Social Skills Activities on Empathy | SEL Worksheets & Scenarios for Elementary

Teach your students the importance of understanding others’ feelings with this Empathy Social Skills Scenarios resource! With 10 Level 1 stories (higher-level text with comprehension questions) and 10 Level 2 stories (simplified beginner text), this pack helps kids build compassion, kindness, and perspective-taking in everyday situations.

Each scenario introduces a short story about a classroom, playground, or friendship situation, then asks students to identify how others feel and choose positive, empathetic responses. This resource makes social emotional learning (SEL) simple and engaging, while also supporting SPED, ESL, and elementary learners.

✨ What’s Included:

• 10 Level 1 scenarios with detailed text and higher-level comprehension questions.
• 10 Level 2 scenarios with simpler sentences and clear visuals for early learners.
• Good choice vs bad choice responses to reinforce positive empathy skills.
• Discussion and reflection prompts for small group or whole-class use.
• Printable & digital formats to fit any teaching style.

Skills Covered

✔ Understanding feelings

✔ Showing compassion and kindness

✔ Practicing perspective-taking

✔ Conflict resolution through empathy

✔ Classroom community building

✔ Social emotional learning and behavior management

Why Teachers Love It

⭐ Easy to use — no prep, just print and go

⭐ Differentiated — supports multiple grade levels, ESL, and SPED

⭐ Helps reduce conflicts by building empathy and understanding

⭐ Perfect for SEL lessons, counseling groups, or morning meetings

⭐ Encourages kindness, patience, and stronger friendships

10 Level 1 Texts (Higher-Level)

1. A student drops their lunch tray in the cafeteria.
2. A friend is left out of a game.
3. Someone loses a favorite toy.
4. A classmate is teased on the playground.
5. A partner is struggling with an assignment.
6. A student gets hurt during recess.
7. Someone is sad because they forgot their homework.
8. A classmate feels nervous about presenting.
9. A student is upset after making a mistake.
10. A new student feels shy about joining in.

10 Level 2 Texts (Simpler, Beginner-Friendly)

1. A friend drops a pencil.
2. Someone looks sad during circle time.
3. A classmate falls while running.
4. A friend can’t find their crayon.
5. Someone is crying because they miss mom.
6. A classmate sits alone at lunch.
7. A friend loses in a game.
8. Someone is scared to try something new.
9. A classmate is left without a turn.
10. A friend is upset because they spilled water.

This resource is perfect for empathy activities for kids, social emotional learning lessons, SEL worksheets, social skills scenarios, perspective-taking activities, kindness lessons, friendship worksheets, behavior management SEL, special education social skills, and classroom community building.



teaching empathy worksheets, leveled social skills stories, SEL empathy activities, social emotional regulation lessons, printable SEL activities, social emotional learning elementary, empathy role play scenarios, coping skills SEL worksheets, small group SEL activities, counseling activities for empathy.