Topic: philosophical skills

What Are Your Demands?

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Cover of Click, Clack, Moo Cows that type. 3 cows, chickened and duck typing on typewriter

In the book Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, a group of animals refuse to produce for a farmer until he meets their demands. Read the story together (or watch a read aloud of the book online), then ask the students to make their own list of demands. Give them full freedom … What Are Your Demands?

Is it Dessert?

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Half an orange and whole orange

Using whatever piece of fruit you have available, ask if that fruit is dessert. With this simple prompt, a rich discussion about the nature of dessert will develop. Is anything you eat after a meal dessert? Is it dessert if you ate it without eating a meal first? Does something need to be done to … Is it Dessert?

What Kind of Question is This?

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hand pointing to chalk writing "what where when why how who"

This lesson works well for early elementary school students (kindergarten-3rd grade) and can be used either in a classroom or online. This is a helpful activity to do with elementary aged students to help differentiate between philosophical and other kinds of questions. This helps build their skills of identifying and asking philosophical questions during philosophy … What Kind of Question is This?

Who is the Teacher?

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teaching point to globe surround by students

Preparation: Make a slide deck to share with students either using the classroom projector or with a shared screen function in the online setting.  In the deck you’ll want to include: First, a slide entitled “Who is the teacher?” with two pictures—one an adult who is teaching and one a young person who is teaching. … Who is the Teacher?

What is Philosophy?

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Introduction to Philosophy/Making Arguments Materials: True/False handout for each student (see “Handout” below for specifics) Two signs, “True” and “False,” placed on opposite sides of the room At the start of class, ask students what they know about philosophy already. Call on a few students. If students need prompting, ask “Do you know any philosophers? … What is Philosophy?