5th Grade  Lesson 45 minutes

Empathy Express: Connect & Communicate!

Megan H
Updated
D4.3.3-5
Productive Collaborator
Critical Thinker
Empowered Learner
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Purpose

Students will participate in a hands-on project to research historical figures known for empathetic communication, like Martin Luther King Jr. or Eleanor Roosevelt, and create a digital presentation in small groups. They will use a rubric to assess their growth as empathetic communicators, collaborative problem solvers, and innovative critical thinkers. The project will involve active listening, empathy, and collaboration, culminating in a class presentation to deepen understanding of effective communication strategies.

Learning goals

Students will explore historical examples of empathetic communication, identifying key traits and strategies from figures like Martin Luther King Jr. or Eleanor Roosevelt. They will collaborate in small groups to create a digital presentation or role-play scenario, demonstrating how these traits can be applied in their interactions. A rubric will guide students in assessing their growth as empathetic communicators, collaborative problem solvers, and innovative critical thinkers. Through this process, students will practice active listening, empathy, and effective communication, culminating in a class discussion to reflect on their learning and its application to real-world situations.

Standards
  • [National Council for the Social Studies] D4.3.3-5 - Present a summary of arguments and explanations to others outside the classroom using print and oral technologies (e.g., posters, essays, letters, debates, speeches, and reports) and digital technologies (e.g., Internet, social media, and digital documentary).
Competencies
  • Productive Collaborator - Engages with others to achieve a common goal through building positive relationships, actively listening, showing empathy, and making individual contributions to a larger group.
  • Critical Thinker - Thinks deeply and makes informed decisions to create solutions or new understanding supported by relevant and reliable evidence.
  • Empowered Learner - Demonstrates mastery and application of academic competencies. Develops the skills and dispositions to persist through difficulties and plan for a future of self-improvement.

Products

Students will create a rubric to assess their growth as empathetic communicators, collaborative problem solvers, and innovative critical thinkers. In small groups, they will develop a digital presentation highlighting a historical figure known for empathetic communication, including specific examples and impacts. Each presentation will feature a video or role-play demonstrating how these lessons apply today. The final products will be shared with peers and the community through a class blog or social media platform.

Launch

Begin the lesson with a short video clip or story about a historical figure known for their empathetic communication, such as Martin Luther King Jr. or Eleanor Roosevelt. Afterward, facilitate a class discussion where students share their thoughts on how the figure demonstrated empathy and why it was impactful. Introduce a rubric that students will use to assess their growth in empathetic communication, collaborative problem-solving, and critical thinking throughout the project. Encourage students to reflect on a time they communicated empathetically and how it affected their interaction, setting the stage for deeper exploration throughout the lesson.

Exhibition

Students will work in small groups to create a digital presentation or short video highlighting a historical figure who exemplified empathy in their communication. Each group will present their project to the class and invited guests, discussing how the figure's empathetic communication strategies can be applied to modern-day interactions. This exhibition will include a Q&A session where students answer questions and reflect on their learning process, fostering a deeper understanding of empathy in communication. Additionally, students will use a rubric to assess their growth as empathetic communicators, collaborative problem solvers, and innovative critical thinkers throughout the project.