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

•  Children gained on average 6 standard points on a measure of cognitive abilities after 16 months of weekly P4C

•  Pupils increased their level of participation in classroom discussion by half as much again following 6 months of weekly P4C

•  Incidents of children supporting their views with reasons, doubled over a 6 month period

•  Teachers doubled their use of open-ended questions over a 6 month period

•  Pupils and teachers perceived significant gains in communication, confidence, concentration, participation and social behaviour following 6 months of P4C

Impact of P4C – research findings

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

Typical P4C Format

Philosophy for Children

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

Robert Sternberg President of the American Psychological Association

What are your ground rules for class discussions?

I know it’s wrong to

steal

But then why was Robin

Hood a hero?

Cognitive Conflict is Key to Engagement

Kriticos = able to make judgments

Critical Thinking

Comes from the Greek, Kriticos

Meaning: able to make judgments

Source: www.etymonline.com

An Ethos for Learning

Not all of our questions answered … … but all of our answers questioned

Nursery P4C - Names

Year 5 P4C: Your Granny or Your Goldfish?

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

If A = B then

Does B = A?

Friend Trust

Trust Friend

For example …

Wobblers (If A = B)

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 ?)

What do these 3 have in common?

EY and Primary Concepts

Me Fairness Real Language Home Telling lies Growth/Change Same Pets Emotions Friends Thinking Belonging Dreaming

Secondary Concepts

Hero Lies History Sport Identity Culture Bullying Real Fair Knowledge Language Test Drama Tourism Poem Music

3 weeks old 2 years old 4 years old Adult

What makes you, you?

Are you the same person you were when you were a baby?

If you had a different name, would you be a different person?

When you play make believe, are you still you?

What Makes Me, Me?

The Learning Challenge

Cla

rity

Con

fusi

on

1. Concept

2. Conflict

2

1

The Learning Challenge

Cla

rity

Con

fusi

on

1. Concept

2. Conflict

3. Construct

2

1

3 Eurek

a!

Eureka!

Values underpinning P4C

Less … Rodin’s Thinker   More … Knights of the Round Table

Good

 Most learners make good progress

 Children display good behaviour and attitudes

 Teaching is well informed, confident, engaging and precise

 Most children are suitably challenged and can succeed

 Assessment is accurate, regular and consistent, & informs students how to improve

Outstanding

 Most learners make well above average progress

 Children behave very well and are engrossed in their work

 Teaching is based on expert knowledge, is stimulating and rigorous

 All learners are challenged and stretched

 Assessment successfully underpins the teaching and learners know how to improve