Personal & social development // Empathy & Social Awareness
Vocabulary: understanding others
Know and use the key vocabulary for understanding others — empathy, perspective, kind, fair, community, similar, different, and care — and understand that these words describe real habits of thinking and feeling
Quick check
When the learner sees someone who seems sad or left out, can they describe what that person might be feeling using words like 'empathy' or 'perspective' — showing they're thinking about the other person, not just themselves?
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Topic // Mastery
What mastery looks like
- Use the word 'empathy' correctly and distinguish it from 'sympathy' — e.g. 'Empathy means I try to feel what they feel'
- Explain what 'perspective' and 'point of view' mean and demonstrate by describing how two people might see the same event differently
- Use words like 'community', 'belonging', and 'inclusion' accurately when talking about their school or neighbourhood
Topic // Map
Where this fits
- RequiredMust come first
- HelpfulHelps, but not essential
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Vocabulary: understanding others
Ages 5 to 8 // Language
Leads to
3 topicsEmpathy & Social Awareness // Ages 5 to 7
Understanding that others have perspectives and feelings requires the vocabulary of empathy and perspective
- Everyday Kindness and CareRequired
Empathy & Social Awareness // Ages 5 to 7
Showing kindness meaningfully requires vocabulary for empathy, care, and community
- Similarities & DifferencesHelpful
Empathy & Social Awareness // Ages 5 to 7
Noticing similarities and differences among people draws on vocabulary of community, fair, and care
Personal & social development // Empathy & Social Awareness
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