Here for You: Empathy and Understanding
How can we grow our empathy and put it into action in our daily lives?
How to Use This Lesson
This is a Harmony Student Wellness lesson, a week-long, music-centered social-emotional learning lesson designed to be taught across multiple sessions, culminating in an arts-based project. This lesson can be taught in isolation or as part of the larger Harmony Student Wellness program. For more support on implementation, see the Implementation Guide on the program page.
Essential Question
How can we grow our empathy and put it into action in our daily lives?
Objectives
Mastery Objective
- Students will be able to identify and implement strategies for showing empathy to others.
Day 1 - Students will:
- Listen to “Here for You” by Kygo
- Define empathy
- Discuss benefits of empathy
Day 2 - Students will:
- Listen to “Empathy” by Alanis Morissette
- Identify ways to build empathy
- Identify opportunities for broadening their circles of concern
Day 3 - Students will:
- Listen to “Don’t Touch My Hair” by Solange
- Analyze barriers to empathy
- Consider how to overcome barriers to empathy
Day 4 - Students will:
- Listen to “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding
- Identify strategies for putting empathy into action
- Consider how to implement the strategies
Arts-Based Activity - Students will:
- Reflect on ways to build and practice empathy
- Apply empathy strategies in writing
Background
Students will build an understanding of what empathy is and discuss some ways empathy presents in human interactions. They will identify strategies for building empathy and recognize opportunities for broadening their circles of concern. Furthermore, students will be able to analyze barriers to empathy and illustrate ways to overcome those barriers. They will also practice strategies for putting empathy into action. Finally, students will write a dramatic monologue in which one character demonstrates empathy for another.
Materials
Required for all lessons:
- Student Journals
- Art Supplies
Day 2:
Day 4:
*optional