Why explore emotions and the mind with children?
Children feel strong emotions every day, and they are curious about where feelings come from, whether they can be controlled and what goes on inside other people’s heads. Philosophy gives them a safe way to think about these questions together.
The activities use stories and invented characters rather than personal experiences. They move from a feelings walk and the no-sadness machine to other minds, robot feelings and the debate between the Stoics and David Hume.
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.
Where Do Feelings Live?
Primary · Ages 5–7
Foundation · 30 min
Young children match faces and stories to feelings and enquire into what feelings are and where they come from.
Is It Ever Good to Feel Sad?
Primary · Ages 8–11
Developing · 45 min
Pupils consider whether sadness, fear and anger can be useful, and enquire into the value of difficult feelings.
Can You See Inside Someone’s Mind?
Middle School · Ages 11–13
Intermediate · 50 min
Students explore how we know what others think and feel, and whether we can ever be certain.
Could a Robot Feel?
Middle School · Ages 12–14
Intermediate · 50 min
Students imagine a robot that says it feels sad and enquire into whether machines could have minds and feelings.
Reason and Emotion
High School · Ages 15–18
Advanced · 60 min
Students compare views on reason and emotion, from the Stoics to David Hume, and enquire into whether emotions can be reasonable.
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-331 · 20 WEEKS · $29
Feelings and Thinking at Home
Family · Ages 5–11 with a grown-up
Talking about feelings and thinking at home.
P4C-332 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Emotions and the Mind Enquiries
Primary · Ages 5–11
Class enquiries on feelings and other minds.
P4C-333 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Mind and Emotion Lab
Middle school · Ages 11–14
Other minds, machines and emotions.
P4C-334 · 20 WEEKS · $45
Emotions Enquiry Leaders
High school · Ages 14–18
Lead emotions enquiries for younger children.
Photos: Zahra Amiri, Arwan Sutanto, Josh Snader, Mor Shani, Anna Khromova / Unsplash
Emotions and the Mind
Explore emotions and the mind with five free printable philosophy activities, from a feelings walk and the no-sadness machine to other minds, robot feelings and reason versus emotion. For longer learning, choose a 20-week programme for families, primary, middle or high school.
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Emotions and the Mind
