Introduce your unit's theme and read the story "Elana's Ears, or How I Became the Best Big Sister in the World" by Gloria Roth Lowell to your class. For variation, or if there is a lack of availability of that title, substitute this story with any children's literature piece that highlights children with differences.
Divide children into small groups and provide them with preselected scenarios to act out. These skits should provide examples of ways to advocate for another child. An example includes helping a friend or classmate with something he may need because of a disability. You might also have students act out a scene where they help another student who is hearing impaired. Scenarios should be appropriate for young children, and respectful towards the disabilities or differences represented.
Have each group present its skit to the class. After each one, discuss the difference and the importance of social responsibility demonstrated in the skit. Ask questions such as, "What are the ways this group helped their friend who was different? What would do you in this situation?"
Bring the class together and lead an age-appropriate discussion on compassion and social responsibility. Discuss how the two concepts are related to each other in the fact that one must feel compassionate towards peers and then take that compassion to the next level by helping that person who is different. For young children, keep the discussion short and simple, but relate these ideas to scenarios relevant to them. Be sure to relate this summary discussion to the skits presented by your students.
Take this lesson to the next level and teach students about social responsibility on a broader level. Ask students to create a list of ways they could go beyond helping a member of their classroom, and help their community. This might be within their school or city. Ideas might include picking up trash or donating clothes to those in need. Choose a few items from this list and complete them as a class.
Finish the lesson of compassion and social responsibility by discussing both the children's literature you chose and the acts of kindness you did for the community. Explain that these acts are based on students' ability to feel compassion towards other people. Now that your students have experience with compassion, ask them to develop a class definition of the word. Because the children are young, write this for them, and then display it in your classroom. An example of a class definition of compassion might be as simple as understanding other students' ideas. The main point of this final discussion is to allow students to create a concrete definition of a difficult concept suitable for their young age.