SEL: Digital Conflict and Empathy Online
Practicing kind, safe, and thoughtful choices in online communication
SEL: Digital Conflict and Empathy Online
Practicing kind, safe, and thoughtful choices in online communication
SEL - Grade 4-5
- 1
Maya posts a drawing in the class chat. Someone replies, "That looks weird." How might Maya feel, and what is one kind comment you could add?
Think about how it feels to share something you made.
Maya might feel embarrassed, hurt, or discouraged. A kind comment could be, "I like the colors you used, and I can tell you worked hard on it." - 2
In an online game, two players start arguing because one player made a mistake. Write one message that could help calm the conflict.
A helpful message could be, "Let's take a breath and try again. Everyone makes mistakes, and we can still work as a team." - 3
A friend sends you an angry message in all capital letters. What should you do before answering?
Pausing can keep a conflict from getting bigger.
Before answering, I should pause, take a breath, and think about what my friend might be feeling. I should choose words that are calm and respectful instead of replying angrily. - 4
Read this message: "You never let me join your group. You are so mean." Rewrite it in a way that shares feelings without blaming.
Use an "I feel" statement.
A better message could be, "I felt left out when I could not join the group. Can I join next time?" This shares feelings and asks for a solution. - 5
Someone shares a screenshot of a private message from another student. Why could this be harmful?
Sharing a private message can break trust and embarrass or hurt the other student. Private messages should not be shared without permission, unless an adult needs to help with safety. - 6
You see a classmate being teased in a group message. Name two safe choices you could make.
A safe choice protects the person being hurt and does not make the conflict worse.
I could send a kind message to support the classmate and tell a trusted adult. I could also avoid joining the teasing and save the message if an adult needs to see what happened. - 7
What is digital empathy? Explain it in your own words.
Digital empathy means thinking about how another person may feel when reading my online words or seeing my online actions. It means trying to be kind and respectful even when I am behind a screen. - 8
You wrote a joke in a chat, but your friend says it hurt their feelings. What is a respectful way to respond?
A good apology does not make excuses or blame the other person.
A respectful response is to apologize and listen. I could say, "I am sorry I hurt your feelings. I meant it as a joke, but I understand it did not feel funny to you." - 9
A student posts, "Nobody likes me." What is an empathetic response you could write, and what else should you do?
An empathetic response could be, "I am sorry you are feeling that way. I care about you, and I am here to listen." I should also tell a trusted adult because the student may need support. - 10
Look at this online comment: "Your answer is wrong. Did you even study?" What makes the comment unkind, and how could it be changed?
Helpful feedback focuses on the work, not the person.
The comment is unkind because it insults the person instead of helping. It could be changed to, "I think the answer might be different. Want to check it together?" - 11
You are upset after losing an online game. Write a message you should not send, then write a better message you could send instead.
A message I should not send is, "You are all terrible players." A better message is, "I am frustrated that we lost, but good game. Let's try a new strategy next time." - 12
Why can misunderstandings happen more easily in texts or chats than in face-to-face conversations?
Think about what is missing when you only see words on a screen.
Misunderstandings can happen more easily online because people cannot always hear tone of voice or see facial expressions. A short message might sound mean even if the person did not mean it that way. - 13
A classmate keeps sending you messages after you asked them to stop. What are two appropriate steps to take?
I should clearly tell the classmate to stop one more time if I feel safe doing so. Then I should tell a trusted adult and use safety tools such as mute, block, or report if needed. - 14
Choose the most empathetic reply to this message: "I could not finish the project because my internet stopped working." Explain your choice. A. "That is not my problem." B. "You always have an excuse." C. "That sounds frustrating. How can we make a plan to finish it?"
Empathy means noticing feelings and looking for a respectful way forward.
Choice C is the most empathetic reply because it recognizes the other person's problem and offers help. It focuses on solving the issue instead of blaming or insulting. - 15
Create a three-step plan for handling digital conflict in a calm and safe way.
A good three-step plan is to pause before responding, write a respectful message using kind words, and ask a trusted adult for help if the conflict continues or feels unsafe.