Question

why is empathy important?
first thoughts

1. what is the boy in the middle doing? what are the other students doing? tell a partner your ideas.
2. with a partner, write three sentences to tell a story based on the photo.
3. write a title for the picture.

discuss read the sentences. place an x on the line to show how strongly you agree or disagree. then compare and discuss with a partner.

1. people who are happy usually treat others with kindness.
2. people who are miserable often act like they are happy.
3. people are mean because they feel bad about themselves.
4. i can understand why someone treats another person badly.
5. most people have been hurt by someones unkind words.

32 unit 1 empathy

Explanation:

1. The boy in the middle seems sad, possibly being bullied as the other students appear to be interacting in a way that might be negative towards him. For the story - based on the scribbled text, a possible story could be: "Max was feeling sad because his classmates were bullying him. They were making fun of him. But he hoped to find real friends who would be kind." A title for the picture could be "Bullying in School". For the agree - disagree statements:

• People who are happy usually treat others with kindness: Generally, positive emotions can lead to positive behavior, so one might strongly agree.
• People who are miserable often act like they are happy: Some may put on a facade, so a not - sure or neutral response could be valid.
• People are mean because they feel bad about themselves: There can be a connection between low self - esteem and meanness, but it's not always the case, so a not - sure response is reasonable.
• I can understand why someone treats another person badly: Empathy allows for understanding root causes, so one might strongly agree.
• Most people have been hurt by someone's unkind words: In day - to - day life, unkind words are common, so a strong agreement is likely.

Answer:

1. Story: Max was feeling sad because his classmates were bullying him. They were making fun of him. But he hoped to find real friends who would be kind.
2. Title: "Bullying in School"
3. 1. Strongly Agree
4. Not Sure
5. Not Sure
6. Strongly Agree
7. Strongly Agree