R.Smith Feb 2010

Philosophy is simply a method of thinking, reasoning and making sense of arguments and counter-arguments. We are all philosophers at heart.

We will philosophise at various times in our lives and perhaps more so as we are growing up. We ask questions about the things that happen to us - what? how? and why?

At Casllwchwr Primary School we want to teach our children the philosophical skills and tools to unlock their curiosity. By exploring interesting, enjoyable, and imaginative stimuli, such as stories and poems, our pupils will learn the skills necessary to develop their thinking towards the big issues that relate directly to their past, present and future...

Pupils enjoy a P4C session once a week as part of our Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) provision. Through these sessions we aim to:

Challenge our children with thought provoking questions.

Create a climate for learning where our children feel comfortable to ask difficult questions knowing that nobody will judge them.

Encourage our children to build healthy relationships with each other.

Increase motivation to learn.

Help our children to understand that there are no right or wrong answers and that there are some questions to which there is no answer.

Develop communication skills.

Build our children's self-esteem.

Encourage self-review and reflection on beliefs and ideas.

Aims…Aims…

Asking questions Active listening Giving reasons Making

Connections Promotion of

thinking skills

How does P4C fit into the Key Skills How does P4C fit into the Key Skills Framework?Framework?

W

Creative and Critical Thinking

skills

Cognitive skills

(remember)

Comprehension(understand)

Application (problem solve)

Analyse (break down information by cause or

motive)

Synthesise (create new knowledge by combining other

knowledge)

Evaluate(present and defend opinions making

judgements)

Recall

Hypothesis

Classify Generalise

Interpretation

Infer

BanksyBanksy

The The Bomb GirlBomb Girl

‘Look and see questions’

ClosedIs it a girl?

What is she holding?

‘Imagination’ questions

OpenIs this a scary picture?

‘Ask an expert questions’

FactualWho did the picture?

What is a bomb?

Questions for thinking

Philosophical What does it mean to be scared?

There is one right answer

There may be many possibilities

Pictures Picture booksMusic ObjectsInternet sites StoriesPoems GamesWalks/outdoors NewspapersMagazines FilmsDrama/role play CommentsToys ConversationsCurrent affairs/events

ReceptioReceptionn

I wonder if

leaves get

dizzy when the wind

blows them around?

If I had a magic carpet you

could fly all over and it

would save Mummy using her car

You’d have to be careful if

you had a magic wand

because you might lose

control with it.

Year OneYear One

I wouldn’t like chocolate rain

because my Mum would get

cross. We’re only allowed

chocolate on treat days and it

would make my teeth rotten if we

had it every day.

I wonder if trees talk to each other when nobody is there?

Would they talk in English or Welsh? …or tree?

Year TwoYear Two

I chose this card

because it reminds me

of my Mum’s teddy bear

which is very old.

I’m not sure I’d like it to rain Chocolate

rain because even though it would be

nice to start with, if it was cold it

would go hard and would hurt you

when it fell on you.

If you could touch the

stars and the moon, I

wonder if you would

burn your fingers.

Year ThreeYear Three

I think the Crocodile’s mum and dad must have been

selfish and then he caught it off them.

The mouse was brave

even though he was small

and I think this shows that

you don’t need to be big

and strong to be brave

Year Year FourFour

Does Andy love

Woody? Why

does he treat him

like that?

…so does

Woody love

Andy?

I don’t think Andy loves

Woody because you don’t

treat somebody you love

in that way.

Year Year FiveFive

I think of lying as being a

double yellow line. If you get

away with it well done, if you

don’t you know there’ll be

consequences

Is wondering worse than knowing?

Wondering is worse because you think weird things will

happen. It’s like using your imagination…

Year SixYear Six

I chose this card because I think

he looks a bit different. Some

people might think scary but I

think he looks interesting and it

shows that you shouldn’t always

judge a book by it’s cover.

Endless money makes you want more and this can make you greedy

Every change that

happens changes the

way you think even

though you might not

know it at th

e time.