Area: School Subjects

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

In Harper Lee’s classic novel, the narrator, Scout (five years old at the story’s beginning),describes the events surrounding her father’s defense of an African American man charged withraping a young white woman, portraying the world of the Deep South of the 1930s.The novel inspires exploration of many philosophical questions, including those on the Discussion Questions To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak

Lesson Plan: The Book Thief portrays everyday life in an extraordinarily terrible time, and depicts the small choices made by ordinary people that carry great ethical weight. Liesel Meminger is a child growing up in Nazi Germany, living in a town near Munich with foster parents Hans and Rosa Huberman. The narrator of The Book The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak

Causation: To Accompany Frog and Toad “The Garden”

This lesson plan can be used on its own or as an accompaniment to the Arnold Lobel Frog and Toad story, “The Garden.” Divide students into groups of 3-4. Ask each group to come up with 2-3 examples of the following three cases: See Discussion Questions tab for discussion prompts.

Love #2 – Constancy and Loss

This lesson plan can be read in conjunction with “Chapter 3. Love” (pp. 45-68) in the freely available teaching resource Coping: A Philosophical Guide (OpenBook Publishers, 2021) with discussion questions (pp. 123-4) and additional teaching materials (p. 119).  1. Constancy There are three aspects to the constancy of love: Love should not be subject to Love #2 – Constancy and Loss

Love #1 – Models of Love

This lesson plan can be read in conjunction with “Chapter 3. Love” (pp. 45-68) in the freely available teaching resource Coping: A Philosophical Guide (OpenBook Publishers, 2021) with discussion questions (pp. 123-4) and additional teaching materials (p. 119).  1. Models of Love In the philosophical literature, there are three grand models of love: the eros Love #1 – Models of Love

Reconciliation #2 – Apologies and Forgiveness

This lesson plan can be read in conjunction with “Chapter 4. Reconciliation” (pp. 69-82) in the freely available teaching resource Coping: A Philosophical Guide (OpenBook Publishers, 2021) with discussion questions (pp. 124-5) and additional teaching materials (p. 119-20).  Accepting an Apology versus Forgiving Questions for Discussion: Here are some responses that the students might give: Reconciliation #2 – Apologies and Forgiveness

Reconciliation #3 – Reparations for Slavery

Before beginning this lesson plan, we recommend reading “Things to Think About Before Introducing Social Justice Topics.” This lesson plan can be read in conjunction with “Chapter 4. Reconciliation” (pp. 69-82) in the freely available teaching resource Coping: A Philosophical Guide (Open Book Publishers, 2021) with discussion questions (pp. 124–5) and additional teaching materials (p. Reconciliation #3 – Reparations for Slavery

Reconciliation #1 – Genuine and Disingenuous Apologies

This lesson plan can be read in conjunction with “Chapter 4. Reconciliation” (pp. 69-82) in the freely available teaching resource Coping: A Philosophical Guide (Open Book Publishers, 2021) with discussion questions (pp. 124–5) and additional teaching materials (p. 119–20).  1. Disingenuous Apologies Start with the Harley Schwadron cartoon in which a TV presenter says that Reconciliation #1 – Genuine and Disingenuous Apologies