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Seeing Other Perspectives

Eighth graders build social awareness by learning perspective-taking — seeing a situation from someone else’s point of view — through listening and asking questions, a key to empathy and getting along.

Grade 8CASEL: Social Awareness40 minutes1 class periodCASEL SELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain perspective-taking.
  • ✓Listen to understand.
  • ✓Build empathy.
  • ✓Get along with others.
Essential Question

Two people can see the same thing completely differently. Trying to see it from THEIR side is called perspective-taking. Why does it matter?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

Seeing Other Perspectives Check

Project each item and have students answer about perspective-taking. The tool explains seeing another point of view.

👁️ Understand seeing other perspectivesTry it
Answer each question about perspective-taking.
The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — Same Thing, Different View

5 min

Two people can see the same thing very differently — why?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Do a check-in.
  • Pose a two-sided situation.
  • Be caring.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Check in.
  • Reflect.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Perspective-Taking

10 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Seeing Other Perspectives Check.
  • Note listening.
  • Note empathy.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Reflect.
3

Practice — Practice

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Consider a situation two ways.
  • Ask a question to understand.
  • Explain the other side.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Consider.
  • Ask.
  • Explain.
4

Apply — Apply

9 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Take another’s perspective in a scenario.
  • Show empathy.
  • Explain it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Take it.
  • Show it.
  • Explain.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain perspective-taking.
  • Say why it helps.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain it.
  • Say why.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL 5 Social & Emotional Learning Competencies.

CASEL
Social Awareness

Take the perspective of others.

CASEL
Social Awareness

Show empathy and compassion.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Listen to understand others.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Consider others’ views in choices.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Perspective scenario cards.
  • Sentence frame: “From their view, ___.”
  • Use two-sided stories.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with one clear example.
  • Use a simple scenario.
  • Ask one question.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Debate both sides.
  • Explain a disagreement fairly.
  • Practice active listening.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 👁️Scenario cards
  • 💻Seeing Other Perspectives Check
  • 📓Journals
  • ✏️Pens
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

perspectivea point of viewperspective-takingseeing another’s viewempathyunderstanding others’ feelingslistento hear closelypoint of viewhow someone sees itunderstandto truly get itcompassioncaring about othersrespectvaluing others
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does taking someone’s perspective mean?
Trying to see a situation from their point of view.
QUESTION 2
What’s a good way to understand someone’s perspective?
Listen to them and ask questions.
QUESTION 3
How does understanding perspectives help you?
It helps you get along with people and solve problems.

Reflect: see their side.

Have students practice seeing one situation from another person’s point of view this week. A printable perspectives sheet is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Social Awareness: Seeing Other PerspectivesFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Social Awareness: Seeing Other PerspectivesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Social Awareness: Seeing Other PerspectivesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: compassion, empathy, listen, perspective, perspective-taking, point of view, respect, understand
  1. valuing others
  2. caring about others
  3. how someone sees it
  4. understanding others’ feelings
  5. seeing another’s view
  6. to hear closely
  7. to truly get it
  8. a point of view

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does taking someone’s perspective mean?
  2. What’s a good way to understand someone’s perspective?
  3. How does understanding perspectives help you?
Answer key — Part A: 1) respect · 2) compassion · 3) point of view · 4) empathy · 5) perspective-taking · 6) listen · 7) understand · 8) perspective
Part B: 1) Trying to see a situation from their point of view. 2) Listen to them and ask questions. 3) It helps you get along with people and solve problems.