Empathy teaching resources

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. In education, fostering empathy is essential for developing students’ social and emotional skills, promoting positive relationships, and creating an inclusive classroom environment. Teaching empathy helps students recognise different perspectives, respond to the needs of classmates, and develop respectful communication. Resources tagged with 'empathy' may include activities, stories, role-plays, and discussions designed to help learners identify emotions, practise active listening, and consider how their actions affect others. By integrating empathy-focused materials, teachers can support the development of a caring and collaborative classroom culture, encourage conflict resolution, and nurture students’ wellbeing. Empathy is a key component of citizenship, supporting students to engage thoughtfully within their communities and beyond. Utilising empathy resources aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum’s focus on values such as respect, diversity, and inclusion, and can be adapted for use across different year levels and subject areas.