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Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another

  • This workout takes approximately 10 Minutes
  • This workout is for students in Grades 2-3
  • Teacher Resources

Move

  • Type:  Cardio
  • Excercise:  Standing March
  • Target:  Total Body + Warm-Up
  • Equipment:  None
Workout guide

Steps

1. Stand in NaliniKIDS posture
2. Raise your right knee up toward your chest and then lower your leg back down
3. Repeat on your left side
4. Continue marching, and then add your arms to the movement
5. Reach your arms up toward the ceiling, then pull your elbows down toward your lifted knee, twisting your upper body slightly (don’t twist your lower body!)
6. Keep your lower body marching as your upper body switches from side to side (coordination is key in this exercise!)

Sequence

– 10 second march (approx. 10 marches)
– 10 second march (add arms)

Modification

If you’re having trouble with coordination or maintaining proper posture:
– March in place without lifting your arms with your legs

Icon of a body with vibration lines on the sides of it.

How does your body feel after completing the workout?

Icon of a profile view of a person’s head with a speech bubble where the brain would be.

How does your mind feel after completing the workout?

Icon of a question mark.

What does Empathy mean to you in this moment?

Choose from the additional reflection prompts below to customize this lesson and meet the needs of your students and your time constraints. Create a unique workout experience every time you return to this lesson!

Self-Connection

Past

Have you ever watched a movie and felt like you understood what the characters were going through? How were you able to empathize with them?

Present

How can you tell that someone is listening to you?

Future

Name one thing you can do to better understand how another person is feeling.

Real-World Connection

Family

Pretend to be a member of your family by drawing a picture of them and imagining what they might be feeling in this moment.

Learning Environment

How can you show a classmate that you are listening when they are sharing?

Community

In your community, whom do you feel empathy toward?

Academic Connection

ELA

What might someone learn if they walked in your shoes for a day? Draw an outline of a shoe and fill it in with words that represent who you are.

Social Studies

Choose a historical figure who you are currently studying, and practice historical empathy by imagining yourself as this person. What might this person have been feeling during this time in history?

STEM

How can you use an emoji to show empathy to someone in a text message or online?

Fun Fact

Elephants, dolphins, whales, chimpanzees, and a handful of other animals may be able to feel empathy, based on a part of their brain that is similar to the human brain.