Big Ideas for Young Thinkers – serie

The contributors to this volume describe a range of programs that use picture books to teach philosophy to diverse audiences. From a pre-school program in which college students to do the teaching to a program focused on overcoming the legacy of violence and genocide in Mali in which the teachers write and illustrate their own picture books, the authors demonstrate the impact that learning philosophy has on diverse communities of young students and their teachers.

The contributors to this volume describe a range of programs that use picture books to teach philosophy to diverse audiences. From a pre-school program in which college students to do the teaching to a program focused on overcoming the legacy of violence and genocide in Mali in which the teachers write and illustrate their own picture books, the authors demonstrate the impact that learning philosophy has on diverse communities of young students and their teachers.

Philosophical Inquiry shows how to use the tools of philosophy for educational purposes. It is a practical guide to the philosophical arts of questioning, conceptual exploration and reasoning, with wide application across the school curriculum. It provides educators with an effective means of teaching students to think critically and creatively, to use their knowledge to solve problems, to deal with issues, to explore possibilities and work with ideas. These are the skills and abilities that young people need in order to thrive socially and economically in the world today. Drawing on educational and psychological theory, Philosophical Inquiry emphasizes the use of collaborative learning, through class discussion, working with a partner, and small group work. This approach teaches students to think in socially responsible ways. It means that students become not only thinking individuals but also good team-players, with benefits that extend beyond the classroom and the school to community life and the world of work.

Philosophical Inquiry shows how to use the tools of philosophy for educational purposes. It is a practical guide to the philosophical arts of questioning, conceptual exploration and reasoning, with wide application across the school curriculum. It provides educators with an effective means of teaching students to think critically and creatively, to use their knowledge to solve problems, to deal with issues, to explore possibilities and work with ideas. These are the skills and abilities that young people need in order to thrive socially and economically in the world today. Drawing on educational and psychological theory, Philosophical Inquiry emphasizes the use of collaborative learning, through class discussion, working with a partner, and small group work. This approach teaches students to think in socially responsible ways. It means that students become not only thinking individuals but also good team-players, with benefits that extend beyond the classroom and the school to community life and the world of work.

Growing up with Philosophy Camp joins the substantial body of literature that contravenes centuries of thinkers in the history of philosophy who stated emphatically that children either could not or should not engage in philosophical discourse. This book differs from the rest of the literature in that it reveals the extraordinary impact of philosophy camps for pre-college age students (as young as 6 years old through high school). Often only a week in duration, philosophy camp combines the intensity of both summer camp and philosophical dialogue, creating a powerful experience for young people who, contrary to cynical views of “youth today,” desire intellectual engagement. Through the chapters by the staff who facilitate discussions, a university dean who supported the program, and reflections from campers and parents, a recurring theme emerges: philosophy camps build authentic friendship, intellectual community, and an increased awareness of self-identity. Yet the chapters display remarkable diversity by connecting the experience of philosophy camp to questions in the history of philosophy, philosophy’s relationship to artistic creation, and the therapeutic value of philosophical discourse.

Growing up with Philosophy Camp joins the substantial body of literature that contravenes centuries of thinkers in the history of philosophy who stated emphatically that children either could not or should not engage in philosophical discourse. This book differs from the rest of the literature in that it reveals the extraordinary impact of philosophy camps for pre-college age students (as young as 6 years old through high school). Often only a week in duration, philosophy camp combines the intensity of both summer camp and philosophical dialogue, creating a powerful experience for young people who, contrary to cynical views of “youth today,” desire intellectual engagement. Through the chapters by the staff who facilitate discussions, a university dean who supported the program, and reflections from campers and parents, a recurring theme emerges: philosophy camps build authentic friendship, intellectual community, and an increased awareness of self-identity. Yet the chapters display remarkable diversity by connecting the experience of philosophy camp to questions in the history of philosophy, philosophy’s relationship to artistic creation, and the therapeutic value of philosophical discourse.

