Honestly, it is natural for students to prioritize themselves. They’ve grown up learning to do things independently, such as brushing their teeth and putting away their clothes. So, it makes sense that they now need instruction on how important it is to consider the feelings of others. If they do not learn this, they will struggle to maintain friendships and be a caring community member. Thankfully, teaching empathy with We’re All Wonders creates the perfect way to incorporate academics with an essential life skill. Students will love the Read Aloud Activities for We’re All Wonders while learning to be considerate of others.
We’re All Wonders
Author R. J. Palacio wrote another fantastic story!
His novel Wonder became an instant hit with upper elementary and middle schoolers. Now, younger readers can join the Choose Kind movement as they meet Auggie Pullman. He is an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. Readers will even meet his beloved dog, Daisy.
Students will see what it is like to live in Auggie’s world with the rich illustrations on each page. While he now feels like any other kid, this was not always the situation. So, he will tap into every child’s desire to belong and be who they really are.
Honestly, teaching empathy with We’re All Wonders is a unit students will never forget!
Read Aloud Activities for We’re All Wonders
Sadly, kids get picked on and teased. Often, the person doing the teasing does not realize how much this hurts others. So, teaching empathy with We’re All Wonders helps stop these behaviors. Students will learn how everyone wants to fit in and belong. Equally important, they will learn how much their actions and words impact those around them.
Since teachers have so much to prepare, there is a teacher guide to outline the entire unit. Specifically, this contains all of the lesson plans needed. Additionally, it includes an introduction to help prepare students and sets the purpose for the story. Likewise, it has essential vocabulary words!
When learning about empathy, it is crucial to have a discussion. This lets students know that everyone feels pressure to fit in. Therefore, there are higher-level thinking questions and talking points to guide students. Each question includes a page number, so teachers know exactly where to stop.
While discussion is essential to include in lessons, personal reflection is also critical. Thankfully, there are both aspects when teaching empathy with We’re All Wonders! There are student response sheets to help students understand the text and build awareness of empathy. There are even differentiated options to ensure every student knows the importance of this social skill.
There is even a friendship activity to help students practice this SEL skill. They will make a heart to share kind words about their classmates. I love how this connects empathy to students’ lives.
Application
Teachers work hard to ensure students understand how the material taught in the classroom relates to life outside of school. Therefore, there are task cards that provide scenarios or thought-provoking questions. This helps students realize what empathy is and how to be considerate of others.
There are multiple ways to use the task cards. Honestly, they work great for whole class or small group discussions. They even work perfectly for individual work time.
No Prep Resource
Teachers have to handle so much. Thankfully, the Read Aloud Activities for We’re All Wonders are all no prep! Teachers just need to print the resources.
Students go through many new experiences while in school. While teachers do everything they can to build positive relationships, students sometimes say hurtful words. So, teaching empathy with We’re All Wonders is crucial! Students need to understand how others are feeling and how they can impact this. Thankfully, the Read Aloud Activities for We’re All Wonders help students learn this through a fantastic story!
Save this Read Aloud!
Be sure to save this pin to your favorite read alouds board on Pinterest! You’ll be able to come back to this lesson plan when you are ready to read it aloud with your students.
