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Philosophy for Gifted Kids

"Above all, I didn't want those kids to say to me at the end of the class, 'Now tell us what the answer is.' And, in fact, they never did that. I think that, by making the problem something that a child character in my story gave expression to, I encouraged them to think that the problem might have a solution, or at least some kind of resolution, they themselves were capable of coming up with." -- Prof. Gary Matthews Philosophy for Kids

Action Philosphers by  Fred Van Lente 

Plato: Wrestling Superstar of Ancient Greece! Nietzsche: The Original Ubermensch! Bohidharma: Grandmaster of Kung Fu! TheyÕre not just great thinkers... They also make great comics! Action Philosophers details the lives and thoughts of history's A-list brain trust, told in a hip and humorous comic book fashion...
 

The Examined Life: Advanced Philosophy for Kids by David A. White (or from Amazon)

Follow-up to Philosophy for Kids: 40 Fun Questions..., and delve deeper into the philosophical questions kids (and adults) care about deeply. Through vibrant discussions and debate, students will grapple with age-old questions about the nature of Friendship (Aristotle), Time (Augustine), Knowledge (Plato), Existence of God (Aquinas), Perception (Berkeley), Free and Society (Rousseau), and many more...   
 

Heart of a Warrior: 7 Ancient Secrets to a Great Life by James Langlas

Presents seven principles that are rooted in the long tradition of Taekwondo and are also tied to modern character education: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, indomitable spirit, community service, and love. Explore each through a mix of storytelling and writing from the author's former students, describing ways in which they’ve applied these principles to their own lives and inspiring readers to do the same. Includes questions to spur reflection, discussion, and action. This story—and especially the enduring appeal of traditional master/student tales—will resonate with teens of all backgrounds...
 

Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children (IAPC) Montclair State University 

Curriculum materials for engaging young people (pre-school through high school) in philosophical inquiry and provides teacher preparation in the pedagogy of the classroom community of inquiry...
 

Kids Philosophy Slam 

An annual program designed to make philosophy fun and accessible to all kids in grades K—12, as well as to help promote critical thinking skills and encourage dialogue with other students and adults.  Each grade level has its own national winner, and the top four high school students debate the question at the national finals...
 

Looking At Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter by Donald Palmer

Organized historically and augmented by more than 400 cartoons designed to make teaching and learning more fun, this lighthearted work born of serious scholarship can be used as a core text or as a supplement in introductory courses...
 

Make Up Your Mind: A Classroom Guide to 10 Age-Old Debates by Clark G. Porter with James M. Firsch (grades 7-10) (or from Amazon)

Presents 10 pervasive intellectual conflicts that have bedeviled the world of ideas for centuries and continue to influence modern thought, including free will vs. determinism, nature vs. nurture, and liberalism vs. conservatism...
 

Mind Training in Seven Points 

Lokeshvara (translation "He who looks over the world") is the embodiment of awakened compassion in Mahayana Buddhism...
 

Philosopher's Island from Middleton Cheney Primary School

Written by a children's philosophy discussion group (ages 7 - 11), Philosopher's Island is a story which asks questions. These questions are designed to explore different aspects of philosophy...
 

Philosophy and Children's Literature 

Literature lesson plans are geared toward elementary school age students, some more particularly for younger elementary school students and some for older students. All of these books can also be used with middle and high school students, with adaptations...
 

Philosophy Class 

Introduction to Philosophy, including Logic, Ethics, Epistemology, Philosophy of Science, Metaphysics, Political Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Advanced Philosophy...
 

Philosophy for Children from Mt. Holyoke

Teaching philosophy through children's literature...
 

Philosophy for Kids from University of Massachusetts

Materials to use in doing philosophy with children...
 

Philosophy for Kids: 40 Fun Questions That Help You Wonder ... About Everything! by David A. White   (or from Amazon)

"What does it mean to be fair?" "How do you know who your friends are?" "What is time?" "Are you the same person you were five years ago?" "Can something logical ever not make sense?" If you have ever wondered about questions like these, you are well on your way to becoming a philosopher! Become acquainted with the wonders of philosophy...
 

Philosophy for Teens: Questioning Life's Big Ideas by Sharon M. Kaye and Paul Thompson (or from Amazon)

"What is love?" "Is lying always wrong?" "What is discrimination?" "Do you think about weird things?"  What a perfect opening line for our kids! Lots of ideas, to help teens (and gifted pre-teens) think about the big questions that they have.  Full of "thought experiments" to keep them thinking after they put the book down, and don't miss the companion title...
 

More Philosophy for Teens: Examining Reality and Knowledge by Sharon M. Kaye and Paul Thompson (or from Amazon)

Examine some of life's toughest questions, including identity, God, the universe, freedom, and the meaning of life. Both sides of the debates are covered on every issue, with information from some of the world's most noted philosophers included in a conversational style that teenagers will appreciate...
 

The Philosophy Files by Stephen Law

In a friendly and accessible way, the author introduces some of philosophy's big questions, from "Is there a God?" to "Should I eat meet?".  Explore philosophical puzzles from ancient times to modern day, in a fun to read and re-read book!
 

Philosophy Rocks by  Stephan Law 

Introduces eight of philosophy's big questions, from "What Is Real?" to "Does God Exist?" The first chapter seems a bit heavy-going as it explains Plato's forms with examples and a couple of criticisms, but Law incorporates C. S. Lewis's "Shadowlands," nicely grounding this rather obtuse idea back to the "Narnia" books...
 

Questions: Philosophy for Young People sponsored by the American Philosophical Association

A unique forum for the philosophical questions - and answers - of young people and their teachers. Each topical issue contains philosophical discussions, drawings, philosophical writing by students, and articles offering advice and ideas for teachers and parents interested in facilitating philosophical discussions with young people... (Individual issues are Adobe Acrobat files)
 

Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder

Wanting to understand the most fundamental questions of the universe isn't the province of ivory-tower intellectuals alone, as this book's enormous popularity has demonstrated. A young girl, Sophie, becomes embroiled in a discussion of philosophy with a faceless correspondent. At the same time, she must unravel a mystery involving another young girl, Hilde, by using everything she's learning. The truth is far more complicated than she could ever have imagined...
 

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Through brilliant and witty dialogue with the beloved Pooh-bear and his companions, the author of this smash bestseller explains with ease and aplomb that rather than being a distant and mysterious concept, Taoism is as near and practical to us as our morning breakfast bowl. Romp through the enchanting world of Winnie-the-Pooh while soaking up invaluable lessons on simplicity and natural living...  Also read The Te of Piglet
 

What's Your Opinion? by Richard G. Cote & Darcy O. Blauvelt (grades 6-8) (or from Amazon)

Real-world activities and open-ended opportunities within tiered lessons. Students use debate to analyze texts and develop persuasive speaking and reading skills...
 

Young Person's Guide to Philosophy by Jeremy Weate

Introduces over twenty-five of the world's greatest philosophers and presents a simple version of the tenets of philosophy (reviews poorly for average kids, but our kids seem to like it) 

 

Last updated December 01, 2020