Philosophy for Children
"You made us think really hard about really simple things." -- student participant
What is Philosophy for Children?
We coach young learners to master thoughtful analysis and group inquiry. Students will get to:
And we make it fun!
Using books, tunes, toys, art, and multimedia, we stir their senses and inspire reflection!
Sample lesson plan
What if...
For Grades K-2:
Inference is an essential component in reasoning. It allows students to assume that some scenario, circumstance, or object obtains/exists - and think about what consequences would follow if it did.
What if everyone brought their pets to school?
What if you got to eat your favorite food for every meal for a week?
What if we all lived in bouncy castles?
If everyone brought their pets to school...it would be very loud!
If it was very loud...then I wouldn't be able to hear other people talk.
If I couldn't hear people talk...I would feel afraid.
What is a game?
A game is when you're having fun with someone.
Possible Counter-Examples:
I can have fun talking with someone, but that isn't a game.
I can play a game alone. For Example, Mario Kart.
A game is when you're competing with someone or yourself.
Is jogging a game? It seems like it isn't, but you might be competing with yourself.
In fact, running races don't seem like games even at a track meet!
Why not?
Would you live in a simulation forever?
Imagine you can enter a simulator for the rest of your life. Once you're in the simulator, you wouldn't know it. Your life in the simulator would be just like the life you would have had out of the simulator, but 2% happier. Would you do it? Why or why not?
I wouldn't do it because nothing would be real. If I didn't know it wasn't real, it wouldn't matter. But if I was in a simulator, I wouldn't know my real friends.
Self-evaluation
At the end of every session, we ask students to self-evaluate.
How did you do today?
Did you listen well and think hard?
If you did, you did great philosophy!
Put your thumb up for awesome/great job today.
Put your thumb sideways for OK/pretty good.
Put your thumb down for "I want to do better next time."
Contact
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