Lesson Plan: EMPATHIZE
Unit Title: Inventure Challenge
Topic Title: Empathize
Name of Lesson: The Role of Empathy in Design Thinking
Students will focus on the needs of people known as users, target audience or customers. Their needs
are what our design challenge should be trying to meet. They are the ones who will ultimately determine
the success or failure of the final product or device. It is critical to understand exactly what their needs
are so that they respond well to our final product and we are more successful. Our goal is to empathize
with them. This will eventually be done through interviews, surveys and observation. The focus of this
lesson is to introduce the term “empathy” through the main character in the book, “The Boy Who
Harnessed the Wind”.
After reading and discussing the book, students will understand the connection between empathy and the
ability to better define and design their product with the user in mind. David Kelley is founder of IDEO, a
design innovation consulting company. He is credited with the term “design thinking” and establishes the
link between empathy and innovation. Kelley states:
“As a style of thinking, design thinking is generally considered the ability to combine empathy for the
context of a problem, creativity in the generation of insights and solutions, and rationality to analyze and
fit solutions to the context. “
“To really build empathy, try to understand people through observing them.”
21st Century: (mark all that apply)
X Interactive Smart Board
X Student iPads and laptops
X LCD Projector
Essential Question(s):

What is empathy?

How do people demonstrate empathy towards others?

How can developing character traits such as perseverance and resourcefulness enhance our ability to
solve challenges in our community?
Assessment Description/Performance Task:
x-Constructed response
X- Performance task
x-Formative assessment
Brief Description:

Teacher will share Mark Ruffalo’s Sesame Street Youtube video on Empathy.

Teacher will read true story of William Kamkwamba in the picture book, “The Boy Who Harnessed
the Wind,” to students to help them understand how the empathy, positive attitude, willingness to
learn, creativity and perseverance of a 14 year old in Malawi helps his village with their problems.
Students will also understand that through observation and ranking the needs of the users,
customers, or target audience will help ensure the success of your device.
Teacher will lead discussion on book and students will answer questions on handout. Numbered
questions may be written on a separate sheet of paper or on the students’ devices.

Instructional Methods:
 Hook/Activator: Write the word EMPATHY on the board or Smartboard and ask students what they
think this term means. Record the variety of answers on the board. Show Sesame Street video on
Empathy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_1Rt1R4xbM
Teaching Strategy:
 Teacher will revisit student responses of what they thought empathy was and will edit the
definition to correctly describe its meaning: Empathy is when you are able to care and
understand what someone else is feeling.
 Teacher will ask students how empathy is different from sympathy.
 Teacher will introduce book, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba
and Bryan Mealer and ask the students the following questions:
*What does harness mean?
*What do you think this story will be about?
* How old do you think the male on the cover of the book is?
*What do you think the setting of this book is? Why?
 Teacher will share map of the continent of Africa and the country of Malawi:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/mw.htm
 Malawi is described as “one of the world's least developed and most densely populated
countries.” What kind of problems would a country like this have? What if this country
experienced a drought? What problems would they face with this crisis? Teacher will need
to ask questions to help students understand what these terms mean.
 Who in Malawi would be most likely to solve their problems? Would they be male or
female? How old would they be?
 How does the author use literary devices to help tell the story? Personification (the sun rose
angry each morning), Simile (hungry people pass like spirits along the roads), Metaphor
(monster in his belly and the lump in his throat), Alliteration (gusting gale).
 Teacher will read story to students and have students respond to questions on their
handout.
 Share TED talk given by William Kamkwamba in 2009.
 Teacher will have students view Kamkwamba’s blog at
http://www.williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/ and have them list specific ways he has
helped his community with his Dartmouth education.
 Students will compare and contrast their lives to the life of William in Malawi.
Differentiation:
Students who struggle with written expression:
*Students may work in groups to answer questions on handout with one recorder. Teacher may also
use handout as a discussion guide versus formal written answers and evaluation.
*Students may record responses on device using programs such as I-Movie.
For students who need further challenge:
Students who need extenstion:
*Students may research other social and environmental issues related to Malawi and
compare/contrast it to the U.S. in terms of energy, waste management, mortality statistics, water
availability, farming and education.
For this Lesson:
 Book: “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
 Student handout
Vocabulary:

Empathy

Harness

Maize

Sulked

Gale
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
If you were a villager in Malawi, what concerns would you have about your life?
1. The author uses the word magic several times throughout the story. What does he mean
by magic?
2. How do books help William in his desire to solve a problem?
If you were William and were able to interview people in his community, what needs do you
feel they need help with and in what order?
Rank
1
User Need
2
3
4
3. The villagers’words describe William as, “This boy is misala. Only crazy people play
with trash!” How could this actually describe William’s use of flexible thinking?
4. How does William demonstrate empathy in the story?
5. Who are the users, consumers or target audience in this story?
6. What product or device is created by William to help solve the users’ problem?
7. How does the product help the people in his community?
What character traits does William exhibit throughout the story?
CHARACTER TRAIT
EVIDENCE IN STORY
William Kamkwamba went on to graduate from the prestigious Dartmouth
College in the U.S. What is he doing now to help his community? Visit his
blog and record three specific ways he continues to show empathy for the
people in his village.
http://www.williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/
Students in America and Malawi have very different experiences, both at school and at home.
Use you analytical skills to compare and contrast your life to William’s life when he was 14
years old in Malawi.
My Life
CCSD Version Date: July 1, 2005
William’s Life