Objective: Students Will Develop Empathy, Sensitivity, and Friendship Skills

Interpersonal Competence

Objective: Students will develop empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.

Sixth Grade Option One  Introduce the skill and the steps.  Have groups of three to five take one of the steps and discuss what it means and how it could help them. Share whole group.

Option Two  Review the skill and steps.  Have student groups of three to five discuss what it means to have empathy. Share whole group after a few minutes. Guide their thinking as necessary.

Seventh Grade Option One  Introduce the skill and the steps.  Ask: “Have you ever heard the American Indian saying You can’t understand me unless you’ve walked a mile in my moccasins? Discuss that saying with your team members and how it relates to empathy.”  Give students time for discussion, then share a few comments whole group.

Option Two  Review the skills and steps.  Ask partners to think of a topic they have strong feelings about. Take turns speaking on the topic and practicing the first three steps.  Afterward, ask: “How did it feel to try these techniques?” Interpersonal Competence

1. Use “I” messages instead of “you” messages.

2. Listen to other people with empathy.

3. Encourage others to speak by saying things like “Tell me more” or “How do you feel about that?”

4. Be friendly and speak to a variety of people, not just your friends and age group.