WHAT THEY LEARNED:
A STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
“I learned that even if you make mistakes,
you should keep trying because maybe
something else will work.”
JACKIE, 3RD GRADE
“My favorite part was brainstorming ways to
help the people of Nicaragua, because I like
helping people.”
ADDISON, 5TH GRADE
EMPATHY IN THE EVERYDAY “I liked the stroopwafels. They had caramel
Early on in the planning process, teachers wanted to on them, and they were really yummy.”
ensure the initiative didn’t overlook younger students. WALTER, KINDERGARTEN
With specific countries or Sustainable Development Goals
assigned to each class, children could explore new cultures
while empathizing with students around the globe.
were problem-solving throughout the whole initiative
ourselves,” Bull admits. “It connected us as a faculty, from
“We wanted to develop students’ critical minds as well as
sharing supplies to matching one grade’s goals to another
compassionate hearts,” says Sheila Gavin, a first-grade classroom’s lesson plans. There was a lot of trust in
teacher who taught her students about Chinese culture. the process.”
“The goal is for our students to be leaders who care about
the people — and the world — around them.”
The teachers plan to continue the program next
year, swapping out countries and assignments while
For instance, Gavin’s class learned to count in Mandarin maintaining the focus on kindness and persistence.
and performed a Chinese dragon dance. Kindergarteners Because if there’s one thing that engineering and empathy
walked with their backpacks to simulate a Dutch school have in common, it’s that the opportunity to improve
commute, and second graders prayed for the Catholic never ends.
Church in Mexico. Older grades found a way to help, too —
by serving as engineering mentors for their younger peers.
That’s a lesson noted by Walter, a kindergartener who
learned about the Netherlands. “When people have
TEACHERS NEED PRACTICE, TOO empathy, they continue to do it over and over again,” he
While their students learned to collaborate, teachers says. “If you are nice to others, then they will be nice to
stayed in touch through monthly faculty meetings. “We others, and it will keep going and going.”
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