Summary: The lesson starts with a brief reflection before moving into definitions of empathy and compassion. Then students watch a 8 minute wordless movie and write down character feelings and demonstrations of empathy and compassion. Then the lesson moves into the why of empathy, with another silent video and a music video both showing how people often have more going on than can be seen from the outside. The next section is on the whys of compassion, including another wordless short film. The next two sections are on the hows of being compassionate and empathetic, with students asked to identify how people are being compassionate or empathetic in videos and photos and to problem solve ways they could be empathetic/compassionate in made up scenarios. The next section, doing it, is a bingo game where students ask each other (and themselves) about ways they have been empathetic and compassionate. The lesson ends with an extension activity where students are asked to think of ten ways they could be kind, compassionate, or empathetic going forward.

Teaching notes: There are three wordless videos in this lesson. It is super important that students are watching the screen for them or they will miss what is going on. The bingo game works best with prizes and played to black out– not bingo.

Approximate length: 120-140 minutes

About the curriculum: School success relies on key skills that students are rarely taught. The goal of this curriculum is to level the playing field and to directly teach the executive functioning, self-regulation, and life skills that all students need to succeed in school. Through 20 lessons across four units, this year long curriculum will help students build a foundation for success in school and life– and leave them with an individualized success workbook at the end of the program.