Empathy and Kindness Activities

Health & PE — Year 5 | Unit: Respectful Interactions and Emotions | Lesson 3

Name:

Date:

Children showing kindness and empathy to each other

🎯 WALT & Success Criteria

We Are Learning To (WALT): Understand and practise empathy.

I can...

✅ Explain what empathy means and why it matters.

✅ Identify empathetic actions in different situations.

✅ Reflect on how showing kindness helps others feel better.

📖 What is Empathy? (Read or listen along)

Empathy means trying to understand how someone else is feeling — and showing kindness because of it. When a friend is sad and you sit with them, that is empathy. When a new student arrives and you say hello and include them, that is empathy too. Empathy helps us build strong friendships, solve problems peacefully, and make our school a kinder place.

Example: Mia noticed her classmate Jayden looked upset after lunch. Instead of ignoring him, she asked, "Are you okay? Do you want to talk?" Jayden felt much better knowing someone cared.

💡 Dyslexia-friendly tip: Ask your teacher about the audio version of this passage, or follow along with a reading partner.

💬 Part 1: Understanding Empathy

1. In your own words, what does empathy mean?

2. In the story above, what did Mia do to show empathy?

She ignored Jayden and walked away.

She asked if he was okay and offered to listen.

She told the teacher Jayden was sad.

She laughed and kept playing.

3. Which of these are examples of showing empathy? (Tick ALL that apply)

Sitting with someone who is eating alone.

Laughing at someone when they make a mistake.

Saying "Are you okay?" to a friend who looks upset.

Including a new student in your game at lunch.

Walking past someone who has dropped their things.

4. How do you feel when someone shows empathy towards you?

🔗 Part 2: Matching — Emotions and Kind Actions

Draw a line to match each emotion on the left with the most empathetic action on the right.

A friend feels left out at lunch.

A classmate is nervous about speaking in front of the class.

Someone trips and drops their books.

A new student doesn't know where to go.

Offer to help pick them up and ask if they are okay.

Invite them to sit with your group.

Offer to show them around the school.

Smile and say, "You'll do great — I believe in you!"

✏️ Part 3: My Kindness Story

5. Think of a time you showed kindness or empathy to someone. Describe what happened. (Use the sentence starters below if you need help!)

💡 Sentence starters: "I noticed that... / I felt... / I decided to... / Afterwards, they felt..."

6. 🌟 My Kindness Pledge — Complete this promise to yourself:

This week, I will show empathy by _______________________________________________

I will do this because ___________________________________________________________

🚀 Extension Challenge

Research a famous Australian who showed great empathy and kindness — such as Fred Hollows (eye surgeon who helped people in need) or Mary MacKillop (helped disadvantaged children and families). Use a tablet, audio book, or website to find out more. Then answer:

Who did you research? _________________________ What did they do to show empathy?