Middle School Students

Online Philosophy Classes

General Information

PLATO is offering online philosophy classes for middle school students (ages 11-14) each quarter in the 2024-25 school year. 

Fall 2024: Identity, Purpose, and the Meaning of Life
Winter 2025: Simulation, Dreams, and Reality 
Spring 2025: Time and Time Travel

Each class will meet weekly for six weeks on Zoom. We welcome students from around the world.

At the end of the class, students who have completed the class will be provided with Certificates of Achievement.

Class Descriptions

Fall 2024: Identity, Purpose, and the Meaning of Life
Tuesdays – October 8, 15, 22, 29, and November 5 and 12
4-5:15 pm Pacific Time

Who am I? Why am I here? Does everyone have a purpose? What does it all mean? We ask these questions while trying to make sense of who we are and how we fit into the world. In this class students will explore these universal questions and gain some clarity for themselves, and comfort in not having all the answers.

Instructor: Debi Talukdar will be teaching the fall class. Debi is PLATO’s Program Director and has been facilitating philosophical discussions with young people since 2014.


Winter 2025: Simulation, Dreams, and Reality
Tuesdays – January 21 and 28 and February 4, 11, 25, and March 4 and 11 (no class February 18)
4-5:15 pm Pacific Time

Are we living in a simulation? Are you dreaming right now? Is there any way to know? Would it matter if you were? Philosophers have been asking these questions for thousands of years. In this class, we’ll follow in the footsteps of Zhuangzi, Descartes, and more contemporary thinkers to consider whether any of this is real.

Instructor: Alex Chang will be teaching the winter class. Alex is a former middle school humanities teacher with over six years of experience developing curricula and facilitating philosophical discussions with young people. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.


Spring 2025: Time and Time Travel
Tuesdays – April 15, 22, 29 and May 6, 13, and 20
All classes 4-5:15pm Pacific Time

What is time? Was it just made up by people? Does time have a beginning and an end? Is the future already determined? Can time exist without change? Do things in the past and future exist? Is time travel possible? In this class, students will explore potential answers to these questions and more.

Instructor: Erica Bigelow will be teaching the spring class. Erica is a Ph.D. student in philosophy at the University of Washington, where she studies injustice, disability, the emotions, ethics, and technology. She is committed to expanding access to philosophy and to helping students see the value of philosophical thinking in their everyday lives. 



Class Structure

These classes will be interactive and collaborative, requiring attention and participation of all students. Students should have their cameras on during class, as visual presence both enhances a sense of community and increases accessibility for all participants.

Barring unforeseen circumstances and illness, we expect students to attend all six sessions in a series. Consistent attendance is important for building community and deepening our discussions over the weeks we meet.

Philosophical conversations involve topics about which reasonable people can disagree. All participants are expected to arrive prepared to listen carefully, thoughtfully engage with others’ ideas, and bravely share their own thoughts.

Session facilitators will ensure we maintain a respectful and intellectually safe community of inquiry. Students will experience the joys of thinking together about the ethical and other philosophical questions on our minds.

Registration and Payment

The cost for a six-week class is $100 for non-members, or $75 for PLATO members (become a member here).

Please use the form to the right (or below on mobile) to register for the fall, winter, and/or spring classes. 

Please register and make payment by the following deadlines:

Fall Class: Registration closed
Winter Class: Registration closed
Spring Class: Registration closed

PLEASE NOTE: Registration is not complete until payment is made. No refunds will be given after the registration deadline.

PLATO offers generous financial assistance for students. If you require a full or partial scholarship,
 please send an email to info@plato-philosophy.org before you register and indicate your reason(s) for the request and the extent of financial assistance you need.

Questions? Email info@plato-philosophy.org.

National Middle School Programs

General

PLATO is committed to fostering the growth of philosophy in middle schools around the US, including supporting:

  • Middle school philosophy teachers interested in visiting other classrooms to lead philosophy sessions

  • Middle school philosophy clubs, in-person or virtual, including stipents for teachers sponsoring ethics clubs

  • Annual Philosophy Days

  • Virtual speakers for middle school classes on philosophy topics that align with classroom units

  • Virtual speakers for philosophy clubs

  • And other initiatives designed to bring more philosophy and ethics programs into middle schools.

