What an ethics enquiry is for
The aim is not to deliver a moral lesson. In a community of enquiry, the approach developed by Matthew Lipman and used by SAPERE in the UK, children choose a question, give reasons, listen to each other and change their minds when a better reason appears. The adult keeps the thinking moving but does not supply the answer.
Ethics works well as an early P4C theme because children already hold strong views. Your job is to help them notice the difference between what they feel and what they can justify.
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.
The Broken Vase
Primary · Ages 5–7
Foundation · 30 min
Children hear a story about a hidden accident, choose a question together and talk about whether something can be wrong if nobody finds out.
The Invisible Ring
Primary · Ages 8–11
Developing · 45 min
Pupils imagine a ring that makes them invisible and enquire into whether people are good because it is right or because they might be caught.
The Kind Lie
Middle School · Ages 11–13
Intermediate · 50 min
Students enquire into a white lie between friends and compare thinking that follows rules with thinking that weighs results.
Is It Wrong Everywhere?
Middle School · Ages 12–14
Intermediate · 50 min
Students sort invented customs into “different but fine” and “wrong anywhere”, then enquire into whether any moral rules are universal.
Three Ethical Lenses
High School · Ages 15–18
Advanced · 60 min
Students analyse a school dilemma through three ethical lenses, then enquire into which lens helps most and why.
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-111 · 20 WEEKS · $29
Right and Wrong Talks at Home
Family · Ages 5–11 with a grown-up
Big questions about right and wrong at home.
P4C-112 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Right and Wrong Enquiries
Primary · Ages 5–11
Class enquiries on promises, rules and honesty.
P4C-113 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Ethics Enquiry Lab
Middle school · Ages 11–14
Dilemmas, rules versus results, relativism.
P4C-114 · 20 WEEKS · $45
Ethics Enquiry Leaders
High school · Ages 14–18
Lead ethics enquiries for younger children.
Photos: Charlein Gracia, Annie Spratt / Unsplash
Ethics and Morality
Explore right and wrong with five free printable philosophy activities, from a story about a hidden accident and the invisible ring thought experiment to kind lies, customs and three ethical lenses. For longer learning, choose a 20-week programme for families, primary, middle or high school.
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Ethics and Morality
