“Walk in My Shoes” – A Think-Pair-Share Adaptation for Empathy Training

In this empathy-focused adaptation of Think-Pair-Share, children are invited to step into the shoes of others. They first reflect individually on an assigned scenario, then discuss in pairs how they would feel and what they would need if they were in that situation. Finally, they share their partner’s thoughts with the whole class, practising both perspective-taking and listening to understand. In this activity, children encounter brief stories or situations presented as footprints or stepping stones. Each step invites them to imagine how someone else feels and what kind of support or response might help.

Skill focus

Primary Skill Focus

  • Empathy

Complementary/Secondary Skill Focus

  • Emotional awareness, regulation and communication
  • Valuing people and nature
Age groupStudent numberDuration
6-10 years oldWhole class (ideally 12 to 25 children), working in pairs and small groups30-45 minutes

Proposed step by step implementation of the learning activity

The teacher presents a selection of age-appropriate scenarios involving situations where someone might experience strong emotions (e.g., feeling left out, losing a beloved object, arriving at a new school). Each child receives a different scenario, or they all work on the same one, depending on the class size and time available.

Step 1 – Think: Each child takes a few minutes to imagine being in that situation and thinks about:

  • How would I feel?
  • What would I need from others to feel better?

Step 2 – Pair:  Children pair up and exchange their reflections, with a focus on listening to understand, rather than giving advice or solutions. They are encouraged to ask clarifying questions like:

  • “Why would you feel that way?”
  • “Has something like this ever happened to you?”
  • “What could someone do to help you?”

Step 3 – Share: Each child then introduces their partner’s story and feelings to the class (not their own). This helps children experience empathy through retelling someone else’s emotions and perspectives, reinforcing the idea of stepping into someone else’s shoes.

Go to the full description