Philosopher-in-Residence Program
PLATO’s Philosopher-in-Residence Program brings trained instructors in philosophy and ethics into K-12 schools and community organizations to inspire high-quality, civil discussions about life’s larger questions. There is no charge for this program to public schools or nonprofit organizations.
If you are interested in bringing the Philosopher-in-Residence Program to your school or district, please contact us at info@plato-philosophy.org

Online Ethics Roundtables
We offer drop-in roundtables involving discussion of ethics cases. For more information, visit the Ethics Roundtables page.

Ethics Case Writing Project

PLATO’s online, open-access Ethics Case Library contains case studies written by middle school and high school students. The cases, about ethical dilemmas relevant to young students, can be used in classrooms and other ethics forms.

Any middle school student from the US and around the world can help build the library by submitting a case. 

Accepted cases are published on PLATO’s website, with credit to the writers. Writers of accepted cases will also receive a one-year PLATO membership.

All published cases become the property of PLATO.

For more information, see the case writing project page.

Middle School Ethics Bowl

The Middle School Ethics Bowl (MSEB) began in 2019 at the Kent Place School (KPS; Summit NJ) under the auspices of the Ethics Institute directed by Dr. Karen Rezach. Middle School Ethics Bowls are now taking place around the United States, using a variety of formats.

Sample Resources

2024-25 Cases
Teams are welcome to use the cases written by the Middle School Ethics Bowl Case Writing Committee. Please credit the committee.

Rules and information

Moderator script

Scoring rubric and score sheet

New England Middle School Ethics Bowl Starter Kit 

 

2024-2025 Middle School Ethics Bowls

California: Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School Ethics Bowl (Palo Alto)
May 15, 2025
Contact Jana Mohr Lone jana@plato-philosophy.org

New England Middle School Ethics Bowl
April 5, 2025
New England Middle School Ethics Bowl Starter Kit 
Contact Erik Kenyon ekenyon@friendsacademy1810.org

New York – New Jersey Middle School Ethics Bowl
February 22, 2025 Ethics Institute, Kent Place School
Contact Karen Rezach rezachk@kentplace.org

North Carolina Middle School Ethics Bowl
December 12, 2024
Contact Michael Vazquez michael.vazquez@unc.egu 

Oregon Middle School Ethics Bowl
February 1, 2025 
Contact Monica Mueller monica.mueller@pdx.edu 

Washington State
Date May 31, 2025
Contact Jane Shay jshay@evergreenschool.org

 

Books and Other Resources for Students

Books

Below are some book, play, and short story recommendations for middle school students interested in philosophy.

Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt

“The Pedestrian,” Ray Bradbury

“All Summer in a Day,” by Ray Bradbury

“The Veldt,” by Ray Bradbury

“Sound of Thunder,” Ray Bradbury

Benefits of Being an Octopus, Ann Braden

The Quiltmaker’s Gift, by Jeff Brumbeau 

Felix Yz, Lisa Bunker

“Lamb to the Slaughter,” by Roald Dahl

“Ruthless,” by William De Mille

“Factory Air,” by Omar El Akkad

Man’s Search for Meaning YA Edition, Viktor Frankl

Sophie’s World, Jostein Gaarder

The Iliad: A Graphic Novel, by Gareth Hinds

“Thank You, Ma’am,” by Langston Hughes

“The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson

Restart, by Gordon Kormon

The March Book Trilogy (Book 3), by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin

A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle

“The Crucible,” by Arthur Miller Standing Up to Mr. O., Claudia Mills

Into the Uncut Grass, by Trevor Noah
Animal Farm by George Orwell

Wonder, R.J. Palacio

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Chapter 12), J.K. Rowling

The Butter Battle Book, by Dr. Seuss (can be used to introduce Animal Farm)

A Wish in the Dark, Christina Soontornvat

The Real Thief, William Steig

“The Lady or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton

Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Stone

“Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut

Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White

“The Cartographer Wasps and Anarchist Bees,” E. Lily Yu

Online Sites

Some Recommended Online Sites 

Wi-Phi: short, animated videos on a variety of philosophical topics

Philosophy Talk: philosophy radio program

Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles: “the world’s largest website devoted to logic puzzles”

Hi-Phi Nation: podcast about philosophy that “turns stories into ideas”

What’s the Big Idea?: introducing philosophy through film