Exploring Empathy and Kindness

Overview

This 45-minute lesson is designed for Year 7 students as part of the 6-lesson unit, "Understanding Refugee Experiences." It focuses on developing empathy and kindness through discussion and role-play of scenarios from a refugee-themed book. The activities foster personal connection and encourage students to reflect on how kindness can be demonstrated in everyday life.

National Curriculum Links

History KS3 Programme of Study
- Pupils should understand the experiences of different groups, focusing on causes and consequences of migration and displacement.
- Develop historical empathy by evaluating the experiences and viewpoints of people in the past (especially refugees).
PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education)
- Developing empathy and social skills, including kindness, respect, and understanding diversity.
English KS3
- Understanding and interpreting texts to explore themes such as kindness and human experience.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

Develop historical empathy by discussing and reflecting on experiences of refugees from the text.
Identify examples of kindness and acts of empathy in the refugee narratives studied.
Practise expressing empathy and kindness through collaborative role-play activities.
Reflect on how kindness can be shown in their own lives and communities.

Resources Needed

Copies of selected excerpts/scenarios from the refugee book (printed or digital)
Role-play prompt cards (based on scenarios with examples of kindness)
Whiteboard and markers or interactive whiteboard
Reflection sheets (for exit task)
Timer

Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity – Empathy Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Activity: Write the phrase “Imagine you are someone new in a strange place” on the board.
Briefly ask students to close their eyes and picture this for 30 seconds.
Prompt discussion: What feelings might this person have? What might they need most?
Link ideas to refugee experiences and the importance of kindness.

2. Exploring Kindness in Text (10 minutes)

Distribute short excerpts/scenarios from the refugee book that highlight acts of kindness.
In pairs, students read and discuss the scenario: What act of kindness is shown? How might this make the refugee feel?
Whole class shares examples; teacher records key ideas on board (empathy, welcome, support).

3. Role-Play Activity: Show Kindness (20 minutes)

Instructions: Each pair chooses or is assigned a role-play prompt card describing a scenario from the refugees’ experience where kindness is shown or needed.
Partners plan to act out how they would show kindness in that situation (e.g., welcoming a newcomer, sharing food, helping find a safe place).
Encourage empathy by asking pairs to consider feelings and motivations.
Each pair performs for 2-3 minutes.
After each role-play, the class briefly reflects on how this demonstrated kindness and empathy.

4. Reflection and Personal Connection (8 minutes)

Hand out reflection sheets with questions:
- How did it feel to put yourself in someone else’s shoes?
- Can you think of a time when you showed or received kindness?
- What is one way you could show kindness to someone new or who needs help?
Students write responses individually.
Volunteers share ideas.

5. Plenary – Summary of Key Messages (2 minutes)

Teacher summarises: Empathy connects us to others’ experiences, especially refugees. Kindness helps build positive communities.
Remind students next lesson will build on these ideas focusing on personal stories.

Assessment Opportunities

Formative assessment through paired discussions and teacher observation of role-play participation and empathy understanding.
Reflection sheet responses assess personal understanding of empathy and kindness, linking historical experiences to present-day behaviour.
Peer feedback during role-plays encourages respectful communication.

Differentiation

Support: Provide sentence starters for discussion and role-play for students needing extra help.
Challenge: Encourage more independent planning of dialogue and ask students to consider less obvious acts of kindness.

Extension Idea (If time allows or for homework)

Students write a short diary entry imagining they are a refugee receiving kindness, describing how it feels and why it matters.

Teaching Tip:
To add a creative twist, consider using simple props or costume items during role-play to immerse students more deeply in the scenarios, enhancing empathy through physical embodiment.

This lesson plan ensures alignment with the National Curriculum’s focus on historical empathy, understanding migration experiences, and personal development through kindness, fitting exactly with Year 7 learning stages.

Teaching Instructions