Empathy Grade 3 Lesson Plan: Make-a-Map

Grade Level: Third Grade

In this lesson plan, third graders use BrainPOP Jr. resources to explore the concept of empathy. They discover what it means to think about and understand how other people are feeling. Then they apply their understanding by completing an on or offline concept map identifying ways they can show empathy when someone you know is feeling bad or going through a hard time. 

 

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Build background knowledge: Watch the BrainPOP Jr. Empathy movie.
  2. Express understanding: Complete an on- or offline concept map identifying ways they can show empathy.
  3. Complete an Assessment: Take the Empathy Quiz to show what they learned.

Materials:

  • Internet access for BrainPOP Jr.
  • Printable concept web (offline option)
  • Printout of Quiz  (offline option)

Preparation:

  • Preview the BrainPOP Jr. movie Empathy to plan for any adaptations. 
  • Read Empathy Background Information.  
  • Assign Make-a-Map. (optional) 
  • Print out and make copies of concept web. (offline option)
  • Assign Quiz. (optional)
  • Print out and make copies of Quiz. (offline option)
    • *If using this lesson for distance learning, setup for video conferencing, such as Zoom, Google Meet, etc. Create and send an invitation with a link.

Lesson Procedure:

  1. Tap students’ prior knowledge. Prompt them to tell about a time a friend or someone in their family felt sad: Why did the person feel sad? How did you make the person feel better? Or, ask about a time they felt very sad: Why were you sad? How did a friend or family member make you feel better?
  2. Watch the BrainPOP Jr. movie Empathy. Click the pause button each time a question appears in Annie’s Notebook and answer it. Then play to see how Annie answers it. 

    TIP: the pause button turns red to remind you to pause.  

    Offline Option: Print out the transcript and Annie’s Notebook for a grown-up to read aloud at home. Suggest that the child play Moby and “Beep” in response to Annie.
  3. Have students open their Make-a-Map assignment. Or, if you are not using the Assignment Builder, show how to open Make-a-Map. 
  4. Instruct students to make a concept map that identifies ways that people show empathy to someone who feels bad. 

    Model how to use Make-a-Map. Start a new map by selecting “create new.” Then click a node from the menu sidebar, and put it in the center of the screen. Type the word “Empathy”. Then show how to add keywords and images from the movie to their maps. Finally, demonstrate how they can play the movie, clicking the camera to take a moment from the movie and add it to their map.

    When students finish, remind them to click the Submit To Teacher button and/or print out.

    Offline Option: Students complete an offline concept web, writing words and drawing pictures that show how they show empathy.
  5. Have students open their Quiz assignment. Or, if you are not using the Assignment Builder, show how to open the Quiz. You can choose the Easy or Hard Quiz. 
  6. To hear the questions and answer read aloud, show students how to hover over the words. If you assigned the quiz, you will see students’ results in your Dashboard. If not assigned, remind students to click the Submit to Teacher button.

    Offline Option: Print out the Quiz for students by clicking the print icon.   Read aloud each question and answer options, repeating as needed. 
Filed as:  3rd Grade, BrainPOP Jr., CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5c, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.8, Empathy, Lesson Ideas, Lesson Plan, Make-a-Map, Teacher Resources, social emotional learning