Using Children’s Literature to Teach Philosophy to Elementary through High School?

You do not need a Ph.D. in Philosophy (yes, I do have that, that is why I am a teacher-lol). I taught a few seminars for High School and Junior High Students over the years. Now planning a course for this summer. Here is what I have that you can use too.  My main resource is this amazing website: https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org

General Introduction to Philosophy

Have you ever thought of using a children’s book to learn philosophy? That is to think through real issues and not just rely on one’s feelings?  How do we know that something is real or true? What are the questions we have in life and how can we ask questions and seek real answers? This class will also help guide to improving the student’s verbal skills while they learn to listen carefully to others, then formulate their own thinking in a clear manner. They will be able to defend their ideas against objections from peers and be more confident learners and thinkers. Mastery will be demonstrated by the application of the inductive thinking method and the construction of a creative project.

Discussion Method:

https://www.edutopia.org/article/framework-whole-class-discussions

Book For all students:

“A Little History of Philosophy,” Nigel Warburton this is a great easy to read and understand book.

https://www.amazon.com/Little-History-Philosophy-Warburton-2012-10-30/dp/B01MSK2KL3/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=A+Little+History+of+Philosophy&qid=1583530327&sr=8-2

https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300152081/little-history-philosophy

Library Books

One of each to be read in class and discussed as it pertains to the Philosopher and the chapter students read in “A Little History…”:

Socrates

The Mixed-up Chameleon By Eric Carle

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/Socrates

https://www.amazon.com/Eric-Carle-Mixed-Up-Chameleon-Board/dp/B00HTK3FH4/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=The+Mixed-up+Chameleon%2C+By+Eric+Carle&qid=1583525170&sr=8-2

Plato

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters By John Steptoe

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/MufarosBeautifulDaughters

https://www.amazon.com/Mufaros-Beautiful-Daughters-Reading-Rainbow/dp/0688040454/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Mufaro%27s+Beautiful+Daughters%2C+By+John+Steptoe&qid=1583525228&sr=8-1

Aristotle

A Color of His Own By Leo Lionni, Knopf

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/AColorOfHisOwn

Epicurus

We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/WeAreInABook

https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Book-Elephant-Piggie/dp/1423133080/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=We+Are+in+a+Book%21%2C+by+Mo+Willems&qid=1583525315&sr=8-1

Rene Descartes

Tiger-Tiger, is it True? By Byron Katie and Hans Wilhelm

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/Tiger-TigerIsItTrue

John Locke

The Black Book of Colors By Menena Cottin and Rosana Faria

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/TheBlackBookOfColors

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Book-Colors-Menena-Cottin/dp/0888998732/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=The+Black+Book+of+Colors%2C+By+Menena+Cottin+and+Rosana+Faria&qid=1583525460&sr=8-1

David Hume

Something Beautiful By Sharon Dennis Wyeth 

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/SomethingBeautiful

https://www.amazon.com/Something-Beautiful-Sharon-Dennis-Wyeth/dp/0440412102/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Something+Beautiful%2C+By+Sharon+Dennis+Wyeth&qid=1584039533&sr=8-1

Immanuel Kant (2)

The Lorax  By Dr. Seuss

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/TheLorax

or

The Zax By Dr. Seuss

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/TheZax

Soren Kierkegaard

The Giving Tree By Shel Silverstein 

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/TheGivingTree

Karl Marx

Frederick By Leo Lionni (how Marx’s philosophy does not work in the real world)

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/Frederick

Friedrich Nietzsche

The Rainbow Fish By Marcus Pfister 

https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/TheRainbowFish

https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Fish-Marcus-Pfister/dp/1558580093/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=The+Rainbow+Fish%2C+By+Marcus+Pfister&qid=1583526076&sr=8-1