Philosophy for Children P4C

10 questions to ask a Christmas tree.

Questions to ask a Christmas tree. How does it feel when people decorate you? Does it hurt when you get chopped down? How does it feel to be stored in the loft for most of the year? What do the lights and baubles really think of each other? Do you know what’s in the presents under you? How does it feel when your needles fall? Which part of the house do you prefer to be and why? What happens in January when you are thrown away?

About philosophy ‘Philosophy’ means ‘love of wisdom’ in Greek. If you are being philosophical, you are wondering about thoughtful questions, and trying to understand them better.

One philosophical question might be: “What is wisdom. ” One philosophical question might be: “What is wisdom?”. It is philosophical because people might have different opinions about it. There’s no single answer; it needs to be discussed or ‘enquired about’.

P4C aims to create a caring classroom situation where children: learn to listen and respect each other learn to be clear in their thinking and to make responsible and more deliberate judgements learn to be more thoughtful by basing their decisions and actions on reasons

Critical thinking is a key requirement of global citizenship and community cohesion. Unless people can learn to think independently then there is always the possibility that they will be led unthinkingly into behaving in ways which may be damaging to themselves, others or the environment. Philosophical enquiry develops these critical thinking skills.

Children learn to ask questions in response to a variety of stimuli, each other and the teacher; to give reasons for their opinions, examine their own values and tease out their own and others' assumptions about an issue.

The ability to listen to other people, see their point of view and perhaps change your own mind is another skill essential to living peacefully in a plural society. At its best, P4C gives young people an experience of how it is possible to engage with people with differing viewpoints and disagree with them in a non-confrontational way.

This opportunity to deeply listen also allows children to put themselves in another’s shoes, to empathise and potentially understand. Empathy is a core skill for global citizens for without it there can be no desire for the prevention of suffering of other people.

10 Steps in an Enquiry Getting set Presentation of stimulus Thinking time Conversation Formulation of questions Airing of questions Selection (voting) First thoughts Building Last thoughts

What is a philosophical question? Which major river flows through London? When was the Battle of Hastings? Which type of Christianity is led by the Pope? Are words ‘real’? What makes something wet? What makes something beautiful? A £15,000 car is discounted by 25%. What does it cost? When should people get married? Who are known as the ‘Blades’? Is it ever ok to lie?