Why logic belongs in P4C
Matthew Lipman's early P4C novel, Harry Stottlemeier's Discovery, centres on a child noticing that some sentences cannot simply be turned around. That idea still works well in classrooms today. Children enjoy finding the rule that seems right but fails.
In a community of enquiry, logic is practised rather than lectured. Children learn to say 'That doesn't follow', 'What if...?' and 'You're assuming that...' because they need those phrases to win a point fairly.
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.
Always, Sometimes, Never
Primary · Ages 5–7
Foundation · 30 min
Young children sort statements such as “birds can fly” into always, sometimes or never true, and enquire into how one example can change our minds.
If This, Then That
Primary · Ages 8–11
Developing · 45 min
Pupils solve if-then puzzles and enquire into when conclusions really follow and when they only seem to.
Valid or True?
Middle School · Ages 11–13
Intermediate · 50 min
Students test short arguments with silly and serious premises and enquire into the difference between valid reasoning and true conclusions.
Evidence Detectives
Middle School · Ages 12–14
Intermediate · 50 min
Students rate the evidence behind invented claims and enquire into what makes evidence strong.
Mapping an Argument
High School · Ages 15–18
Advanced · 60 min
Students map an invented opinion article into premises, conclusions and hidden assumptions, then evaluate its strength.
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-211 · 20 WEEKS · $29
Clever Thinking at Home
Family · Ages 5–11 with a grown-up
Testing ideas and reasons at home.
P4C-212 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Logic and Critical Thinking Enquiries
Primary · Ages 5–11
Class enquiries on truth, evidence and arguments.
P4C-213 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Critical Thinking Lab
Middle school · Ages 11–14
Validity, evidence and argument mapping.
P4C-214 · 20 WEEKS · $45
Critical Thinking Enquiry Leaders
High school · Ages 14–18
Lead critical thinking enquiries for younger children.
Photos: Judy Beth Morris, Michał Parzuchowski / Unsplash
Logic and Critical Thinking
Build logic and critical thinking with five free printable philosophy activities, from always-sometimes-never and if-then puzzles to valid versus true, evidence detectives and argument mapping. For longer learning, choose a 20-week programme for families, primary, middle or high school.
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Logic and Critical Thinking
