Empathy for Others

Posted Date: 12/09/2024

Capitol students learned about and practiced their empathy skills with Counselor Mrs. Barbara Utley this week. They played "Feelings charades' to practice their empathy skills (recognizing the feelings of others) then students listened to the story "A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree" to learn how the woodland animals showed empathy to the tree who was feeling sad. They concluded the lesson with their own empathetic responses to someone feeling, sad, angry, embarrassed, bored, lonely, and frustrated and posted them on the Capitol "Workin' on Empathy" bulletin board to remind everyone to be empathetic every day even if it is hard work! They also talked about Christmas. Christmas can mean even the most generous-spirited children are more focused on what they want to get rather than what they can give. But the real Christmas spirit is about giving – rather than gifts. Dr. Seuss may have been on to something in ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ when he wrote "Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” Mrs. Utley then gave students ideas on ways to give this Christmas. Thank you Mrs. Utley, for helping students understand their feelings.