Kicking off the New Year! January 8, 2019

Focus: What is empathy, and how do we practice it?

1. Warming up with three good things (or more)

2. Defining and distinguishing empathy

• Watch this short, animated video to start forming a definition of empathy. 

• Playing empathy bingo (with the help of two actors)

3. Witnessing Benjamin Franklin's attempt to develop character: Rationalism and Franklin's 13 virtues

4. Setting up your own virtue charts, which you'll be keeping until January 31

• Set up a 2nd Semester folder inside your American Lit folder.

• Start a document called "Virtue Chart" and place it in your 2nd semester folder.

• Click here to check out mine (feel free to use it as a template if you wish)

• When choosing verbs, go with "I will..." (studies show this leads to greater success in attaining goals).

• Explain carefully what each goal personally means to you.

• Use our empathy activity to add at least ONE GOAL to your "Virtue Chart"that involves practicing empathy.

5. Perusing the second semester syllabus and website

HW:

1. Please have your parents/guardians sign the class syllabus. Due Thursday, Jan 10.

2. Consider purchasing your own copies of Fences (August Wilson) and The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald).