Exploring Bias and Empathy in Social Conflicts

Unit	Sustaining Community
Lesson Name	Exploring Bias and Empathy in Social Conflict
Grade Band	Elementary (3-5)

Required Materials	Paper Markers/crayons Sticky notes Large sheets of paper or poster board Pencils
Standards / Competencies	SEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness: identifying emotions, experiencing self-efficacy, linking feelings, values and thoughts, demonstrating honesty and integrity Self-Management: managing one’s emotions, exhibiting self-discipline Social Awareness: taking others’ perspectives, recognizing strengths in others, demonstrating empathy and compassion, identifying diverse social norms, showing concern for the feelings of others Relationship Skills: communicating effectively, developing positive relationships, showing leadership in groups, resolving conflicts constructively, seeking or offering support when needed ELA Standards: Listening and Speaking, Writing Social Studies Theme: Individual Development and Identity
Recommended Time	55 mins

Required Materials

Paper
Markers/crayons
Sticky notes
Large sheets of paper or poster board
Pencils

Standards / Competencies

SEL Core Competencies:

Self-Awareness: identifying emotions, experiencing self-efficacy, linking feelings, values and thoughts, demonstrating honesty and integrity
Self-Management: managing one’s emotions, exhibiting self-discipline
Social Awareness: taking others’ perspectives, recognizing strengths in others, demonstrating empathy and compassion, identifying diverse social norms, showing concern for the feelings of others
Relationship Skills: communicating effectively, developing positive relationships, showing leadership in groups, resolving conflicts constructively, seeking or offering support when needed

ELA Standards: Listening and Speaking, Writing

Social Studies Theme: Individual Development and Identity

Recommended Time

55 mins

Essential Question	How does bias escalate and contribute to social conflict, and what strategies can be employed to mitigate its effects and promote understanding and empathy?
Learning Objectives	Students will understand what bias is and how it contributes to social conflict. Students will recognize the importance of empathy in resolving conflicts. Students will identify strategies to mitigate the effects of bias and promote understanding and empathy.

Essential Question

How does bias escalate and contribute to social conflict, and what
strategies can be employed to mitigate its effects and promote
understanding and empathy?

Learning Objectives

Students will understand what bias is and how it contributes to social conflict.

Students will recognize the importance of empathy in resolving conflicts.

Students will identify strategies to mitigate the effects of bias and promote understanding and empathy.

Activating Prior Knowledge	Begin by discussing the concept of bias in a simple manner, using examples that are relatable to the students. Say: For example, think about a group project at school. Let’s say you and your friends have to choose a leader. If you’ve known one of your friends for a long time and you think they’re really smart, you might automatically want to pick them as the leader, even if someone else in the group might be better at organizing or leading the team. That’s bias in action! It’s when we lean towards something or someone based on our personal experiences, preferences, or even stereotypes, rather than looking at all the options objectively. Another example could be when you’re watching a basketball game, and your favorite team is playing. You might notice that you tend to think the referees are making fair calls when they benefit your team, but unfair calls when they go against your team. That’s called “confirmation bias” – where we look for information that supports what we already believe. Understanding bias is important because it helps us recognize when our judgments might be influenced by things that aren’t completely fair or accurate. By being aware of our biases, we can try to make more balanced and informed decisions. Emphasize the idea that bias can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts between people.
Core Instruction	Define bias in simple terms, explaining that it means having a preference for or against something or someone without good reason. Provide examples of bias that children might encounter in their daily lives (e.g., assuming someone is good at sports because they’re tall, or not wanting to play with someone because of their appearance). Discuss how bias can escalate and contribute to social conflict, emphasizing that it can lead to hurt feelings, exclusion, and even bullying. Introduce the concept of empathy as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Explain how empathy can help us overcome bias and resolve conflicts peacefully. Engage students in activities to promote empathy and understanding: Have students write or draw examples of times when they felt excluded or judged unfairly because of bias. Create a “Wall of Empathy” where students can share their experiences anonymously using sticky notes. Discuss as a class how these experiences made them feel and brainstorm ways to respond with empathy. Introduce strategies to mitigate the effects of bias and promote understanding, such as: Getting to know people who are different from us. Putting ourselves in others’ shoes and imagining how they might feel. Challenging stereotypes and speaking up against unfair treatment.
Wrap-up	Have students name one strategy to mitigate bias and promote understanding they will take away with them today.
Learning Beyond Classroom Walls	Encourage students to apply empathy and understanding in their daily interactions with others. Discuss ways they can stand up against bias and promote inclusivity in their school and community.

Activating Prior Knowledge

Begin by discussing the concept of bias in a simple manner, using examples that are relatable to the students.

Say: For example, think about a group project at school. Let’s
say you and your friends have to choose a leader. If you’ve known one of
your friends for a long time and you think they’re really smart, you
might automatically want to pick them as the leader, even if someone
else in the group might be better at organizing or leading the team.
That’s bias in action! It’s when we lean towards something or someone
based on our personal experiences, preferences, or even stereotypes,
rather than looking at all the options objectively.

Another example could be when you’re watching a basketball game,
and your favorite team is playing. You might notice that you tend to
think the referees are making fair calls when they benefit your team,
but unfair calls when they go against your team. That’s called
“confirmation bias” – where we look for information that supports what
we already believe.

Understanding bias is important because it helps us recognize
when our judgments might be influenced by things that aren’t completely
fair or accurate. By being aware of our biases, we can try to make more
balanced and informed decisions.

Emphasize the idea that bias can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts between people.

Core Instruction

Define bias in simple terms, explaining that it means having a preference for or against something or someone without good reason.

Provide examples of bias that children might encounter in their daily lives (e.g., assuming someone is good at sports because they’re tall, or not wanting to play with someone because of their appearance).

Discuss how bias can escalate and contribute to social conflict, emphasizing that it can lead to hurt feelings, exclusion, and even bullying.

Introduce the concept of empathy as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Explain how empathy can help us overcome bias and resolve conflicts peacefully.

Engage students in activities to promote empathy and understanding:

Have students write or draw examples of times when they felt excluded or judged unfairly because of bias.
Create a “Wall of Empathy” where students can share their experiences anonymously using sticky notes.
Discuss as a class how these experiences made them feel and brainstorm ways to respond with empathy.

Introduce strategies to mitigate the effects of bias and promote understanding, such as:

Getting to know people who are different from us.
Putting ourselves in others’ shoes and imagining how they might feel.
Challenging stereotypes and speaking up against unfair treatment.

Wrap-up

Have students name one strategy to mitigate bias and promote
understanding they will take away with them today.

Learning Beyond Classroom Walls

Encourage students to apply empathy and understanding in their daily interactions with others.

Discuss ways they can stand up against bias and promote inclusivity in their school and community.

Instructional Content Adaptations	Use simple language and visuals to explain complex concepts. Provide concrete examples and scenarios that are relevant to the students’ experiences. Allow for flexibility in activities to accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities (such as analyzing graphics features or finding words that stand out to them that demonstrate being biases).

Lesson prepared by Angelica Restrepo

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