Empathy Rocks in the USA:
Hunger Across the US

Find the Lesson Here

Students will learn about what is currently happening across the country, where people often go hungry even if they are from one of the top states for food production. How does hunger affect children? For the art project, children will decorate planters and start growing their own food.

Each month we will provide our “Empathy Countdown,” with 5 Acts of Kindness, 4 suggested art lessons with instructions, 3 Reading Guides, 2 Activities, and 1 Empathy Inspiration. Each has a lesson about empathy that can be discussed either before or after the art project is completed. These are simply extras provided for you if you would like to supplement the lessons, and are not required. Most projects shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes and are easy and fun for students.

 

Supplemental Guides

 
 

ACTS OF KINDNESS

  1. Write a positive comment on a friend’s social media account or for their compliment bucket.

  2. Have a clean up party at a beach or park.

  3. Draw a picture for someone who seems like they’re having a bad day.

  4. Tell the people you love that you love them.

  5. Make a list of things you are grateful for. Thank the people who provide those things (ex. Thank the bus driver for getting you to school. Thank your teacher for helping you learn, etc.)

Art Projects

 

Blank Space Heart Paintings

Bead Sunflowers

Hatching Chick

Popsicle Stick Apple Cores

 

Reading Guides

 

The Good Garden

Last Stop on Market Street

Maddi’s Fridge

 

Classroom activities

 

Compliment Alphabet

Happiness Activator

 
 

 Empathy Inspiration

Dylan Pfeifer was 8 years old when his school was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He transitioned well and was thriving in a virtual school space, but then he heard a national report that families across the country had been cutting back on groceries so they could afford internet for their school-aged children. He knew he needed to help.

He organized a series of food drives that are still continuing now. At the beginning of 2022, he had collected over 12,000 lbs of food to be donated. His goal is to hit 20,000 lbs by the end of the year. And there are other kids throughout the country who are doing the same!