This lesson plan can be used on its own or as an accompaniment to the Arnold Lobel Frog and Toad story, “The Garden.” Divide students into groups of 3-4. Ask each group to come up with 2-3 examples of the following three cases: See Discussion Questions tab for discussion prompts.
Materials/Preparation: Before the session, write the names of various beings and things on note cards with one per note card. Examples include: CarrotsFlowersCarsFireDollsWaterDirtA squashed bugRabbits In the session: If the students are in a circle on the rug, place three pieces of paper in the middle of the circle. Write “Alive” on one, “Not Alive” … Alive/Not Alive
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?
This lesson can be used either in a classroom or online. Plot Summary: In this animated short film, a child is sitting inside on a sunny day playing video games. Their mother comes home with a box and suggests they stop playing video games and open the present. Inside the box is a wiggly, excited, … The Present
Materials needed: A picture (hardcopy/softcopy depending on the mode of lecture) Description: The selected picture should be divided equally in ratio with the number of participants and each participant should be give one part of the image. The facilitator asks the participants to guess what the whole picture depicts going just from the piece in … The Jigsaw Puzzle Game
Epistemic Adventure: Are you sure that you know? Materials needed: Epistemic scavenger hunt document (at least 2 per group, one for before the discussion and the other for after) Orienting quotes Visual prompts Description: 1. Before presenting participants with one or more of the prompts outlined above, have them gather into pairs or small groups … Epistemic Scavenger Hunt
Materials needed: Paper, writing utensil Description: First, put these three words on the board: conclusion, premise, argument. Ask the students what these words mean. Often students will need a little guidance here because this is a foreign way of thinking for them. Then give them a very simple argument. For example: P1. If you’re about to … Reasoning and Formal Arguments
In this middle school philosophy lesson plan, students express the degree of confidence they have in the truth of various statements.
An introduction to argumentation that uses comedic skits from Monty Python to support understanding the components of an argument and how to evaluate an argument.
High school logic lesson in which students identify the premises and conclusions of arguments. Then they creatively enact their own deductive arguments.
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.
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