Empathy classroom lesson

This week I had the opportunity to be in every classroom for my first lesson of the year.  I enjoyed getting to know the new students and seeing them in the classroom environment.  As part of my first lesson of the year I gave the students an overview of what my role is as the school counselor and they had the opportunity to ask me questions as well.  The lesson focused on exposing the students to the skill of empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.  I brought in a large paper heart and the students were asked to imagine that the paper heart was their very own and we brainstormed together things that would hurt their hearts if they happened. With each event the heart was crumpled until it was a ball.  We then discussed how sad, angry and lonely someone would feel if all of those things had happened to them.  The students then had the opportunity to try and make the heart feel happy again by saying and doing nice things - with each event the heart became less crumpled in the ball.  The discussion then centered on how important it is to stop and think before making hurtful comments as it truly leaves a wrinkle on someone's heart.  Each of the classrooms now has the heart used in the lesson hanging in their classroom as a reminder to be kind and empathic to all.  Make sure you look for at our open house this week!

This week my classroom lesson will continue to build on the students empathy skills as we discuss and explore various feelings.  There are many stories about empathy that you might want to share with your child - here are just a few of the titles; Bully by Laura Seeger, Good News, Bad News by Jeff Mack, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, Stand in My Shoes by Bob Sornson, Hey Little Ant by Phillip Hoose, and My Mouth is a Volcano! by Julia Cook.