IT'S WEDNESDAY. THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED. Search
toggle menu
Norton Simon Museum
  • drop opener Visit
    • Main Menu
    • Visit
    • Visiting the Museum
    • Museum Map
    • Sculpture Garden
    • Tours & Group Visits
    • Audio Tour
    • Tips & Guidelines
    • Accessibility
    • Family Visits
    • Tickets
  • drop opener Art
    • Main Menu
    • Art
    • About the Collection
    • drop opener Explore the Collection
      • Main Menu
      • Explore the Collection
      • European Painting and Sculpture
      • American Painting and Sculpture
      • South and Southeast Asian Painting and Sculpture
      • Prints, Drawings and Photographs
      • In Focus
    • Search the Collection
    • Provenance Research
    • Rights & Reproductions
    • History of the Collection
    • In Focus
  • drop opener Exhibitions
    • Main Menu
    • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Future Exhibitions
    • Digital Exhibitions
    • Exhibition Archive
  • drop opener Calendar
    • Main Menu
    • Calendar
    • Lectures
    • drop opener Films and Performances
      • Main Menu
      • Films and Performances
      • Film Series: Board of Trustees
      • Film Series: Cinematic Touchstones 1975
    • Special Events
    • Adult Art Classes
    • Tours & Talks
    • Family, Youth & Teens
  • drop opener Learn
    • Main Menu
    • Learn
    • Adults
    • Schools & Teachers
    • Tours & Group Visits
    • Family, Youth and Teens
    • Visitors with Special Needs
    • Watch & Listen
    • Read Stories
    • More to Explore
  • drop opener About
    • Main Menu
    • About
    • Exterior Improvement Project
    • About Norton Simon
    • History of the Collection
    • Museum History
    • Sculpture Garden
    • Membership
    • Contact
    • Press
    • Career Opportunities
    • Leadership
  • SHOP
  • JOIN
  • PRESS
  • SIGN UP
  1. Learn
  2. Schools & Teachers
  3. Cultivating Empathy Through Art

Cultivating Empathy Through Art

These resources support social-emotional learning in the classroom by using artworks from the Norton Simon collections to explore how art can support and encourage the development of empathy in students. Materials have been created for teachers of both Kindergarten through 5th grade, and 6th through 12th grade, along with related curriculum connections. They include a curriculum packet on cultivating empathy through art, a PowerPoint of high-resolution images from the packet for use in the classroom, a loving-kindness meditation script to encourage compassion for oneself and others, a sketchbook journal activity with prompts to helps students chronicle their days and feelings with writings and sketches, and a coloring sheet for elementary students to explore how mood is expressed in art and in life.

These resources are available to download as a bundle (grades K-5 or 6-12), or you can download projects and materials individually through the links listed below. Please email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or feedback. We would love to know how you are using these materials with your students.

Grades K–5

Empathy Digital Packet for Grades K–5
Curriculum Packet: Cultivating Empathy Through Art
PowerPoint: Cultivating Empathy Through Art
Meditation: Loving-Kindness
Art-Making Activity: Make a Sketchbook Journal
Curriculum Connections
Coloring Sheet: Van Gogh's "Portrait of a Peasant (Patience Escalier)"
DIY Stories: I Am Human

Grades 6–12

Empathy Digital Packet for Grades 6–12
Curriculum Packet: Cultivating Empathy Through Art
PowerPoint: Cultivating Empathy Through Art
Meditation: Loving-Kindness
Art-Making Activity: Make a Sketchbook Journal
Curriculum Connections

Norton Simon Museum

411 West Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91105

626.449.6840
Map & Directions

Sunday
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Monday
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Friday
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Saturday
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Stay in Touch

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
© 2002 - 2025 Norton Simon Museum. All Rights Reserved