Are numbers real? Can trees think? Who am I?

PLATO

Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization

PLATO nurtures young people’s curiosity, critical thinking, and desire to explore big questions, through philosophy and ethics programs for students, educators, and families.

Teacher looking for lesson plans?

Interested in high school online classes?

Parent in search of ideas?

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Want to attend a workshop or event?

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Interested in PLATO’s latest news?

WHY PLATO?

Children ask big philosophical questions – Are numbers real? Can dogs think? But often their thoughts and questions are not taken seriously.

Winner of the 2023 APA/PDC Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Philosophy Programs, PLATO creates opportunities for young people to explore, in rigorous and meaningful conversations, life’s deeper questions – nurturing their curiosity and helping them to learn to think clearly and reason well.

We offer an array of in-person and online programs about philosophy for children and teens, as well as a wealth of open-access resources for use in schools and homes, serving thousands of students, teachers, families, and community members nationally and internationally. 

PLATO’s mission is based on the conviction that every child’s voice matters, and that philosophy helps young people to express their own ideas and questions confidently and well.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Registration for our online introductory course, “Philosophy in Schools,” is now open.
Learn more and register

7TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE

Submit a presentation or workshop for PLATO’s June 2025 Conference..
Learn more

FOURTH GRADERS TALK ABOUT TIME

Watch an unedited eight-minute video in which fourth graders discuss the nature of time.
Read more
PHILOSOPHY TOOLKIT

PLATO’s Philosophy Toolkit is one of the most extensive collections in the world of free resources for philosophy sessions in schools, at home, during community events, and beyond!

There are over 250 lesson plans for leading philosophical discussions with children and youth, including activities and exercises, games, and literature discussion plans, with ideas for philosophical inqury in many school subjects as well as ethics, philosophy of science, epistemology, metaphysics, aesthetics, social and political philosophy, philosophy of education, and much more!

Programs and People Around the United States


High School Ethics Bowls
PLATO Partner Organizations
Other Philosophy Programs

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High School Ethics Bowls
PLATO Partner Organizations
Other Pre-college Philosophy Programs

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Arizona
Maurice Carlson
Arkansas
Jana McAuliffe
California
Kyle Robertson
Colorado
Nick Schulte, Grey Havens
Connecticut
Sian Charles-Harris
Florida
Jon Matheson
Georgia
Eddy Nahmias
Hawaii
Ben Lukey
Idaho
Evan Rodriguez
Illinois
Kelly Laas
Indiana
Evan Dutmer
Iowa
Emily Lemmon
Kansas
Rik Hine
Kentucky
Laura Newhart
Louisiana
Corey Horn
Maine
Robby Finley
Maryland
Daniel Gellasch
Massachusetts
Suzy Russinoff
Michigan
Cassie Finley
Minnesota
Daniel Groll
Mississippi
Deborah Mower
Montana
Marisa Diaz-Waian
Nebraska
Jinmei Yuan
Nevada
Jacob Hatch
New Hampshire
Timm Triplett
New Jersey
Ariel Sykes
New York
Roberta Israeloff
North Carolina
Michael Vazquez
North Dakota
Jack Weinstein
Ohio
Aaron Yarmel
Oregon
Alex Sager
Pennsylvania
Dustin Webster
Rhode Island
Erik Kenyon
South Carolina
Steve Michelman
Tennessee
Carmen Marcous
Texas
Claire Katz
Utah
Karen Mizell
Vermont
Katherine Caldwell
Virginia
Rhiannon Boyd
Washington
Karen Emmerman
Washington DC
Allison Cohen
Wisconsin
Katie Deaven