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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 6-8
  • 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

Reflect on a time when you felt like someone really knew how you were feeling. What signs did they show that told you they understood?

Present

Empathy is a skill that people have to learn and practice. Why do you think that is?

Future

What strategies can you use in your future interactions to help someone understand how you are feeling?

Real-World Connection

Family

Whom in your family do you easily empathize with? What do you have in common with this person? What do you not have in common with this person?

Learning Environment

Practice empathy with a classmate. Take turns telling each other a story for two minutes. When you are the listener, try your best to make eye contact, not interrupt, and ask follow-up questions to show that you are listening.

Community

Describe a community that you empathize with, and explain why.

Academic Connection

ELA

Write a short story from the perspective of a fictional character in a book, tv show, or movie who is going through something emotional.

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 show empathy to someone when communicating through a text or email? Write a sample text or email that demonstrates this.

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.