Contents
Children sit in a circle and share real or imagined stories about times they felt certain emotions, while the rest of the group practices listening and responding empathetically.
Proposed step by step implementation of the learning activity:
This activity is designed to help children explore emotions through storytelling and practice empathy by listening and responding with care.
1. Preparation by the teacher
The teacher chooses one core emotion to focus on for the session — for example: fear, joy, sadness, anger, or pride. This emotion will guide the stories shared and the responses practiced.
The teacher introduces the session by saying something like:
“Today we’re going to focus on one emotion and tell real stories about when we felt that way. After each story, we’ll practice listening with care and showing that we understand and support each other.”
2. Setting the tone
To create a safe and respectful atmosphere, the teacher reminds the class of a few key rules:
- One person speaks at a time.
- We listen with full attention.
- No teasing or judgment.
- It’s okay to pass if someone doesn’t want to share.
3. Sharing stories (individual turn)
- One child volunteers (or is gently invited) to tell a short true story about a time they felt the chosen emotion.
For example: “I felt scared when I got lost in the supermarket for a moment and couldn’t find my dad.” - The teacher or another child can help by gently prompting:
“What happened next?”
“Where did you feel the emotion in your body?”
“What did you do about it?”
4. Practicing empathetic responses (group activity)
After the story, the group practices empathetic reactions by responding with:
- A caring question, like:
“How did that make you feel?” - A supportive comment, like:
“That must have been really hard. I would’ve felt scared too.” - A personal connection, like:
“Something similar happened to me when…”
The teacher models these types of responses if needed and encourages others to try.
5. Rotating speakers
The activity continues with 2–4 more children, depending on the time and group size. Each child shares a story, and the group responds empathetically. If some children prefer not to speak, they can still participate in the response part.
6. Group reflection and wrap-up
At the end, the class reflects together:
- “What did it feel like to share something personal?”
- “What helped you feel understood?”
- “How can we use this kind of listening in other parts of our day?”