School Counseling Curriculum Lesson Plan
School Counselor in Training: Kira Thomas
Title of Lesson: Empathy
Grade Level: 5
Goal: To teach students about the meaning of the word Empathy and the importance of
putting themselves in someone else's shoes.
ASCA Mindset or Behavior Standard (1 mindset or/1 behavior standards)
Social skills (B-SS4) Demonstrate Empathy
Student Learning Outcomes(s): As a result of this empathy lesson on having the
ability to understand and share the feelings of another, students will strengthen the
community dynamic in the classroom. This lesson will set students up to deepen
relationships with their classmates and people that they know outside of school.
This lesson was designed to encourage tolerance and acceptance of others while
promoting good mental health.
Measurable Outcome:
In the beginning of the counseling session, the counselor asks the students questions
about the word empathy so she can determine the students' knowledge of the term
empathy and its applications. Once responses are collected, and the counselor provide
lesson, student would be given a chance to reflect on the lesson and what was learned
in one or two sentences.
Materials Needed: white paper, pen/pencil, empathy book, feeling check-in
Time Available for Lesson:
45-50 mins
Lesson Introduction: Good day students today we will be learning about empathy and
how important it is to give empathy to your classmates, and to the people around you.
So knowing what empathy is really important because you want to be able to grow and
to understand that even if you have not been in a similar position or situation with peers
or a stranger, you can put yourself in their shoes and empathize with them. First we will
do a feelings check-in so you can tell me how your weekend was.
Description of Activity (your script/outline of steps/activities):
1. Welcome students and introduce self to students
2. Share the goals of the lessons as well as the information about the components
of the lesson (we will discuss empathy, how to use it, it’s benefits, read a book
about empathy and watch a short video, we will share our thoughts and answer
questions to help me understand how much you know already and have learned
during the lesson)
3. Ask students to write down anything they know about empathy, what it means,
how to do it, benefits etc.
4. Ask students to share their responses and understanding of empathy in small
groups
5. Define empathy and provide examples.
6. Read the book aloud, pausing to ask probing questions.
7. Ask students what their thoughts are about the book before moving on to the 2
minute video. Show video without interruption.
8. Ask students to identify and rate their current knowledge of empathy, what it
means, how to do it, benefits, etc.
9. Ask students to share if anything has changed from the beginning of the lesson
to the end in regard to their knowledge of empathy? Ask students if they can
share a time when they were empathetic or received empathy and how that
made them feel. Ask students about a time when they wish they were empathetic
but was not?
Conclusion/wrap up: After students discuss their understanding and experience with
empathy the school counselor will reflect and summarize what was shared and
discussed. School counselors will reiterate the important messages in the book and
video. The school counselor will also tie what the students learned back to the overall
theme of the lesson by giving the students relevant takeaway points which would lead to
a follow-up session.
Follow-up/Next Steps:
After presenting the lesson to the students, the counselor will follow up with teachers
and administrators, to see if the students are exhibiting changes in their attitudes
towards empathy. In the next three weeks, the counselor will facilitate a follow-up lesson
to see how the students retain the empathy information for the aforementioned lesson.
In addition, the new lesson can begin with ways that the students utilized empathy with
people around them.
