Philosophy for Children through interactive story telling
“I shall suppose… some evil demon, no less cunning and deceiving than powerful, who has used all its artifice to deceive me.”
René Descartes, The Meditations
“All you have to do is find something that’s real. Then you win.”
This is the story of when a girl named Delphi met a demon.
But don’t worry. Delphi, if you haven’t met her before, is not someone who is usually scared of things like demons, monsters or grownups. In fact, she is the most determined of creatures, a nine-year-old girl, and like a lot of children, has a talent for arguing, asking questions and generally being difficult.
She has already in her short life, growing up in a district near the centre of Athens, met gods, monsters and, worst of all, adults who think they should teach her things. Some of them have even been famous philosophers – people who seek out wisdom by asking unanswerable questions. But she has never met anything quite like a demon. So perhaps we should worry… just a little bit.
Join Delphi on this next philosophical adventure for children (following Delphi the Philosopher), as she meets the Demon’s challenge and tackles some of the most famous philosophical puzzles in history. With her friend Plato to help her, surely she can overcome any trap or cunning argument the Demon can set her… can’t she? Learn how to use logic, ask big questions and understand famous philosophical ideas to prove that even when everything can be doubted, there is still every reason to believe.
Explore the Story!
Delphi the Dreamer is a story written to introduce children to philosophy, building on Delphi the Philosopher.
Each chapter, as well as telling Delphi's story, asks big questions that help to further develop children's listening, questioning, reasoning and explaining skills.
Delphi the Dreamer has been created to be a powerful learning experience in philosophy for children.
This scheme of work follows the same format and structure as Delphi the Philosopher, but is targeted at slightly older children (9-14) or those more experienced in doing philosophy.
While Delphi the Philosopher focuses primarily on ethics, Delphi the Dreamer focuses on questions of being, reality and identity. It also continues the skills progression established in the first scheme of work, challenging children to further develop their listening, questioning, reasoning and explaining skills.
This scheme will suit primary aged children who have already completed Delphi the Philosopher, or older children who are ready to start their journey into philosophy with some even bigger questions!
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During the story, children will develop their listening, questioning, reasoning and explaining skills, including learning to:
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identify philosophical and abstract ideas
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use ‘if’ to explore possibilities and examples
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take their thinking from concrete to abstract ideas
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use logic to explore an idea
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identify what would, should or could be true
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present ideas to an audience
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logically infer
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use argument structure
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explain doubt and proof
Teach these lessons!
Register for free and download the complete scheme of work, including the annotated story, lesson plans, slideshows, lesson resources and more!