3FN15 – Social Studies – Empathy in Action

How do FreeNode lessons work?

FreeNodes are instructor-led schooling lessons with a unique approach, granting you the freedom to independently teach using a personalized lesson plan. This autonomy enables you to tailor your lessons to suit students’ individual needs, learning styles, and interests.

To use a FreeNode, read the provided class outline & follow the formatting provided for each class. Make sure to touch on the Theocratic Connection in each class. Follow the outline closely so it is aligned with our main at-home curriculum.

How Do I Use the FreeNode?

Read this lesson plan before class to familiarize yourself with the ideas and concepts you’ll be teaching the students. You may print this page out if you need to use it as a reference point during live classes.

This lesson is a guide, but feel free to expand on the content or decrease/increase what you teach depending on the learning levels of the students in your class or the amount of time you have to cover the material.

Can I show videos in FN classes?

Yes, feel free to include additional material to supplement the class lesson material. Videos, Physical Objects, Games, Activities, etc. are okay to share in live classes.

Videos should have no advertisements or logos and should be viewed by you before showing them to the students to ensure no offensive or questionable content is included.

The video should make up only 1-3 minutes of the live class and should not take the place of instructor-led instruction. Videos should be supplementary only.

How do bookmarks work?

Bookmarks help you keep track of lessons you’re going to teach in future live classes. The bookmarks you see are for all your bookmarked lessons across all grades.

You can bookmark a lesson by visiting the lesson you want to bookmark and clicking the “bookmark” button in the bookmark section.

You can remove a single bookmark by visiting a lesson you’ve bookmarked and clicking the “bookmark” button again to unbookmark it.

You can clear all of your bookmarks by clicking the “clear all bookmarks” button. Be careful, this will erase all of your bookmarks.

Class Lesson Plan

Objectives:

Students understand what empathy is and why it is important.
Students recognize the Golden Rule and how it demonstrates empathy.
Explore ways to show empathy in daily life.
Students recognize how being a role model for empathy can influence others.

Materials:

Whiteboard
Visual aids (examples of empathetic actions, biblical or otherwise)
Interactive online resources such as videos and games (optional)

Introduction (2 minutes):

Ask students if they’ve ever helped someone who was sad or in need. Introduce empathy as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, and explain that it is a way to connect with people and show kindness.

Theocratic Connections:

Discuss how Jehovah and Jesus are ultimate role models for empathy. Reference Matthew 7:12, where Jesus taught the Golden Rule: “All things . . . that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them.” Emphasize how following this rule helps us show empathy and reflect Jehovah’s love.

Activity 1 – What Is Empathy? (8 minutes):

Define empathy as seeing things from another person’s perspective. Explain:

Empathy motivates us to help others.
It helps people feel cared for and valued.

Use examples:

Helping a sick friend because you know how it feels to be unwell.
Being happy for others’ successes without jealousy.

Optional: Ask students to share a time they showed empathy or saw someone else do so.

Activity 2 – The Golden Rule and Empathy (8 minutes):

Introduce the Golden Rule as a practical way to show empathy. Explain:

Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Think about how your actions affect others before you act.

Discuss examples:

Speaking kindly, even when upset.
Celebrating others’ achievements without boasting or jealousy.

Optional: Have students role-play scenarios where they apply the Golden Rule.

Activity 3 – Being a Role Model for Empathy (8 minutes):

Explain what it means to be a role model:

Set an example by showing kindness and understanding.
Influence others to act empathetically by your actions.

Encourage students to:

Talk openly with others to better understand their perspectives.
Use kind words in all forms of communication (spoken, written, or digital).

Optional: Have students brainstorm ways they can be role models for empathy in their families, schools, or congregations.

Conclusion (4 minutes):

Recap the importance of empathy:

Empathy helps us connect with others, follow the Golden Rule, and show Jehovah’s love.
Being a role model for empathy makes us better individuals and inspires others to do the same.

Ask students: “What’s one way you can show empathy this week?”

Assessment:

Evaluate students through discussions and role-play activities to gauge their understanding of empathy, the Golden Rule, and how to apply these concepts in real life.