Philosophy for Children (P4C)

James Nottingham www.p4c.comwww.jamesnottingham.co.uk

By the time children start school …

Some children start school knowing 6,000 words.

Others, just 500 words.

Source: BBC 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8013859.stm

Exam Pass Rates in UK

73%

100%

0%

50%97%

21%

75%

National Tests for 11 year olds

National Tests for 16 year olds

500 words at age 5

6000 words at age 5

There must be a better way?

"...bump, bump, bump...here is Edward Bear, coming down the stairs now on the back of his head. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it."

The aim of a thinking skills programme

such as P4C is not to turn children into

philosophers but to help them become more thoughtful,

more reflective, more considerate and

more reason-able individuals

P4C – Created by Matthew Lipman

www.jamesnottingham.co.uk

james@p4c.com

www.challenginglearning.com

Contact Details

Philosophy for Children

What is Philosophy for Children (P4C)?

How can P4C help develop language and thinking skills?

What resources are suitable for P4C?

What values underpin P4C?

222

P4C Course

ReadyFireAim

1.Sit in a circle

2.Share a story, text or other stimulus

3.Ask (philosophical) questions

4.Choose the best question

5. Identify the key concept

6. Listen to other perspectives

7. Apply critical and creative thinking

8. Consider progress

55 99

Typical P4C Format

22

Nursery P4C - Names

Year 5 P4C: Your Granny or Your Goldfish?

Filmed by Channel 4 in 1999. Video at: www.p4c.com/video-clips

P4C and thinking skills

“No programme  I am aware of is more likely to teach durable and transferable thinking skills than Philosophy for Children”

21

Robert Sternberg

President of the American Psychological Association

I know it’s wrong to

steal

But then why was Robin

Hood a hero?

Cognitive Conflict is Key to P4C

Kriticos = able to make judgments

Critical Thinking

Comes from the Greek, Kriticos

Meaning: able to make judgments

Source: www.etymonline.com

If A = B then

Does B = A?

Friend Trust

Trust Friend

For example …

Wobblers (If A = B)

96

If A = B then

If it’s NOT B = NOT A?

Real See It

Can’t See It Not Real?

For example …

Wobblers (If NOT A ?)

98

www.carol-dweck.co.uk

Carol Dweck

The wrong type of praise

Clever girl!

Gifted musician

Brilliant mathematician

Bright boy

Top of the class!

By far the best

Mueller and Dweck, 1998

In six studies, 7th grade students were given a series of nonverbal IQ tests.

The effects of different types of praise

Intelligence praise

“Wow, that’s a really good score. You must be smart at this.”

Process praise

“Wow, that’s a really good score. You must have tried really hard.”

Control-group praise

“Wow, that’s a really good score.”

Mueller and Dweck, 1998

Trial 1 Trial 34.5

5

5.5

6

6.5

Effort Praise

Control Praise

Intelligence Praise

Number of problems solved on a 3rd test

Intelligence Control Effort0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4 Chart Title

Number of children who lied about their score

Boys get 8 times more criticism than girls

The effects of praise

Swimming

“You do your best swimming when you concentrate and try your best to do what Chris is asking you to do”

Ballet

“What a beautiful ballerina!”

Contact Details

jamesnottingham.co.uk

challenginglearning.com

p4c.com