Ask each child in the group to choose a song that has an empathic quality. Have the group listen to each song, and see if they can identify the general emotion of the song, or even specific lyrics that stand out. Children of all ages respond to music and can relate to lyrics in a song they are familiar with.
Ask the adolescents to stand on one side of the room. Ask a question that begins with "Have you ever...?" For example, "Have you ever been teased by another classmate?" Those who answer with "yes" should walk across to the other side of the room. The adolescents will be surprised that most, if not all of the group will cross the room. The questions can be more or less specific, depending on the group of children you are working with. Having the kids realize that they have all felt this way at some point in their lives will encourage a feeling of togetherness.
Pass a hat around the room, and ask the adolescents to write down a fear they have, fold up the paper and place it in the hat. One at a time, the children will choose a written fear randomly, read it aloud and discuss how the person with the fear might feel. The children never have to reveal their personal fear, which gives them a sense of anonymity and allows them to express themselves.
Assign the adolescents into groups, and give each group a scenario where one child has to express empathy to another. The children will be able to relate to the situations, and the activity will build a foundation for better relationships once the group gathering is over. Allow the children to improvise if they wish, and begin a discussion with other children after the role-playing to offer suggestions and exhibit their own feelings and reactions to the scenarios given.