Can you be brave if you’re afraid? Why do we “know better” and do things anyway? What makes a family? Philosophers have wrestled with such questions for centuries. They are also the stuff of playground debates. Ethics for the Very Young uses the perplexities of young children’s lives to spark philosophical dialogue. Its lessons scaffold discussion through executive function games (Telephone, Red Light Green Light), dialogic reading of picture books and Reggio Emilia’s art-based inquiry. In the process, children develop skills of dialogue and critical thinking through increased selective attention, self-control, cognitive flexibility and perspective taking. While the elements of this method are familiar, they are here fused into an organic whole grounded in the history of philosophy and defended by current work in developmental psychology. Building on Wartenberg’s Big Ideas for Little Kids, the present curriculum uses a series of 23 picture books to frame discussions of character, bravery, self-control, friendship, the greater good, respect and care. Its goal is not to “teach morals” but to help children articulate and develop their own perspectives through dialogue with each other. Each lesson presents teachers’ reflections on how this exploration of life's enduring questions transformed their school’s culture.

Can you be brave if you’re afraid? Why do we “know better” and do things anyway? What makes a family? Philosophers have wrestled with such questions for centuries. They are also the stuff of playground debates. Ethics for the Very Young uses the perplexities of young children’s lives to spark philosophical dialogue. Its lessons scaffold discussion through executive function games (Telephone, Red Light Green Light), dialogic reading of picture books and Reggio Emilia’s art-based inquiry. In the process, children develop skills of dialogue and critical thinking through increased selective attention, self-control, cognitive flexibility and perspective taking. While the elements of this method are familiar, they are here fused into an organic whole grounded in the history of philosophy and defended by current work in developmental psychology. Building on Wartenberg’s Big Ideas for Little Kids, the present curriculum uses a series of 23 picture books to frame discussions of character, bravery, self-control, friendship, the greater good, respect and care. Its goal is not to “teach morals” but to help children articulate and develop their own perspectives through dialogue with each other. Each lesson presents teachers’ reflections on how this exploration of life's enduring questions transformed their school’s culture.

This book takes the principles explained in Vol.1 and describes a complete classroom practice for conducting philosophical conversations with groups (especially in schools) that has been honed over nearly twenty years of classroom experience by the author and his colleagues at The Philosophy Foundation. Although the method (known here as philosophical enquiry or ‘PhiE’ for short) has been previously described in many earlier publications, this is by far the most thorough and comprehensive account of the method to date in one place. It includes, not only a thorough explanation of the central ideas of the method complete with current updates, but many extensions to the PhiE method including writing extensions, but most importantly, the extended thinking programme. This is an extension to the PhiE method that implements metacognitive and critical thinking strategies for the participants that has been shaped by two years of reflective research conducted by The Philosophy Foundation and King’s College London.

This book takes the principles explained in Vol.1 and describes a complete classroom practice for conducting philosophical conversations with groups (especially in schools) that has been honed over nearly twenty years of classroom experience by the author and his colleagues at The Philosophy Foundation. Although the method (known here as philosophical enquiry or ‘PhiE’ for short) has been previously described in many earlier publications, this is by far the most thorough and comprehensive account of the method to date in one place. It includes, not only a thorough explanation of the central ideas of the method complete with current updates, but many extensions to the PhiE method including writing extensions, but most importantly, the extended thinking programme. This is an extension to the PhiE method that implements metacognitive and critical thinking strategies for the participants that has been shaped by two years of reflective research conducted by The Philosophy Foundation and King’s College London.

Often we think of fairy tales as written for little children as entertainment. But fairy tales are much more and invite young and old alike to reflect on serious philosophical themes. This book offers readers opportunities to engage in philosophical dialogue over a range of important concepts such as truth, goodness, beauty, fairness, and many more. The prompts for these reflections will be fairy tales. In addition to offering guidelines for building a philosophical community with children and young people, the reader will read familiar stories with fresh eyes and encounter new ideas with surprising connections to contemporary issues and concerns. Parents will enjoy sharing a tale with their child and journeying into the big questions that fascinate children. Teens will relish the chance to revisit a favorite fairy tale but as now addressing their own questions and concerns. Finally, adults who are intrigued by philosophy can explore the power of stories, fairy tales, to bring forward serious questions of justice, identity, and meaning making. The values of doing philosophy are many: developing our critical thinking ability, learning how to question and explore alternative ideas, building good arguments for our positions, listening to those who may see the world differently than we do and learning to engage them in meaningful dialogue. The value of using fairy tales is their accessibility to a wide audience, their innate appeal to our imagination, and their magical ability to make us ponder.

