Big Ideas for Little Kids: Teaching Philosophy through Children's Literature

by Thomas E. Wartenberg

Overview

Big Ideas for Little Kids includes everything a teacher, a parent, or a college student needs to teach philosophy to elementary school children from picture books. Written in a clear and accessible style, the book explains why it is important to allow young children access to philosophy during primary-school education. Wartenberg also gives advice on how to construct a "learner-centered" classroom, in which children discuss philosophical issues with one another as they respond to open-ended questions by saying whether they agree or disagree with what others have said.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475804461
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/01/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	180
File size:	673 KB

About the Author

Thomas E. Wartenberg is professor of philosophy at Mount Holyoke College and has been working with teachers on teaching philosophy for children for over a decade. He is a member of the American Philosophical Association Committee on Precollege Instruction in Philosophy. Among his other books are Existentialism and Thinking on Screen.

Table of Contents

List of Tables
List of Figures
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Part 1: Teaching Philosophy in Elementary Schools

1. Natural-Born Philosophers
2. How I Became a Children’s Philosophy Teacher
3. Learner-Centered Teaching
4. The “Game” of Philosophy

Part 2: Preparing to Teach

1. The Elementary-School Introduction to Philosophy Course
2. Preparing for a Philosophy Discussion: The Discussion Framework
3. Facilitating a Philosophical Discussion
4. Deepening and Extending the Discussion

Part 3: The Stories

1. “Dragons and Giants”: Teaching Ethics
2. Frederick: Teaching Social and Political Philosophy
3. The Important Book: Teaching Metaphysics
4. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Teaching the Philosophy of Mind
5. The Giving Tree: Teaching Environmental Philosophy
6. Morris the Moose: Teaching Logic
7. Many Moons: Teaching Epistemology
8. Knuffle Bunny: Teaching the Philosophy of Language
9. Emily’s Art: Teaching Aesthetics

Part 4: Implications

1. A Sample Discussion of The Giving Tree
2. Conclusion

Appendix
References

Editorial Reviews

I love this approach to teaching philosophy and use Thomas Wartenberg’s materials regularly in my philosophy classes. I used the first edition right from publication, and now am pleased to see a new edition out – this time with three intended audiences – teachers, students, and parents. The key words exciting, enriching and insightful are emphasized – and whether you are a teacher, student, or parent, be prepared to get a ‘buzz’ out of talking philosophically with your child or children using these carefully chosen stories, mainly in the form of picture books. There are many more creative and original ideas and suggestions for developing stories both in the book and on Wartenberg’s excellent website: www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org.

Jean Bews

Elementary school teachers will welcome this new edition of Tom Wartenberg’s beginner’s guide for using picture books to engage children in philosophical discussion. Introductions to the philosophy behind classics of children’s literature are accompanied by easy-to-follow instructions and sound practical advice—just what is needed to get successfully under way.

Philip Cam

Elementary school teachers will welcome this new edition of Tom Wartenberg’s beginner’s guide for using picture books to engage children in philosophical discussion. Introductions to the philosophy behind classics of children’s literature are accompanied by easy-to-follow instructions and sound practical advice — just what is needed to get successfully under way.

Dr. Philip Cam

This book is an excellent resource, helping primary teachers of RE to develop children's ethical and spiritual thinking through well-chosen stories, and providing a structure and methodology for them to do so.

Retoday

Unleash the power of picture books! Using clear guidelines and concrete examples, Big Ideas for Little Kids shows us how to transform a few carefully crafted questions, an attentive ear and the natural curiosity of young minds into impressive instruments for nurturing the creative, autonomous, respectful, engaged, critically thinking citizens of tomorrow.

This book helps teachers and parents understand how to identify philosophical ideas within picture books and young reader novels, and demonstrates how to facilitate inspired discussions with children.

Andrea Ross and Mark Blevis

Those unfamiliar with philosophy will love the brief introduction to the disciplines of philosophy; philosophers will find the use of children's literature a refreshing starting point. While intended for educators new to pre-college philosophy, this book nicely encapsulates for philosophers one method of doing such work. Far preferable to Marietta McCarty's Little Big Minds (2006). Highly recommended.

April 2010 CHOICE

Oh, to be a child in a literary discussion with Thomas Wartenberg! He understands that young children are deep thinkers trying to figure life out and that great children’s books can help them do so. As he makes clear, “philosophy” is just a fancy grown-up word for an activity kids do naturally, and this teacher-friendly, easy-to-read book with its invaluable guided questions for individual titles will help all of us improve the quality, depth, and liveliness of discussions in the classroom reading corner.

Sam Swope