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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?

Parent in search of ideas?

Looking for a class for a student?

Want to attend a workshop or event?

Starting a philosophy outreach program?

Interested in PLATO’s latest news?

PHILOSOPHY TOOLKIT

PLATO’s Philosophy Toolkit is one of the most extensive collections in the world of free resources for philosophy sessions in K-12 classrooms, 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 discussion plans for works of children’s literature.

The Toolkit includes lesson plans for philosophical topics in:

  • Art
  • Film
  • History and Social Studies
  • Language Arts and Literature
  • Math and Logic
  • Music
  • Science

Plus additional resources for many other subjects, including ethics, philosophy of science, epistemology, race and gender, philosophy of art, social and political philosophy, philosophy of education, and much more!

Start Here

WONDERING ALOUD BLOG

Check out PLATO’s blog! Most recent post: “Exploring Robert Nozick’s ‘Experience Machine’ with Fourth Grade Students” by PLATO Executive Director Jana Mohr Lone.
Read More

SPRING ZOOM PHILOSOPHY CLASSES

Register for PLATO’s 8-week spring philosophy series for children ages 8-12. Registrations closes March 27 and classes begin March 29.
Information and Registration

SPRING 2023 EVENTS

Check out PLATO’s spring events, online and in person!
Learn More
FUNDING FOR INNOVATIVE PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMS
Since 2016 PLATO has funded a wide range of innovative philosophy programs around the US, including summer camps and institutes, community activities, ethics workshops, curriculum development, outreach programs, philosophy clubs, and many more. Many of the programs funded by PLATO take place in public and other non-traditional settings, and all seek to broaden philosophy’s reach around the United States.
AFFILIATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Thanks to PLATO’s long-standing relationship with the University of Washington Department of Philosophy, developed by the Center for Philosophy for Children before its merger with PLATO in 2022, we offer:

  • Graduate and undergraduate courses about philosophy with children and youth
  • A graduate Philosophy for Children Fellowship program
  • A Certificate of Mastery for University of Washington graduate students
  • The Washington State High School Ethics Bowl
  • Workshops and resources for local teachers
  • Opportunities for visiting scholars and educators
Donate To PLATO
Support our efforts to expand philosophy and ethics programs in classrooms and communities around the country.

PLATO
3518 Fremont Avenue North #353 Seattle, WA 98103
Federal tax id #46-1064993

Programs Around the United States

High School Ethics Bowls
PLATO Partner Organizations
Other Philosophy Programs
(hover over the points for more information, click +/- to zoom in/out)
High School Ethics Bowls
PLATO Partner Organizations
Other Pre-college Philosophy Programs
(click or drag right/left to view other states)

Arkansas

Arkansas High School Ethics Bowl | |

California

Arete Prep | |
Center for Public Philosophy |
Corrupt the Youth – LA |
Corrupt the Youth – San Fernando Valley |
Kegley Institute of Ethics |
Northern California High School Ethics Bowl | |
SoCal Philosophy Academy | |
Southern California High School Ethics Bowl | |
Stanford Online High School | |

Colorado

Center for Values and Social Policy | |
Philosophy Outreach Program of Colorado | |
Grey Havens Group | |

Connecticut

Connecticut High School Ethics Bowl |
Teaching American Philosophy | |
Wi-Phi |

Delaware

American Philosophy Association (APA) | |
Delaware Valley Regional High School Ethics Bowl |

Florida

North Florida High School Ethics Bowl |
Palm Beach High School Ethics Bowl |
Pinellas County High School Ethics Bowl |
Southwest Florida High School Ethics Bowl | |

Georgia

West Georgia High School Ethics Bowl | |

Hawaii

The Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education | |

Illinois

Civic Knowledge Project (Winning Words) |
Chicago High School Ethics Bowl | |
Southern Illinois High School Ethics Bowl |

Indiana

Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) | |
Indiana High School Ethics Bowl | |
Philosophy Outreach Project | |
Philosophy Outreach Program at Purdue University |
The Prindle Institute for Ethics | |
Teaching Children Philosophy |

Iowa

Iowa Lyceum | |

Kentucky

Society of Philosophers in America (SOPHIA) | |

Louisiana

Philosopher Kids |

Maryland

Maryland High School Ethics Bowl | |
Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University | |

Massachusetts

Philosophy for Children at Tufts University | |
Philosophy Outreach Program – University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
New England (Boston) High School Ethics Bowl | |
Corrupt the Youth – Boston |

Michigan

A2Ethics | |
Michigan High School Ethics Bowl | |
Study of Ethics in Society – Western Michigan University |

Minnesota

Philosophy for Children Program – Carleton College | |

Missouri

Missouri High School Ethics Bowl | |

Montana

Merlin Collaborate, Consult, Community | |

Nebraska

Nebraska High School Ethics Bowl | |
Creighton University – Philosophy for Children | |

New Jersey

New Jersey High School Ethics Bowl | |
Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children | |
Rowan University Department of Philosophy and World Religions | |

New Mexico

United World College |

New York

American Association of Philosophy Teachers |
Big Questions | |
Long Island High School Ethics Bowl | |
New York City High School Ethics Bowl | |
Squire Family Foundation | |
St. Joseph’s College |
Westchester High School Ethics Bowl | |
Gotham Philosophical Society/Young Philosophers of NYC | |
Rethink | |
Corrupt the Youth – New York City |
The Hasting Center | |
Sophia’s Garden – Philosophy Department at SUNY Cortland | |

North Carolina

National High School Ethics Bowl | |
North Carolina High School Ethics Bowl | |
The Parr Center for Ethics |
Philosophy Outreach – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Philosophy Outreach Program – Davidson College |

North Dakota

Why? Philosophy Radio |
Institute for Philosophy in Public Life | |

Ohio

Philosophy For Kids at John Carroll | |
Ohio High School Ethics Bowl |

Oregon

Oregon High School Ethics Bowl | |
Children Philosophy Program |

Pennsylvania

Studium Consulting | |
Rock Ethics Institute | |
Philosophy for the Young |

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Ethics Bowl | |

South Carolina

South Carolina High School Ethics Bowl | |

Tennessee

Philosophical Horizon |
Tennessee High School Ethics Bowl | |

Texas

Environmental Philosophy with Children | |
Philosophy for Children in the Borderlands |
UT Tyler High School Ethics Bow | |
Corrupt the Youth |
Houston High School Ethics Bowl | |
Philosophy for Children – Texas |
Corrupt the Youth – ATX |

Utah

Center for the Study of Ethics |
The Society for Ethics Across the Curriculum |
Utah High School Ethics Bowl |
Utah Lyceum | |

Virginia

Virginia High School Ethics Bowl | |
Bill of Rights Insitute | |

Washington

Washington State High School Ethics Bowl | |

Philosophical Children from UW Philosophy for Children on Vimeo.