What assumptions do we make about people based on how they look? Why does Julian think Auggie will not be able to succeed in science? Is it wrong to be curious about people who are different from ourselves? What does it mean to be rude? Jack Will encourages Auggie to say something after he has … Wonder – “The Grand Tour” chapter
What is nature? Are we a part of nature or are we outside of it? What is our relationship to the rest of the natural world? Are we connected or disconnected? If we are connected, or a part of, the natural world, what implications does this have on the way we treat it? Do we … You Are Stardust
Option 1: Read the story only and then have a discussion. If questions come up about science background, you can refer to the index or other info sources. This option is the most open-ended and may lead to a discussion that is more generally philosophical and less scientific in nature. Option 2: Read the story. … On The Day You Were Born
Why ask why? What is the purpose of a question? Why do we ask questions? What makes a question a good one? Is curiosity a good thing? Why do you think Lily’s father sometimes became annoyed with Lily when she asked “Why?” Could a question really save the world? Could it destroy it? Can asking … Why?
Max experiences the fantastical forest and monsters as if they are real. Does that mean that the forest and monsters are real? How do you know whether something is real or imagined? How do you know whether or not you are dreaming right now? Is it possible for time to go by without anything changing? … Where the Wild Things Are
WHAT IS MAGIC? Is magic real? What kinds of things are magic? Imagination and Existence Can anything you imagine really exist? If you had a magic pebble like the one Sylvester found what would you do with it? What would you wish for? What other ways could you get your wish? Do you think the … Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Why is Edna unsatisfied that she can only see three colors (white, black and blue)? Are there unknown things that you wish to see and learn about, just like Edna? What are they? What are the most important things to know? If Edna had only ever seen three colors, then how could she know that … Penguin Story
What is it to be alive? How can we tell if something is alive or not? It moves. It has a face. It eats. It sleeps. It talks. It grows. It dies. It feels. It thinks. It communicates. Are the following alive? Why or why not? Rocks. Water. Cars. Bees. Toasters. Books. Light. Rain. Feelings. … Owl At Home – “Owl and the Moon”
Where do thoughts come from? Do we always do what we intend? What is the relationship between what we intend and our actions? Do we have control over our thoughts? Over our actions? What is the mind? What kinds of things have minds? Can a pen have a mind? A table? A plant? An ant? … Obstinate Pen
Why does Morris believe that the cow is a moose? Does Morris have good reasons for believing this? Does the cow have good reasons for insisting she is not a moose? What are these reasons? When the animals see their reflections in the stream, what makes them conclude that they are not the same after … Morris the Moose
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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