Activities to working on empathy in the secondary school classroom

Putting ourselves in other people's shoes and feeling what others feel is much more difficult than we think. Feeling empathy allows people to connect with each other in an easier and simpler way, as well as encouraging generosity or the ability to be fairer. What happens is that working on this emotion is not always an easy task in the case of students. That is why at Coruña British International School we develop and promote activities to work on empathy in the secondary classroom.

Today we are going to review short films, activities and books, which are some of the materials that allow us to work on the value of empathy in class. Empathy in its maximum expression appears, precisely, in puberty when children are able, not only to care about those around them, but also about people they do not know. For example, social concern for those without food or shelter appears.

Cinema to work on empathy in the secondary school classroom

Two playful activities to promote empathy in the secondary school classroom

A simple activity to work on empathy in the secondary school classroom is a game called Walk for a while with my shoes, proposed by Haydee Mesa. It is a game to develop empathy in the classroom, and facilitates conflict resolution, communication and teamwork. The teacher has to choose a conflict that has arisen in class between two students. Based on the proposed debate, students have to recognise the predominant emotion behind the altercation, share their experience and carry out a role reversal to find out how each one felt.

Another interesting activity that will capture the attention of secondary school students to work on empathy is to use a ball of wool. This involves arranging all the children in a circle. The teacher starts by throwing the ball of wool at someone without letting go of one end. While throwing the ball of wool, the teacher says something positive that the person to whom the ball of wool is thrown at likes or values. The person who receives the ball of wool catches the yarn and throws the ball of wool to another person. He/she also says something that the other likes. In this way, without letting go of the thread, we weave a spider's web. When does the exercise end? When everyone has caught the ball of yarn. Afterwards we have a discussion to see how they have felt, how the appraisals have been received, and if they have recognised themselves in them.

An inspiring talk on empathy is given by the psychologist and doctor in education Rafael Guerrero, titled “What is empathy” and how to develop it in children? in BBVA's "Let's learn together" project.

Empathy is an essential pillar in the fight against bullying. Why? Because an empathetic child will not be an aggressive child, much less a bully, but a child who seeks to create and maintain friendships. Far from being destructive, a child who practices empathy is a child who builds relationships.