Why questions come first
In philosophy for children, the questions come from the children. Learning to ask good questions, and to tell questions that need looking up from questions that need thinking through, is the foundation of every enquiry.
Children discover that some questions have no quick answer but are still worth talking about, and that follow-up questions such as “what do you mean?” and “can you give an example?” help everyone think more clearly.
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.
Wonder Questions
Primary · Ages 5–7
Foundation · 30 min
Young children look at a surprising picture and ask as many questions as they can, then choose one “wonder question” to talk about.
The Question Quadrant
Primary · Ages 8–11
Developing · 45 min
Pupils sort their questions into a quadrant of open and closed, textual and philosophical questions, then choose one to enquire into.
What Makes a Question Philosophical?
Middle School · Ages 11–13
Intermediate · 50 min
Students test questions against four criteria for philosophical questions and rewrite weak ones.
The Question Ladder
Middle School · Ages 12–14
Intermediate · 50 min
Students practise follow-up questions that ask for reasons, examples, definitions and implications, climbing a question ladder.
Socratic Questioning
High School · Ages 15–18
Advanced · 60 min
Students learn the types of Socratic questions and run a short Socratic dialogue on a belief such as “success means being rich”.
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-221 · 20 WEEKS · $29
Big Questions at Home
Family · Ages 5–11 with a grown-up
Wonder and question together at home.
P4C-222 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Question Makers Classroom
Primary · Ages 5–11
Class enquiries on asking and sorting questions.
P4C-223 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Philosophical Questions Lab
Middle school · Ages 11–14
Philosophical questions and Socratic dialogue.
P4C-224 · 20 WEEKS · $45
Question Enquiry Leaders
High school · Ages 14–18
Lead questioning enquiries for younger children.
Photos: Yarenci Hdz, Adriana Elias, Taylor Flowe, julien Tromeur, Vitaly Gariev / Unsplash
Asking Philosophical Questions
Learn to ask better questions with five free printable philosophy activities, from wonder questions and the question quadrant to criteria for philosophical questions, the question ladder and Socratic questioning. For longer learning, choose a 20-week programme for families, primary, middle or high school.
P4C
/
/
Asking Philosophical Questions
