Sara Stanley - Why Think?: Philosophical Play from 3-11

Why Think?

A companion website to accompany this book is available online at:
http://education.stanley.continuumbooks.com

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Further resources are available on the authors own website www.childrenthinking.co.uk, and at www.p4c.com.

If you experience any problems accessing the resources, please contact Continuum at: info@continuumbooks.com

Also available from Continuum

But Why?, Sara Stanley

The If Machine, Peter Worley

Teaching Thinking (3rd edition), Robert Fisher

Getting the Buggers to Think (3rd edition), Sue Cowley

Why Think?

Philosophical Play
from 3 to 11

Sara Stanley

Continuum International Publishing Group

The Tower Building, 11 York Road, London SE1 7NX

80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038

www.continuumbooks.com

Sara Stanley, 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.

Sara Stanley has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN: 978-1-4411-6753-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Stanley, Sara.

Why think? : philosophical play from 3-11 / Sara Stanley.

p. cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4411-9360-5 ISBN 978-1-4411-6753-8 ISBN 978-1-4411-8365-1

1. PhilosophyStudy and teaching. 2. Education, PrimaryActivity programs. 3. Games in philosophy education. I. Title.

B52.5.S68 2012

372.3dc23

2011046918

Contents

List of Activities

What is a witch?

Choosing friends for dragon

Would you rather? Little Red Riding Hoods basket

Jack and the Beanstalk treasure snatch

Beanstalk lands

Fairy tale corners

Whats in a book?

Making and remembering a choice You choose...

Making a choice and justifying it YES or NO?

Making and justifying a choice with extended reasoning and creative thinking What Ifs. Would it be a Good Thing or a Bad Thing if...

Making decisions based on more than two choices Would you rather?

Making a choice Using the language of enquiry Agree/disagree

Thinking again about initial answers Alternative thinking

Same and different

Philosophy club What is a brain?

Am I real?

Conversation and thinking time

Last words

Be my friend

Conversation and thinking time

The book of good and bad

Cages

Monster at school

Perfect people

Royal invitations

Responsibility of choice

Do I think what I think I think?

Understanding negative statements

Alternative thinking exercises

Good news bad news

Yes but, no but

True or false

Duelling with thoughts

The problematic hamster

List of Case Studies and Examples

Child refusing to say hello to the class at hello time

The mermaid clothes. I want, Ill have

They are not sharing

The castle and dungeon role-play area

Where has the real me gone?

What is bravery?

What are friends for?

Kelsey The dragon and the witch

Shauna Little Red Riding Hood

Kelsey Right, this is a story The witch and all the fairy tales

Poppy The princess and the wolf

Kelsey This is my story, let me write the story down before I read it to you. Its called Do you mind being my friend? Would you be my princess?

Kelsey Lovely shoes and the birthday cake

Taylor The shark and the dragon

Chloe Little elf

Pretend play with the fairy tale characters Goodies and baddies dialogue

Baddies A dialogue with boys

Thinking about the witch puppet

Thinking about the Big Bad Wolf puppet

Choosing friends for dragon

Little Red Riding Hoods basket

Fairy tale enquiry, Key Stage 115 children aged 57 years

Philosophy club

Children asking questions Using the book Why Do Stars Come Out at Night?

Philosophy club Asking better questions session

Robot blueprints

Bridge support 1 What is Talk into a space?

Bridge support 2 What is Listen Thoughtfully?

Bridge support 3 What does Helping others understand look like?

How we use the question board

Who has the crown?

People in the toy zoo

Election day 6 May

Invisible pet

Alternative thinking exercises

Good news bad news

Yes but, no but

Duelling with thoughts

Thinking time for older/more experienced philosophical thinkers

Ways to collect in the questions

Would You Rather?

I am the King

Tusk Tusk

Where the Wild Things Are

The Last Noo-Noo

Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didnt Know She Was Extinct

Zoo

The Three Robbers

The Robot and the Bluebird

The Island

When a Monster is Born

No!

Tinkerbells book of magic wishes

Baby Owls book of wise rules

Foundation stage (ages 4 and 5 years) in response to a philosophical discussion about what makes something artistic

Using a picture book Key Stage 1 (ages 57 years)

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the children, parents, staff and governors of Sparhawk Infant & Nursery School, Norwich, who have made the last 3 years such a delightful and thoughtful experience. To the Year 5s at Acle Primary School, Norfolk and North Lakes School, Cumbria, who are proof that Philosophy works.

This book would, of course, not have been possible without them and especially my valued, inspirational and supportive colleagues Maria Cornish and Martyn Soulsby, and finally thanks to my family for their love and support.

With thanks for permission Marianne Lind

About the Author

Sara Stanley graduated with a BEd (Hons) from Homerton College, Cambridge, in 1997 where she specialized in drama and childrens literature. She is a Foundation Stage Leader and full time nursery practitioner in Norwich. Her teaching is characterized by the development of philosophical skills through philosophical play, analysis of childrens story telling and enquiry-based role play.

In addition, her teaching is constructed and led by the children through the use of quality picture books to develop thematic learning, philosophical understanding and enquiry. She is a Level 1 trainer with SAPERE (Society for Advancing Philosophical Enquiry and Reflection in Education).