Woodbury Middle School counselors visited seventh-grade classrooms recently to lead a lesson on empathy.

Counselors Jen McGrath and Andie Rocco facilitated the Step in the Circle activity, which is designed to build empathy and strengthen community by highlighting shared experiences. Using anonymous responses, students stepped forward when a statement applied to them, creating a visual representation of commonalities and helping reduce feelings of isolation.

The lesson also explored the different challenges people face and ways students can show empathy toward others.