The Invisible Boy: A Journey into Empathy
Created byPaige Grabmuller
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The Invisible Boy: A Journey into Empathy

KindergartenHealthEnglish1 days
This project introduces kindergarten students to the concept of empathy through the book "The Invisible Boy," focusing on how to make everyone feel seen and included. Students participate in activities like the 'Empathy Mystery Box' to explore emotions and create an 'Empathy Menu' of actionable ways to show empathy. They also develop a personal definition of empathy, connecting it to scenes from the book and reflecting on their ability to apply empathetic behaviors in real-world situations to promote inclusivity and combat feelings of being 'invisible.'
EmpathyInclusionThe Invisible BoyEmotional RecognitionPerspective TakingSocial Skills
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we make sure everyone feels seen and included?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What is empathy?
  • How can we show empathy to others?
  • Why is it important to be empathetic?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Define empathy and recognize its importance.
  • Identify ways to show empathy to others.
  • Reflect on personal actions and how they impact others' feelings of inclusion.
  • Apply empathetic behaviors in real-world situations to promote inclusivity.
  • Understand the concept of being 'invisible' and relate it to feelings of exclusion.
  • Use the book "The Invisible Boy" as a context for understanding empathy and inclusion

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The Empathy Mystery Box

Begin with a 'Mystery Box' containing items that represent different emotions (e.g., a sad face drawing, a band-aid, a picture of friends laughing). Without revealing the contents, ask students what kinds of feelings or situations might be connected to what's inside. Then, read "The Invisible Boy" and revisit the items, discussing how empathy relates to the story and the items.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

The Empathy Menu

Students brainstorm and role-play different ways to show empathy, creating a 'menu' of empathetic actions.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Brainstorm different ways to show empathy to someone who feels 'invisible'.
2. Choose at least three actions and draw a picture representing each one.
3. Write a short description under each picture explaining how it shows empathy.
4. Combine your drawings and descriptions into a 'menu' format.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA menu titled 'Ways to Show Empathy' with illustrated actions.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Identify ways to show empathy to others.
Activity 2

Empathy Explorers: My Definition

Students create a personal definition of empathy based on initial discussions and the book, illustrated with a scenario from 'The Invisible Boy'.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Participate in a class discussion about empathy after the 'Mystery Box' activity.
2. Verbally define empathy in your own words. The teacher will write down the definition on the board.
3. Draw a scene from 'The Invisible Boy' where empathy is shown or needed.
4. With the teacher's help, explain how your scene relates to the definition of empathy on the board.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn illustrated page defining empathy with a scenario from the book.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Define empathy and recognize its importance.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Kindergarten Empathy Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Empathy Definition & Illustration

Assesses the student's ability to define empathy, select a relevant scene from 'The Invisible Boy,' and connect the two.
Criterion 1

Understanding of Empathy

Accuracy and clarity of the empathy definition

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of empathy, articulating it clearly and accurately.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates a clear understanding of empathy, defining it accurately with minor areas for improvement.

Developing
2 Points

Shows an emerging understanding of empathy, but the definition lacks clarity or contains inaccuracies.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to define empathy or provides a definition that is largely inaccurate.

Criterion 2

Scene Relevance

Relevance and thoughtfulness of the selected scene from 'The Invisible Boy'

Exemplary
4 Points

Selects a highly relevant scene that powerfully illustrates empathy and provides insightful justification.

Proficient
3 Points

Selects a relevant scene that illustrates empathy and provides clear justification.

Developing
2 Points

Selects a scene that is somewhat relevant to empathy, but the justification is limited or unclear.

Beginning
1 Points

Selects a scene that is not relevant to empathy or provides no justification.

Criterion 3

Definition-Scene Connection

Connection between the definition and the illustrated scene

Exemplary
4 Points

Articulates a strong and insightful connection between the personal definition of empathy and the chosen scene, demonstrating a deep understanding.

Proficient
3 Points

Clearly connects the personal definition of empathy to the chosen scene.

Developing
2 Points

Attempts to connect the definition to the scene, but the connection is weak or not fully explained.

Beginning
1 Points

Fails to connect the definition to the scene or provides an irrelevant explanation.

Category 2

Empathy Menu

Evaluates the student's ability to brainstorm empathetic actions, illustrate them clearly, and provide effective written descriptions in a 'menu' format.
Criterion 1

Action Variety & Creativity

Variety and creativity of empathetic actions presented

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents a diverse range of highly creative and thoughtful actions that go beyond typical responses, demonstrating a deep understanding of empathy.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents a variety of thoughtful actions that demonstrate a good understanding of empathy.

Developing
2 Points

Presents a limited range of actions, some of which may lack depth or creativity.

Beginning
1 Points

Presents very few actions or actions that do not demonstrate empathy.

Criterion 2

Illustration Quality

Clarity and detail of illustrations

Exemplary
4 Points

Illustrations are exceptionally clear, detailed, and effectively convey the empathetic actions.

Proficient
3 Points

Illustrations are clear and effectively convey the empathetic actions.

Developing
2 Points

Illustrations are somewhat clear, but may lack detail or clarity in conveying the actions.

Beginning
1 Points

Illustrations are unclear or do not effectively convey the actions.

Criterion 3

Description Effectiveness

Effectiveness and insightfulness of written descriptions

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides highly effective and insightful descriptions that clearly explain how each action demonstrates empathy and promotes inclusion.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides effective descriptions that clearly explain how each action demonstrates empathy.

Developing
2 Points

Provides descriptions that are somewhat unclear or lack detail in explaining how the actions demonstrate empathy.

Beginning
1 Points

Provides descriptions that are unclear or do not explain how the actions demonstrate empathy.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

How did creating the 'Empathy Menu' change the way you think about including others?

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Question 2

On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident do you feel in your ability to show empathy to someone who feels 'invisible'?

Scale
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Question 3

What is one thing you learned about empathy from the 'Empathy Explorers: My Definition' activity that you didn't know before?

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