Animating Civic Action: Middle School Lesson - Empathy

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Students will build empathy to be “helpers” and make a difference in the lives of others through consideration of two questions: How can we listen effectively to better understand people’s stories, and how can we respond to and communicate effectively to peoples’ stories? Students will then propose opportunities to take action to improve our community response to support all students and their communities.

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan

Authors: Jerry Price, Washington OSPI OER Project, Barbara Soots, Leslie Heffernan, Kelly Jacobsen, OSPI Social Studies

Animating Civic Action: Middle School Lesson - Homelessness

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In this Animating Civic Action lesson, from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Washington State Governor's Office of the Education Ombuds, students listen to the story of Jared, a student experiencing homelessness. Students are asked to examine what it means to be homeless, to identify how homelessness affects people and to and to consider ways they can act to take action against homelessness in their school community.

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan

Authors: Washington OSPI OER Project, Leslie Heffernan, Kelly Jacobsen, OSPI Social Studies