Why was internment seen as a solution to the “problem” of Japanese in America? Were the neighbors doing the right thing? The patriotic thing? What is patriotism? How did Japanese Americans display or not display patriotism? Did the neighbors violated Mariko’s family’s trust by not taking care of their car as promised? Was this a … Flowers from Mariko
Does friendship require compromise? If so, are there compromises that demand too much of us? How would we know? Can Darius be himself and still be friends with Frederic? Is Darius being asked to give up something that is too important to him for a friendship to require its absence? Is being a dragon essential … Dragon Who Liked to Spit Fire
Art and Reality Is Bird’s grandfather correct when he says that his brother’s graffiti is not art? Is art only found museums? Does the emotions Bird feels when he looks at his brother’s art play a role in the decision about whether Bird’s brother’s graffiti is art? If we define art as determined by its … Bird
Why does Camilla pretend she doesn’t like lima beans? Have you ever pretended that you liked or didn’t like something in order to “fit in” with others? Do people change depending on the people or places that surround them? If so, in what way? If you really wanted to do something that your classmates thought … Bad Case of Stripes
What is a home? Do we define it more by location or by the people we share it with (or something else)? Could one really make a home of a hotel? If not, why not? What changes something from a house (or apartment) to a home? Can a home change? When we move, is our … An Angel for Solomon Singer
What does it mean to be a friend? What makes someone a friend? Think of someone who is a close friend. Why is he or she your close friend? Can we be friends with people entirely different from us? Do we have to have something in common? Can we be friends with someone we think … Amos & Boris
Why do other students tell Grace she can’t be Peter Pan because she’s black and a girl? Is Grace’s grandmother right that Grace can be anything she wants to be? Does it help us to hear that we can be anything we want to be? Can we? If the class hadn’t voted that Grace should … Amazing Grace
Is there a difference between solitude and loneliness? If so, what is it? Does having a friend mean never being lonely? Can you be lonely and with other people? Can you have solitude and be with other people? Do we have moral obligations to all other living creatures? Some of them? Some more than others? … Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse
What makes a name a “perfect” name? Is there such a thing? Is any name perfect? Every name? What does it mean for something to be perfect? Is your name an important part of who you are? If you changed your name, would you change? Why do the other students tease Chrysanthemum? How do people … Chrysanthemum
Turtles don’t have teeth, but Albert says he has a toothache. Is Albert just imagining that he has a toothache? Is it possible for imaginary aches to hurt as much as real ones? Is it possible that Albert is pointing at a real ache, but not a toothache? Can we point to things and talk … Albert’s Impossible Toothache
PLATO is part of a global UNESCO network that encourages children to participate in philosophical inquiry. As a partner in the UNESCO Chair on the Practice of Philosophy with Children, based at the Université de Nantes in France, PLATO is connected to other educational leaders around the world.
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
If you would like to change or adapt any of PLATO's work for public use, please feel free to contact us for permission at info@plato-philosophy.org.
Connect With Us!