Who is the Teacher? Topics: Questions, children, philosophical skills, epistemic justice Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School Time: 30 Minutes Objectives: This activity is helpful to do in the early months of working with a new community of philosophical inquiry. It is designed to help students think about both what it means to be a teacher … Who is the Teacher?
Whole Sequence Breakdown: Welcome and warm-up (c. 5-10 minutes) Brief introduction to Nina Simone and the song (5 minutes) Listening to “I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free)” with Lyrics (5 minutes) Small group discussions (c. 10-15 minutes) Whole-group share and discussion (20 minutes) Possible extensions (for extra time, or additional … “I wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” by Nina Simone
Objectives: To explore the ways Aretha Franklin’s song “Respect” can inspire and facilitate philosophic discussions of respect, especially with regards to identity. This lesson is designed primarily as a way of using music to do moral philosophizing; however, it could easily overlap with philosophizing about music and/or aesthetics simultaneously. Whole Sequence Breakdown: Welcome and warm-up … “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
This lesson can be used either in a classroom or online. Plot Summary: In this short film, a crab is living on a tropical island. When a coconut falls from a palm tree, the crab is alarmed and treats the coconut like a dangerous enemy. The crab cautiously approaches the coconut to investigate and ultimately … Trouble in Paradise
Plot Summary: The animated short film “Snack Attack” wordlessly portrays an elderly woman inside a train station. After struggling with a vending machine to purchase a packet of cookies, she puts them in her purse and then heads outside to wait for her train. She sits on a bench next to a teenager then picks up … Snack Attack
Plot Summary: In the animated short film “Partly Cloudy,” storks deliver adorable infants of all kinds to homes. We discover that these infants are made by delightful, puffy, and cheerful clouds who work in partnership with their designated delivery stork. One cloud who is less cheerful and “partly cloudy” makes the pricklier infants (alligators, sharks, porcupines, … Partly Cloudy
“Joy and Heron,” Animated Short Film by Passion Pictures This lesson plan can be used either in a classroom or online. Plot Summary: In this short, animated film a fisherman sails out with his enthusiastic dog. They are quickly joined by a heron, who lands on the boat. At first, the dog and the heron … Joy and Heron
In considering whether it is right or wrong to harm or kill a (non-human) animal or even a bug, people may argue for criteria that distinguish between human beings and animals to justify the difference in treatment, like human beings are bigger, stronger, more intelligent, have language, have the ability to reason, or can manipulate … “Hey Little Ant” Lesson Plan
While gender is discussed in the media often in relation to sexism, restroom accessibility, workplace rights, and the like, it is very seldom discussed with students in the context of a learning environment before the university level of study (if at all). These leave students on their own in terms of navigating their personal gender … Exploring Gender
This lesson plan is accessible through the Lesson Attachment link above.
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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