Why do people become refugees? Are countries that can provide safety obligated to allow in people escaping their homelands? Do countries have different obligations to their citizens than to other people around the world? Why do the girls decide to share the shoes? What makes Lina and Feroza friends? Can friendship help people to feel … Four Feet, Two Sandals
Discussion about this book can be coupled with the following exercise, which is adapted from a game created by Center Education Director David Shapiro. In session 1 of this lesson plan: Explain what a right is. Can the students give some examples? Distribute index cards, each of which has a right written on it. Some … For Every Child
Why was internment seen as a solution to the “problem” of Japanese in America? Were the neighbors doing the right thing? The patriotic thing? What is patriotism? How did Japanese Americans display or not display patriotism? Did the neighbors violated Mariko’s family’s trust by not taking care of their car as promised? Was this a … Flowers from Mariko
Why were the students upset after taking the test? Was the teacher a good teacher? What makes someone a good teacher? Is a supportive teacher the same thing as a good teacher? Where do affirmation and encouragement factor in to a teacher’s success? Does a test measure the teaching ability of a teacher? What are … First Grade Takes a Test
Art and Reality Is Bird’s grandfather correct when he says that his brother’s graffiti is not art? Is art only found museums? Does the emotions Bird feels when he looks at his brother’s art play a role in the decision about whether Bird’s brother’s graffiti is art? If we define art as determined by its … Bird
Why do you think Mr. Plumbean painted his house the way he did? Was he right to paint his house in a way different from his neighbors, when part of the community agreement was that they would keep their houses looking the same? Did Mr. Plumbean have the right to paint his house however he … Big Orange Splot
Who gets to decide who is free? Can you be free in your mind even if you’re not free to get out of the place you’re in? Is there anything in our lives like living in a “big brown box?” Do we make our own choices? Can we make choices even if we don’t think … Big Box
Why was Liberty Street a strange name for this street? Do you think the residents of Liberty Street liked living there? Why did the general enforce the rules he had? Were they reasonable rules? How do you tell the difference between a rule that’s fair and one that isn’t? Why did the residents of Liberty … Araboolies of Liberty Street
Why do other students tell Grace she can’t be Peter Pan because she’s black and a girl? Is Grace’s grandmother right that Grace can be anything she wants to be? Does it help us to hear that we can be anything we want to be? Can we? If the class hadn’t voted that Grace should … Amazing Grace
Is there a difference between solitude and loneliness? If so, what is it? Does having a friend mean never being lonely? Can you be lonely and with other people? Can you have solitude and be with other people? Do we have moral obligations to all other living creatures? Some of them? Some more than others? … Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse
PLATO is part of a global UNESCO network that encourages children to participate in philosophical inquiry. As a partner in the UNESCO Chair on the Practice of Philosophy with Children, based at the Université de Nantes in France, PLATO is connected to other educational leaders around the world.
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