Often we think of fairy tales as written for little children as entertainment. But fairy tales are much more and invite young and old alike to reflect on serious philosophical themes. This book offers readers opportunities to engage in philosophical dialogue over a range of important concepts such as truth, goodness, beauty, fairness, and many more. The prompts for these reflections will be fairy tales. In addition to offering guidelines for building a philosophical community with children and young people, the reader will read familiar stories with fresh eyes and encounter new ideas with surprising connections to contemporary issues and concerns. Parents will enjoy sharing a tale with their child and journeying into the big questions that fascinate children. Teens will relish the chance to revisit a favorite fairy tale but as now addressing their own questions and concerns. Finally, adults who are intrigued by philosophy can explore the power of stories, fairy tales, to bring forward serious questions of justice, identity, and meaning making. The values of doing philosophy are many: developing our critical thinking ability, learning how to question and explore alternative ideas, building good arguments for our positions, listening to those who may see the world differently than we do and learning to engage them in meaningful dialogue. The value of using fairy tales is their accessibility to a wide audience, their innate appeal to our imagination, and their magical ability to make us ponder.

A practical guide to facilitating philosophical conversations with groups (especially in schools) based on philosophical and pedagogical principles derived from the ancient Greek philosophers but supported my modern-day research and pedagogical practices. It divides facilitation up into basic, expert and advanced levels, allowing a teacher to get going with some basic moves and principles allowing for development of facilitation over time. As well as being packed with practical strategies, questioning prompts and methods for developing metacognition and critical thinking in pupils, it also has brand new session plans published nowhere else previously.

A practical guide to facilitating philosophical conversations with groups (especially in schools) based on philosophical and pedagogical principles derived from the ancient Greek philosophers but supported my modern-day research and pedagogical practices. It divides facilitation up into basic, expert and advanced levels, allowing a teacher to get going with some basic moves and principles allowing for development of facilitation over time. As well as being packed with practical strategies, questioning prompts and methods for developing metacognition and critical thinking in pupils, it also has brand new session plans published nowhere else previously.

Philosophy Camps for Youth joins its companion, Growing Up with Philosophy Camp, and contributes to the growing body of literature on pre-college philosophy. Providing sound advice, descriptive activities, and precise details for starting, organizing, and running a philosophy camp for pre-K-12 students, Philosophy Camps for Youth is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in hosting their own philosophy camp. The description of diverse camp models—from half day to full day, from one week to multiple weeks, from day-camp to residential—allows readers to build and foster a camp that fits their instructional needs and institutional support. The inclusion of specific camp activities and contributions by campers discussing the activities and themes that had the biggest impact on them, those interested in starting a philosophy camp get valuable guidance from those who have run successful philosophy camps.

Philosophy Camps for Youth joins its companion, Growing Up with Philosophy Camp, and contributes to the growing body of literature on pre-college philosophy. Providing sound advice, descriptive activities, and precise details for starting, organizing, and running a philosophy camp for pre-K-12 students, Philosophy Camps for Youth is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in hosting their own philosophy camp. The description of diverse camp models—from half day to full day, from one week to multiple weeks, from day-camp to residential—allows readers to build and foster a camp that fits their instructional needs and institutional support. The inclusion of specific camp activities and contributions by campers discussing the activities and themes that had the biggest impact on them, those interested in starting a philosophy camp get valuable guidance from those who have run successful philosophy camps.

The Ethics Bowl Way introduces the Ethics Bowl to the larger educational community, including those involved in elementary, secondary, and higher education. Ethics Bowl espouses a new way to engage in discussions about complex ethical issues. Although it resembles debate, in that two teams prepare for and present arguments on an ethical dilemma, participants are rewarded not for taking adversarial positions but rather for the degree to which they work together to bolster each other’s arguments by asking more incisive questions, asking for greater clarity, and providing more thoughtful, reflective, logical answers. Changing positions is rewarded rather than penalized; civil discourse is a key value; critical thinking, public speaking, and listening skills are also nurtured. Ethics Bowl’s foremost practitioners explain why this model is often more productive than debate; and how it fosters the very qualities that produce more responsible, informed citizens in a democracy, as well as model co-workers, family and community members, and friends. The book also offers practical, hands-on advice for those who participate in Ethics Bowl (coaches, judges, case writers, organizers) and looks ahead to the ways in which it can be expanded and improved. Ethics Bowl, which began as a classroom activity, is always evolving to become more inclusive, fair, and challenging.