Why aesthetics works with children
Aesthetics asks what beauty is, what makes something art and whether one person's taste can be better than another's. Children are ready for these questions because they make judgements about pictures, music and clothes every day.
Pictures and objects make strong stimuli because every child can respond, including those who find reading hard. Ground rules still apply: one voice at a time, reasons with every view, and no mocking anyone's taste.
Free activities to download
Ready-to-run EduTrend Contents philosophy enquiry workshops for primary, middle and high school. Each free download includes a step-by-step session plan, facilitator notes, three student worksheets and an assessment checklist. Full 20-week programmes are available in EduStore.
Is It Beautiful?
Primary · Ages 5–7
Foundation · 30 min
Young children sort pictures and objects by whether they find them beautiful and enquire into what beauty is.
Is My Drawing Art?
Primary · Ages 8–11
Developing · 45 min
Pupils compare their own drawings with famous artworks and enquire into what makes something art.
Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder?
Middle School · Ages 11–13
Intermediate · 50 min
Students examine whether beauty is subjective and consider Hume’s idea of a standard of taste.
Can a Machine Make Art?
Middle School · Ages 12–14
Intermediate · 50 min
Students consider images made by a machine, a painting elephant and a child, and enquire into whether art needs an artist with intentions.
What Is Art?
High School · Ages 15–18
Advanced · 60 min
Students test theories of art against hard cases such as Duchamp’s Fountain and enquire into whether art can be defined.
Liked the free activities? Go further with a 20-week programme.
Each free activity comes from a full EduTrend Contents programme: a Family Guide or Teacher's Guide with one-page session plans for 20 weeks, plus an Assessment Toolkit with rubrics, trackers and certificates. Choose the one for your child's age or your class below. Instant PDF download after checkout.
P4C-521 · 20 WEEKS · $29
Art and Beauty at Home
Family · Ages 5–11 with a grown-up
Talking about art and beauty at home.
P4C-522 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Aesthetics and Art Enquiries
Primary · Ages 5–11
Class enquiries on beauty and art.
P4C-523 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Aesthetics Philosophy Lab
Middle school · Ages 11–14
Taste, machines and theories of art.
P4C-524 · 20 WEEKS · $45
Art Enquiry Leaders
High school · Ages 14–18
Lead art enquiries for younger children.
Photos: Jessica Pamp, Eri Pançi, ONUR KURT / Unsplash
Aesthetics and Art
Explore aesthetics and art with five free printable philosophy activities, from a beauty line and children’s drawings to Hume’s standard of taste, machine-made art and Duchamp’s Fountain. For longer learning, choose a 20-week programme for families, primary, middle or high school.
P4C
/
/
Aesthetics and Art
