thoughts:
“I wasn’t finished talking.”
“Do they care about my story?”
“Maybe they didn’t realize I was still speaking.”
Someone in your group keeps interrupting you. How will you feel?
annoyed
What makes you feel proud during teamwork?
Two teammates have different ideas for the centerpiece. How can you combine both ideas so everyone feels included?
Compromising both ideas together
What is a compromise?
working together to find a solution that everyone can agree on
You ask a classmate, “Can I play?” while they are already in the middle of a game with friends. What might they be thinking when you ask?
Possible thoughts:
A girl is sitting at a lunch table alone while the rest of the class sit together, talking and laughing.
sad, left out, uncomfortable
How do you feel when you help solve a problem?
confident
You notice one teammate is not helping much. What can you do to encourage them to join in?
Encourage them to take on an active role and be an active learner
Why is understanding other people's perspectives important?
Helps you to understand things in a different light and get along with others.
You stand very close to someone while waiting in line.
What might they be thinking when you are in their personal space?
Possible thoughts:
You feel frustrated because your ideas aren’t being heard. What can you say to express your feelings? How do you feel?
Uncomfortable, angry
What can you do when you feel annoyed or frustrated?
use coping skills such as...
Your group runs out of tape, but you still need to attach pieces. How can you solve this problem as a team?
ask other groups to borrow
What is perspective taking?
Perspective taking is the ability to understand a situation from someone else’s point of view. It involves recognizing others’ perspectives, interpreting body language and facial expressions, and making inferences about social scenarios.
You grab a marker from the table without asking while someone else is using it. What might they be thinking when you take the marker?
Possible thoughts:
A teammate is being silly and distracting others. How can you help the group stay focused?
bring back the focus
When you have spent the afternoon doing your homework and the next day a classmate who didn't bother to do theirs wants to copy your work, you feel ________________________
annoyed
One person wants to do all the decorating themselves. How can you politely suggest sharing the work?