Unit Plan 4 (Grade 3 Counselor): Kindness and Empathy in Action
Teach Grade 3 empathy with scenarios that help students notice feelings, name needs, choose kind actions, and build classroom belonging.
Focus: Introduce empathy as noticing how someone may feel and choosing a caring response. The counselor uses realistic Grade 3 situations, such as a classmate being left out of a group, someone being embarrassed after a mistake, or a student feeling nervous before presenting. Students practice identifying the feeling, naming the need, and choosing a kind action that supports belonging.
Grade Level: 3
Subject Area: School Counseling (Empathy • Kindness • Belonging)
Total Unit Duration: 1–2 weeks, 30 minutes per session
I. Introduction
This Grade 3 counseling lesson helps students understand empathy as the ability to notice how someone may feel and choose a caring response. Students learn that kindness is more than being polite; it means using words, actions, choices, and attitudes that help classmates feel safe, included, respected, and valued.
Students practice empathy through realistic Grade 3 situations, such as a classmate being left out of a group, someone feeling embarrassed after making a mistake, a student feeling nervous before presenting, or a partner feeling ignored during group work. The counselor helps students identify the feeling, name the need, and choose a kind action that supports classroom belonging.
Essential Questions
- What does empathy mean?
- How can students notice how someone else may feel?
- What kind actions help classmates feel safe, included, respected, and valued?
- How can words, actions, choices, and attitudes build classroom belonging?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Explain empathy as noticing how someone may feel and choosing a caring response.
- Identify possible feelings in realistic Grade 3 situations.
- Name possible needs connected to feelings, such as encouragement, inclusion, help, space, fairness, or reassurance.
- Choose kind actions that support belonging, respect, inclusion, and trust.
- Practice empathy phrases and actions during partner, group, or classroom situations.
- (Optional Session) Apply empathy and kindness skills to new scenarios through sorting, role-play, or a classroom belonging challenge.
Standards Alignment — Grade 3 (ASCA-based Custom)
- C:S3.3a — Show Empathy and Respect for Others
- Recognize how others may feel and respond with kindness, respect, and care.
- Example: A student notices a classmate looks left out and says, “Do you want to join our game?”
- C:S1.3c — Contribute Positively to Classroom and School Belonging
- Recognize how words, actions, choices, and attitudes can help classmates feel safe, included, respected, and valued.
- Example: A student invites a classmate into a group project and makes sure everyone has a role.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can explain what empathy means.
- I can notice how someone might feel.
- I can name what someone might need.
- I can choose a kind action that helps someone feel included or respected.
- I can use words and actions that support classroom belonging.